Thread: Advice needed for some new projects

Did a little more work on the dresser top last night. I cut back using 400 grade paper the two bottom shelves and thereafter re-coated with shellac, though still now need to pad on more coats until I am happy with the final finish. I also need to finish cleaning up the top two shelves and undertake the little repair to the back board. I will get there, so hang in there anyone who is interested in seeing this. Will post some more pics etc once I have made some real progress. Been kinda of busy on weekends of late, let alone evenings after work.

Of course we are interested!!

Originally Posted by Horsecroft88

. I will get there, so hang in there anyone who is interested in seeing this. .

Silly thing to say..really now, Dave??

Originally Posted by Lawry01

Silly thing to say..really now, Dave??

Yep, fair point guys. 'fraid no progress this week, once again been really busy with other things.

I did manage to polish up very quickly an old piece of baltic that in a previous life perhaps had been an old dunny water box (you know the old chain pull thing loo that has the water closet mounted up high) as the ends were nicely shamfered. The reason for doing this, was to use it as a mounting block for some antique copper reliefs of a man, woman and a hand (don't ask me re the symbolism as I have no idea), which I bought many years ago on a greek island when on one of my many OS trips.

I thought I should finally do something with them and wanted a suitable rustic piece of timber. All I need now to complete that is to find some nice looking brass or rustic brads to pin said reliefs to the piece of wood, and then a mounting thingy so I can hang it on the wall. A minor distraction from the main game. Probably should take a snaparama to show you what I mean.

Just realised it had been some time since I had anything to say re this project and/or others. Now what with Christmas having come and gone, ditto the New Year, I can say I have managed to continue working on the dresser top, albeit slowly, and finally am working on the top shelf area. I even managed to cut back and polish the top of the dresser, and have been re-working pretty much the rest of it to the point where I can shortly start cutting back with 0000 grade steel wool and then wax on wax off. So hopefully now not too much longer and yes I will take some more photos to show the final result.

Of course in sorting out the top shelf that also means tackling the small repair I need to do to one of the backing boards, which will be an interesting little job in itself. Hopefully it won't come out looking too obvious or rubbish. Then I am going to have to somehow mount the damn thing (its heavy) onto my huon pine dresser base. I just hope I can do this as normally the dresser base would have cut outs in the top of it, but of course mine doesn't. So possibly a little lateral thinking may need to be in order, that and or any advice. I will also take photos to show what I mean re this issue. The joys of such projects afterall.

I was really pleased that at Christmas I was able to use the tilt top table I previously restored (as shown on this thread), and it had centre stage in my lounge room, with it being used for putting platters of food and some drinks on it. It certainly got some some admiring comments from family members, so definitely a job well done.

See attached (hopefully) the latest few pics of where I am at with the dresser top and the base I wish to use. As you will see it has no cutouts on the top piece, so perhaps I will need to do this or, alternative add a small fillet of wood to the side panel to allow the dresser top to be attached to the base.

Will try to add some more pics re all this. Given I am using my work computer I cant use firefox, google chrome or opera, and besides I don't know how any of these work. I would personally just prefer it if I could add photos as I used to be able to, it worked (so why fix) and was simple (which is good) .

Anyway sufficient grizzles and now for some photos.

This next pic, is of the little Greek Icons (for want of a better term), they are basically embossed reliefs in copper. This was the little distraction project I had previously mentioned, so thought I should post this as well.

Originally Posted by Horsecroft88

This next pic, is of the little Greek Icons (for want of a better term), they are basically embossed reliefs in copper. This was the little distraction project I had previously mentioned, so thought I should post this as well.

INteresting project Dave...all you need now are the Greek Goddesses!!

Hope you're not being affected by the terrible bushfires around you? Lawry

Originally Posted by Lawry01

INteresting project Dave...all you need now are the Greek Goddesses!!

Hope you're not being affected by the terrible bushfires around you? Lawry

Ah very good Lawry, yes indeed a Godess, now that would have looked really special, either that and/or a boat. The Geeks like their boats. (In the picture hopefully in the corner above the stove you can see the little painted wooden blocks with images of greek boats, brought back from my travels).

Thanks mate, all ok with the country place, thankfully. The fire front down Forcett way (Tas Penninsula) did start getting somewhat a little close but I am glad for our sake it didn't make it. Was terrible seeing all the destruction that occurred, let alone loss of wildlife, stock peoples homes etc. The smoke was bad enough at the height of the fires. I spent one Saturday out there cutting long grass and stuff back for around 8 hours to clear it back from the house. Still have quite a bit more cutting back to do but feel a little safer.

Re the dresser top, one night this week, I managed to cut back and wax on wax off the bottom shelf area, now to get that motivation happening to just finish it off. I know I have really taken my time on this project. Too slack for sure.

Oh well back to my day job for the moment. Cheers Dave

Good to see some more progress Dave and very glad to read that you were not affected by the fires,...very nasty and a big loss from what I saw

Ok, 2nd attempt to post. First time the page locked and crashed.

So what I said was, that thanks Chief all good here, and yes for many in Tas, Vic, NSW and Queensland it sure has been a tough start to the year. Hoping that Lawry is all ok up there in Brisbane and not flooded out.

Re the dresser top, so yesterday I managed to put in a couple of hours and just about finished it. Polished the sides, fixed a small repair to the polish on the top and finished off all the lower shelf areas, including back boards, etc. All I now need to do is finish off the top shelf and find/install the cup hooks and yay....another project completed. Well that is apart from installing/attaching to the dresser base.

See latest pictures. That is if the system will allow me to load them up. That seems to be what caused it last time to crash. Hmn.

Looks great - such a nice colour!

How did the repaired section come up?

Good progress Dave. I have just the perfect spot for it when its finished!!

Glad to hear you weren't affected by the terrible fires down there. We;ve survived the floods other than one hell of a mess. A few roof leaks, but nothing major. There are so many badly affected folks though, and some for the second time in 2 years. Dont know how they stand up to it. The big fight other than the clean up is now with insurance companies!!
Anyway, life does go on invariably, and lets hope for the better all round!!