Thread: Chinese tea table resurrection

Seeing Fletty cleaning up that tenon with a chisel reminded me of the blunt chisel technique and no that is not a joke. Sorry for going OT for a bit but it is worth taking the time to watch.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

Seeing Fletty cleaning up that tenon with a chisel reminded me of the blunt chisel technique and no that is not a joke. Sorry for going OT for a bit but it is worth taking the time to watch.

Obviously my chisel mustn’t be blunt enough!

I got a first coat of WOP on the new parts, restor-a-finish and ‘oak’ stain on the original bits and it’s starting to look the goods.

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Im a bit puzzled about the colour in the photographs? The top frame and subframe are cut from the same plank, stained and WOP’d identically but photograph differently? They appear the same colour in real life .... whatever that is?

Certainly has come up a treat. Work of a craftsman. Does the middle section rebate into the side panels or does it rebate between the upper frame and the under support (for want of a better name)?
One step I dread during restoration is that first application of spirit dye and I always tend to go light in the fear it will be too dark. And even I say light it’s really light Need more confidence.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

Seeing Fletty cleaning up that tenon with a chisel reminded me of the blunt chisel technique and no that is not a joke. Sorry for going OT for a bit but it is worth taking the time to watch.

I’ve just tried it, BRILLIANT! I shouldn’t be surprised of course but it works just like a planemakers float? Now, which of my ridiculous number of otherwise unused but not yet blunt enough chisels shall I dedicate to this?

Originally Posted by Lappa

Certainly has come up a treat. Work of a craftsman. Does the middle section rebate into the side panels or does it rebate between the upper frame and the under support (for want of a better name)?
One step I dread during restoration is that first application of spirit dye and I always tend to go light in the fear it will be too dark. And even I say light it’s really light Need more confidence.

Thank you Lap’
I usually try to make any new work, that I add to a piece, removable so that someone cleverer/later/more obsessive can go back to the original and start again. On this piece , this is the stage that can be a new start point...
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This subframe will be discreetly screwed to the original

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and then this top frame and inlay will likewise be discreetly screwed to the subframe......

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The inlay itself floats inside the frame, is supported from underneath but can still be removed from the frame.....

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I lightly sanded both frames to apply another coat of WOP but, as soon as I took them out of the shed, the red hue disappeared and I’ve discovered that translucent poly roofing casts a rose colour to anything in direct line with the Sun? This is the unadulterated colour in direct light and after the second coat of WOP.

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That’s certainly an excellent colour match.