a custom curved built in bench

here was a fun one ... a curved couch, not exactly built in, but close. it has to fit really nicely in a clearly defined space ... click the photos to enlarge them ..
we started out with a 1/8th scale model, which you might remember from a post earlier in the year ...
the cad drawing, from which we made the model, was made from a paper template that the builder sent us ... it was a little rough, but surprise,surprise, when we checked our cardboard cuts in the space, they fit not closely, but exactly. you dont often get stuff like this on the first shot ...
from the elevation in the cad drawing above, trevor made the cardboard parts for the model and we had at it.
he cut the seat planks on the cnc after altering the cardboard pattern drawing and then we created a framework for the bench seat to sit on ... it has a slight angle for comfort (about 1.5 degrees ) and the back is angled at 8 degrees from the seat face. its surprisingly comfortable even with no cushions ... we fooled with various concepts for the tapered, angled, (part of a cone) backboards on the front and in the end chose a simple butt joint with a combination of construction adhesive and micro pins. sort of carpentry like, but the options were limited and in the end, since the wood is reclaimed and there are other distressings, it looks great.
the backboards were vertical, and not tapered, and we made them narrow and since they are against the wall, nailed them on.
neatly fitted and applied by trevor ..
we had a brief study on the table which will stick off the end and made it 18.5" wide, and so, even with the seat support below it. it will have a vertical support element when everything is assembled later in the week after we complete the staining and finishing, and install it on site.

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Bookends Again

My kind of post ... I just went back to 10/22/07 and did a little cutting and pasting. Same deal this year. The party is on the 13th, 6-8 .. if its like the last one, it should be good ... This year my bookends above are called Identical Twins ... 2" solid steel on 3/8ths by 2.5" steel.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Dan Mosheim donates bookends to fundraiser at Mark Skinner Library

The Mark Skinner Library in Manchester, Vermont recently asked 25 local artists to donate a pair of bookends for a fundraiser/raffle that will take place on November 10th. Tickets are $5. each, or 5 for $20. Each ticket can be placed in the raffle box for the particular artists bookends that youd like to own. Proceeds will benefit the adult collection at the library. Tickets are available at the Mark Skinner Library and at The Northshire Bookstore as well as Factory Point and Chittenden banks. Or, if youre not going to be around, call the library at 802-362-2607. For my bookends, I visited the metal shop and whipped up a pair I called Bookends for David Smith in recycled chestnut and forged and welded steel. I had a blast. The party looks like it might be fun too. See you there.
My 2007 bookends , won in 2007, (fortunately), by my friend Cynthia Murphy
Click the photos to enlarge them ...
Good luck ...

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one of our long time clients brought us this mini diorama yesterday.  his cat had pushed it off its special spot on top of a corner cupboard we built for him ... apparently, he was after the bird, or was just annoyed that there was not enough space on top of the cabinet for him to stretch out.  anychoice, well fix just about any worthy old thing and this one was certainly that.  it was a masterfully constructed piece, gold leaf, thin antique glass, the ground and sky was beautifully painted, and the little fox and the thrush were stuffed and posed and perfectly preserved.  there is even a little feather in the foxs mouth.  kinda cool, but at the same time, kinda creepy to some folks too.  stuffed wildlife is not for everyone.  its headed back to its home tomorrow.  it was also an interesting lesson in minimalist display case construction ... weve built a few of them, and this one was a great example of the craft.  click the photos to enlarge them ...

in addition to the fox, we also cleaned what we think are the last items from our clients fire that happened back in 2009.  its been a long, but interesting and rewarding process as they had an unusual number of actually quite exotic items, including some of our furniture, some elephant spears and a painted six board chest that had been in the family for over 300 years.  heres the last of it ... 

 a pair of carved ivory and sandalwood letter openers ...

 this unusual triptych mirror that could be a free standing, or wall hanging object

 we never did figure out the exact medium ... it didnt seem to be paint and it didnt seem to be enamel, but whatever it was, it was beautiful, and beautifully executed ...

 and then we were taxidermists, cleaning and mounting an impala skull to a board that the client supplied.  the first step was to fill the porous skull with bondo and flatten it.  next we drilled a pilot hole using the little mdf jig and tapped it for a 1/4 x 20 stove bolt

 that tightened up nicely, but the skull still spun so we carefully added two sheetrock screws to fix it in place ... whats coming next week? you never know ...

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a claro walnut slab desk with a secret compartment

well, here they come ... first project in a group of six claro walnut slab pieces that will be finished in the next two weeks ... we have this desk, a 12 table, a 10 table, a coffee table and a small bench, all with steel bases of one form or another ... this desk is about 42 x 66 and is sporting a new dan/sam welded steel base with our natural finish ... the slab wasnt big enough to be a dining table, though now it could seat 6, even with the bases close to the ends .. the metal at the floor is actually kind of cool when you are sitting at the end. click the photos to enlarge them ...

the base is a pair of 1.5 x 3" rectangular tube trapezoids with vertical aprons. it was sams brainstorm to weld the long aprons vertically rather than on the 10 degree angle, which allowed us to more easily construct the drawer box.
without the desk attached

top view .. this desk is one of the walnut slabs from back in february. we cant wait for customers to come along forever ... actually, this piece is for a show were in that is opening in housatonic, massachusetts on the 24th. more on that later.

one 24" drawer centered on the 45" apron.

and, one of our favorite things, the secret compartment ... push down on one end of the pencil tray and lift it out ...

to expose the folding brass tool sam made to hook onto the small drawer at the back of the case.

the tool unfolded ...

hooking onto the compartment ...
ta dahhhh ... 6.5 x 23 by 2" deep ... room for lots of stuff ...
here are some of the other projects. some of which will get their own blog post as they are finished. this is a small bench we used to get the color and finish right on the 12 expresso finish slab above it.this is a 10 with a rainbow finish base that will be in stowe on the 31st.
and this is another one for the upcoming show ... a coffee table 45 x 55 x 18 ..
and this 10 table is waiting for the apartment in nyc to be finished ... its got a blackened steel base and incredible curl ... best slab ever .... all for now

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Moving An Old Friend

We got to visit with an old friend last week ... It was a pool table that I built and installed in1993. The owners have recently sold the house and the table will be arriving at its new home at their sons house in Connecticut this Wednesday.
Its an antique table that I bought, planning to use it in my own home for myself and Sam and Will to enjoy. They were 8 and 10 at the time ... But, like the one before that one, a client came through as I was involved in the restoration and bought it before we finished. After losing two that choice, I bought a more homely one that I painted and refelted and still own today ... Its how we got started in our pool table career ... I think weve made 14 or 15 now .... This one was #2. click the photos to enlarge them ....
It was in a beautiful home, which called for a really nice cue and accessory rack that also made the trip out ...
If youve never seen one in pieces, heres how it goes ... You unbolt and disassemble the pockets and rails, pry the million staples from the felt and you are left with the three pieces of slate that are screwed to the wood frame below.
Then the wood frame is unbolted and broken down into its various parts ...
And youre good to go ..
Youve got a bunch of pieces when youre finished but it all makes sense if you take it a step at a time ....
The house is a beauty, designed by Jeff Barnes, a Manchester architect noted for his style and attention to detail ... Here are a few images just so you get the idea ...
The main entry
Coming into the kitchen from the garage
We were making this table when the client saw the pool table we were working on at the same time ...
Detail of the ebony and abalone inlay
A classic Sam Ogden turning piece ...And, a nice place to entertain ... great house !!!

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