It started innocently enough back in November when it was decided that we would paint the bar cabinet below, black ... Since then, we have had three other black projects come through. One, a take off in vanity form on the bar project, the second a laundry cabinet that we designed back in November but didnt decide on the finish until we were, well, ready to finish it, a couple of weeks ago. Weve got a good black on walnut or mahogany finish that Ill detail as we go ... Click the photos to enlarge them ...
The bar cabinet from right before Christmas .. We detailed the finishing of that one in that post and this cabinet was pretty much the same ...
Since my last post on this project we added the interior drawers
Here is the cabinet just before the finishing began
First coat was a full strength Lockwood water soluble dye, English Brown Mahogany..
After that was dry, Will sanded it thoroughly with 150 and then applied a second coat of the same dye, a reddish brown ... While that was still wet, he added exterior soft gloss latex and sponged that around until it looked right. We used one of our photography hot lights so we couls see the black cabinet while we were working on it ... It also helped to go around with a clip light while youre working on it and just after the paper towel to pick up spots you might have missed ... It is soooo hard to see a black finish as you apply it ...
The final and all important step is to, after it dries for a half hour or so, buff it with 4 0000 steel wool and polish it aggressively with a paper towel ... Itll look good after that but will still take a couple of oil/varnish coats for full protection and a low sheen.
Also this week we (finally) installed a laundry cabinet that we designed back in November. youve seen it lurking in the shop for many blog posts ... It just couldnt seem to get all done; but, now it is. ... Looks good ... Interesting before and after photo from two different directions
The CAD drawing was modified slightly to make the drawers more functional before we began construction ... And, below, we finished the tv cabinet build out (scroll to the bottom of that one) that we started discussing the same day as the laundry cabinet ... Four black projects in 2 months ... a first ... I like them ...
We moved the tv 8" forward in the cabinet .. the wires were
just long enough ...
This Just In:
The unfinished, finished table
First coat of Lockwood aniline dye ... 50/50 water, light golden brown walnut
After the first coat of gloss poly
The finish schedule ... to understand this shorthand more see other posts in the finishing category to the right ...
We also made a scale model for a claro walnut slab table with a 1.5" thick steel "shaker inspired base that we recently took a deposit on ... We have found at least one suitable slab, but the final choice has yet to be made ... checking out some other possibilities first .. We often make scale models. There is actually a category over to the right where you can see other posts with models and mockups. I feel they are an extremely important part of the design/visualization process.
The CAD file from which the waterjet cutter contractors will estimate. The parts will be cut from a slab of 1.5" thick steel and Sam will weld them together, polish and finish them in a shiny finish ...
The two walnut, steel leg, tables were working on. The walnut boards will have blackened steel insert inlaid in them to cover areas of the boards which were cut out to avoid sawing hardware that was embedded in the tree. Handy things those metal detectors ...
Close up of the holes in the boards that will be covered by the steel
We finished the single board coffee table ... one board of mahogany 39.5" wide and 64" wide
And, to end the week, we installed a tv surround that I first mentioned back in November .. Scroll down to the bottom of that one .... Time flies ...
