Thread: Ugly to beautiful

What’s the finish to the tables? Tung oil? Wax? Linseed oil??


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beautiful looking, very true we dont always know the beauty that lies underneath.

Q though...what is it doing in the bathroom?

Looks good, but the grain direction concerns me. There's the potential for a lot of movement over that width...

Originally Posted by Tonyz

beautiful looking, very true we dont always know the beauty that lies underneath.

Q though...what is it doing in the bathroom?

Hahaha, i knew someone would say that. Had the best lighting in the house. It's a rainy day here in sunny qld atm. This photo is prior to any finish applied.

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Originally Posted by Runningman

What’s the finish to the tables? Tung oil? Wax? Linseed oil??


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The bathroom photo is no finish. The others are just two coats of tung oil.

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Originally Posted by elanjacobs

Looks good, but the grain direction concerns me. There's the potential for a lot of movement over that width...

I had to improvise, the full lengths of the boards had such a dramatic twist/warp. So i had no option but to cut to smaller pieces and plane and thickness to get get straight.

There is a frame underneath with alot of titebond glue and pocket screws to table top to hopefully keep it solid.

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Originally Posted by bradyofdoom

There is a frame underneath with alot of titebond glue and pocket screws to table top to hopefully keep it solid.

Wait...you glued it to the frame? All the way around?

I hope I've misunderstood you, because that sounds like something pretty much guaranteed to end badly

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

Wait...you glued it to the frame? All the way around?

I hope I've misunderstood you, because that sounds like something pretty much guaranteed to end badly

Haha yes i have done this. Howcome it will end badly?

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Originally Posted by bradyofdoom

Haha yes i have done this. Howcome it will end badly?

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The top will expand & contract along the length of the table (width of the boards) with humidity changes, while the frame will be stable along the length. This will apply bending forces to the frame, or cause the top & frame to separate or the top to split.
I suggest that you undo the glue between the top & frame. You may be able to do this using white vinegar, but check that it's not going to discolour the blackwood first. Then, use L shaped 'buttons' to attach the top to the frame. This will allow the top to move relative to the frame, without distortion. Hope this helps.

If you have a steam cleaner/clothes steamer, steam also works well with making Titebond and other PVA and hide glues come apart. You can make your own buttons as elan suggests or use pre made ones like these.

Edit: AlexS suggested the buttons. I'm sorry!

+1 for buttons, wasn't my suggestion originally though

As Alex says, timber moves with the seasons and no amount of glue will stop that; either your rails will bend or, more likely, something will crack (possibly in multiple spots).

Ok no worries, thanks for all your suggestions. I'll definitely be rectifying it haha. Still new to this and learning everyday!

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