{Post 1,688} I Love It, Part 2

{Click on any picture to enlarge it}. So here we are with dad’s wide poplar. It was still rough, which means it did not look like you see it at Lowe’s. Dad has a custom-built-by-him wood shop that is super simple, but deluxe. He has a power sander, planer, and a huge cutting table (I saw many correlations to my quilting space.).

Basically, it was planed several times (taking off 1/32” at a time), sanded multiple times, cut to length (4” longer than final size), glued to a less wide piece that had gone through the same process, planed and sanded again, then ends cut square and a one-inch piece glued under on 3 sides. Then it was routed on the edges to make them rounded over, then sanded again. Then it was finished. Here are some pics of the process w/o words.

Blogger keeps getting my pictures out of order. Help!! Here is the finished product at my parents’ house. I need to stain and seal it when I get home.

{Post 1,687} I Love It When A Plan Comes Together

I am on day 12 of 14 at my daughter’s in PA (day 14 is actually an early-AM leaving day, so it doesn’t count for fun). She went with me (and baby, too) to my parents’ from this past Sunday until this afternoon. They live about 3 hours away from her. We had a great visit. One of my objectives while I was there was to build a cover for my console table tabletop. Here is it. From the front you see the sliding barn doors? They slide to the center to reveal bookshelves. I have these stocked with books for my grandchildren. I think books are very important for children. The picture from the side shows an important component of our time spent with our children...playing cards or games on the hidden card table. For all I like about the console table, there are two things I don’t like. One is that the card table is clearly seen, even though it’s mostly hidden. The other is that the table has to be fairly far from the wall (too far to set decorations on it that lean back against the wall like a mirror, shutters, or pictures). It has to be that far out to slide the card table behind it.

I had a brainstorm when I realized we’d be visiting my father. Among many other talents, he is a master wood worker. So I designed a table to that would go back to 1/4” from the wall in the back, have plate grooves to keep decor from sliding forward, and completely cover the original top without damaging it.This is yet-unstained, but it is completely built at this point. One of the first items of business for me after unpacking from the trip will be staining and sealing it for use. I. Am. So. Excited.

It was fun to have part in the assembly. This type of work fascinates me. Dad had a wide plank of poplar, but not enough for the whole top. Our day started with stopping at one of dad’s friends to borrow another piece. I hope he doesn’t hope to get it back, because it’ll be living at my house forever.

Here is the front and side view of the original table.

I’m going to start another post for the assembly process because it is heavy with pictures.