Thread: A William and Mary Walnut Chest of Drawers

Originally Posted by joez

Woodwould,

Your work is amazing and has us all in awe. Honestly I find it a little depressing!

Can I make a suggestion? With so many followers of your work, how about a smallish group project we can all complete under your tutelage? A group project of sorts?

joez

Thank you – and everyone else for the kind words.

While I'm flattered by your suggestion of me overseeing a group project, unfortunately the sort of stuff I enjoy making is complex, not the cabinetwork you understand – that's all fairly fundamental stuff – but the ageing and finishing. Those processes require some really nasty chemicals which are uncommon and difficult to locate, or require a licence. Not to mention some are highly toxic and require breathing apparatus to be worn. I'm not prepared to instruct people remotely on those aspects.

As for the cabinetmaking, there are many better qualified cabinetmakers than I on the forum (yourself included – I just looked at your blog) who could conduct a group project and who would have suitable premises for the group to meet, or at least for one-on-one visits. I have to wait for my dog to turn round and leave the shed before I can enter!

Originally Posted by Woodwould

'Old Ambience No. 5' Antique Finish

Take one firkin of Don't Try This At Home and heat gently in a large copper pan. Slowly stir in one gill of Rub This On The Neighbour's Cat and bring to a rolling boil. The instant the mixture becomes nacreous, strain off the liquid into a clean carboy and immediately add a glass and a half of This Will Take Care Of The Mother-In-Law, a pennyweight of Well Sodden Impropriety and the merest pinch of Promise You Won't Tell Mum And Dad. Swirl the carboy anti-clockwise until cool and then drop in a fresh lump of Leave Well Alone. Cork the carboy tightly. Over the period of a few days, the Old Ambience No. 5 will become quite clear.

Have patience; it will clear.

Stand the furniture to be treated in a sealed room. Place the un-corked carboy in the centre of the room and leave the furniture to absorb Old Ambience No. 5 for a month of Sundays or until the concoction has evaporated. Stand back in wonderment and congratulate yourself on a job well done.

I guess you used to send the apprentice down to the hardware store in his own time to ask for a "long wait "

Originally Posted by Peter36

I guess you used to send the apprentice down to the hardware store in his own time to ask for a "long wait "

... and a left-handed screwdriver... and a tin of striped primer or semi-gloss tartan.

Originally Posted by Woodwould

'Old Ambience No. 5' Antique Finish

Take one firkin of Don't Try This At Home and heat gently in a large copper pan. Slowly stir in one gill of Rub This On The Neighbour's Cat and bring to a rolling boil. The instant the mixture becomes nacreous, strain off the liquid into a clean carboy and immediately add a glass and a half of This Will Take Care Of The Mother-In-Law, a pennyweight of Well Sodden Impropriety and the merest pinch of Promise You Won't Tell Mum And Dad. Swirl the carboy anti-clockwise until cool and then drop in a fresh lump of Leave Well Alone. Cork the carboy tightly. Over the period of a few days, the Old Ambience No. 5 will become quite clear.

.

Reminds me of my grandmother. She used to be a cook at a big country house in England. Absolutely fantastic food but no-one could get a recipe out of her. All they got was - "I just throw in a handful of this and that ......"
Cheers,
Jim

Originally Posted by Woodwould

... and a left-handed screwdriver... and a tin of striped primer or semi-gloss tartan.

Nothing changes - I've seen a young bloke up a ladder trying to wind an electric clock.

What really fascinates me is that we are seeing what the (wealthy) people of the time saw, bought and used. None of that out of date tudor stuff for them!
Jim

Ah not bad I 'spose WW.

Cheers
Michael

Another master piece for the rest of us to oggle while we can't get in the workshop - Thanks for sharing your expertise.

So is the gold-lacquer one of those potions that aren't commonly available? I googled it and got nowhere. I have been polishing the brass hardware and have been sorely disappointed with the wishy washy colour.

My darling wife keeps saying I live under a rock and I know I've been absorbed in my own project but how did I miss this one for so long another beautiful piece.

I request the moderators put a sticky on all Woodwoulds projects from now on please.

A question if I may as I can't find any reference in the thread but why are the spigots on the bun feet longer than usual (to my eye anyway), no disrespect intended.

Regards
Mike

Originally Posted by rhancock

So is the gold-lacquer one of those potions that aren't commonly available? I googled it and got nowhere.

I've never come across gold-lacquer commercially (that doesn't mean that something similar doesn't exist). I'd imagine those who know of it would probably make their own.

It's pretty easy to make if you feel so inclined either using the traditional vegetable colourings or with spirit aniline dyes. I'm sure your spice rack would already have at least two of the ingredients.

Originally Posted by m2c1Iw

A question if I may as I can't find any reference in the thread but why are the spigots on the bun feet longer than usual (to my eye anyway), no disrespect intended.

Do you mean the narrow stems directly above the bun segments (the spigots are the 'dowels' that are glued into the holes in the bottom of the carcase)?

The shape is historically correct. Victorian interpretations of bun feet (and thus any mid-nineteenth century or later restorations/replacements) were inclined to be squatter in shape.

Here's a clearer view of one on my chest:

Originally Posted by Woodwould

Do you mean the narrow stems directly above the bun segments (the spigots are the 'dowels' that are glued into the holes in the bottom of the carcase)?

The shape is historically correct. Victorian interpretations of bun feet (and thus any mid-nineteenth century or later restorations/replacements) were inclined to be squatter in shape.

Here's a clearer view of one on my chest:

Yes that's it the stems sorry and thanks for the explanation. Interesting how this type of detail develops over time I wonder if it reflects the maker/designers decisions more so than the customers, designers I guess.

A very attractive piece of furniture.

Woodwould, that is just astonishing, than you for sharing your expertise, I'm learning heaps, look forward to the next project, Ross

Originally Posted by m2c1Iw

Yes that's it the stems sorry and thanks for the explanation. Interesting how this type of detail develops over time I wonder if it reflects the maker/designers decisions more so than the customers, designers I guess.

Customers followed fashions and bought the latest and best styles they could afford. I don't think there was the same liason between customer and 'tradesman' as there is nowadays with some boutique makers – with the exception of a few notorious designers/cabinetmakers like Chippendale etc.