The Blue Table

This table isn't particularly special but is does have a bit of history.

SWMBO brought it with her to Canberra when she moved into a group house whilst studying at Uni.
Before that, it had been used for decades by old fellow called Jack in country Victoria to do his tax on.
It's been in our house for over ten years as a plant stand.

I feel it's time to give it a bit of love. It's Victorian Ash I believe. Probably early 1900's. I like the turnings and small dimensions. We'll find a use for it in the house.

Attachment 346983Attachment 346984

It'll just need a good clean and polish. I'll re-drill and replace all the dowels.
The top is very cupped, so I might use the saw kerf method (cut underneath) to flatten it.

More pics as I get some time to work on it.

Pine?

The top is very cupped, so I might use the saw kerf method (cut underneath) to flatten it.

Hi,

don't forget to try the wet lawn in the sun trick before you go kerf cutting!

Good luck

David

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Originally Posted by goodwoody

Pine?

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I originally thought it was Victorian Ash (Tassy Oak) because of the way the end grain looked.
I'm thinking now, after stripping it, that it may be Blackwood.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Xanthorrhoeas

Hi,

don't forget to try the wet lawn in the sun trick before you go kerf cutting!

Good luck

David

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I've already tried that :U. I left it on the wet lawn in the sun and clamped it to dry with some cauls afterwards.
Two days after removing the dry top from the clamps, it went back to where it was before :doh:

Attachment 347695

It's not too bad, but I do want to bring it down a bit more.

The parts are all stripped and washed.
The old dowel holes were drilled out, and the table glued up.

Attachment 347696Attachment 347697Attachment 347698

I'll work on the cupping in the top next.
A couple of fine saw kerfs underneath should do the trick.

Looking good, and apart from the top, a pretty straightforward resto on this one I would think Stu, for a guy with your skills.

Going on the pics, I too would plum for blackwood. The grain and colour seem right for that.

Looking good.
What did you use to strip the paint?

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Originally Posted by Horsecroft88

Looking good, and apart from the top, a pretty straightforward resto on this one I would think Stu, for a guy with your skills.

Going on the pics, I too would plum for blackwood. The grain and colour seem right for that.

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Should that be 'plump'?

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Originally Posted by hiroller

Looking good.
What did you use to strip the paint?

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I prefer mechanical stripping if possible.
I used a shavehook and a card scraper.

After this I used paint stripper to soften the paint within the grain, and then gave it a good scrub with steel wool and metho.

I only needed to make a couple of saw cuts underneath the top.
The top will be nailed on, but I decided to put a couple of screws through the aprons into the top to pull it down as much as possible.

Attachment 348858Attachment 348859Attachment 348860

A couple of coats of shellac.

Attachment 348861Attachment 348862

The top's sitting nicely now.

Attachment 348863

The nail holes have been plugged with coloured wax.
It's had a light polish and a buffing with wax.

Attachment 348864

The table has been moved inside.
I've got it sitting next to my lounge chair. Perfect for my nightly glass of Shiraz :U

That is nice to see Stu, but mate, where is the glass of red ?? It seems to be missing in action. Well done, I am sure your wife must be most impressed with the table's rejuvenation. Cheers Dave

Interesting what you can find under a few layers of paint

nice job but it looks like someone pinched your glass of Grange

Looks much better.

i often wonder if the home improvement would want to strip back to a more natural finish.

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Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

nice job but it looks like someone pinched your glass of Grange

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If I could afford Grange, I would protect it with my life :U

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Christos

Looks much better.
i often wonder if the home improvement would want to strip back to a more natural finish.

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I hate shabby chic with a passion :((

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Horsecroft88

That is nice to see Stu, but mate, where is the glass of red ?? It seems to be missing in action. Well done, I am sure your wife must be most impressed with the table's rejuvenation. Cheers Dave

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Money shot :U

Attachment 348898

Once again, lovely work.
It's almost unrecognisable!
Was the chip in the of the top patched with wax also?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hiroller

Once again, lovely work.
It's almost unrecognisable!
Was the chip in the of the top patched with wax also?

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I didn't bother. It's actually a sap void. Not a chip but an imperfection of the original board.
I just polished over it.

Good to see the table with the money shot :)

I know what you mean re the Grange. I have one bottle of Grange. I bought it for my 30th birthday as a present to myself around 1990. It is an 1983 vintage. And yes it only cost $50, which by today's standards would be no where near the cost for it now. Wines like Grange are hugely special and need to be shared with the best of friends/family over a special meal. One day hopefully.

Yes, ditto a total dislike to shabby chic. I hope that fad has gone away by now :).