Today I took the before pics.....

[the ringo kid]

I made a corner step table out of birds eye maple. It turned out really well too although birds eye maple is a most difficult wood to work with. The planer kept "picking up" the birds eyes and there were lots of them. Took a lot of hand sanding.

When Dad passed away my aunt asked for the table and I was happy to give it to her. When she passed away her greedy step daughter SOLD IT! some people....

Maple, Cedar, Oak, Redwood and Walnut are my favorites. If I can ever get pics of my grips here? you'll see all my maples.

 

[walkin jack]

Well guys, I most certainly appreciate all the comments and suggestion. They weren''t all the same but they ALL had some good points and I appreciate all the comments and ideas from all of you who obviously have a lot of knowledge and experience.

You know, when I was young I made a lot of decisions in haste. Sometimes that didn't go so well. But, pain being the great teacher that it is, I have learned a very valuable lesson: If I'm undecided about something I'll just let it eat on me for a while. When I do that the best choice will always emerge and so I must be patient and wait for The light to come on and the clouds to part. It isn't always quick in coming but the long term results are always good.

I'll just finish the sanding and then wait for the inspiration to come over me.

I have decided to leave the drawer fronts the way they are and not just because it would save time and elbow grease. I really do think that Steven and I would both like it as it has been better that way.

As for whether or not to stain the top or leave it natural, well, we'll see.

Thanks again for all the excellent responses.

 

[snubbyfan]

Well guys, I most certainly appreciate all the comments and suggestion. They weren''t all the same but they ALL had some good points and I appreciate all the comments and ideas from all of you who obviously have a lot of knowledge and experience.

You know, when I was young I made a lot of decisions in haste. Sometimes that didn't go so well. But, pain being the great teacher that it is, I have learned a very valuable lesson: If I'm undecided about something I'll just let it eat on me for a while. When I do that the best choice will always emerge and so I must be patient and wait for The light to come on and the clouds to part. It isn't always quick in coming but the long term results are always good.

I'll just finish the sanding and then wait for the inspiration to come over me.

I have decided to leave the drawer fronts the way they are and not just because it would save time and elbow grease. I really do think that Steven and I would both like it as it has been better that way.

As for whether or not to stain the top or leave it natural, well, we'll see.

Thanks again for all the excellent responses.

I can understand that. Sometimes ya gotta just sit and stare at it for a while and sometimes ya need to put it away, sleep on it and look at it again the next day.
I do that with designing leather stuff. I'll put it away, look at it the next day and, "what on earth was I thinking?"

 

[snubbyfan]

Maple, Cedar, Oak, Redwood and Walnut are my favorites. If I can ever get pics of my grips here? you'll see all my maples.

Plus Maple smoke goes well with chicken.

 

[625-7]

Snubster

"What in the world was I thinking " goes a little further than leather work. Enter the Bubba Zone

 

[the ringo kid]

I can understand that. Sometimes ya gotta just sit and stare at it for a while and sometimes ya need to put it away, sleep on it and look at it again the next day.
I do that with designing leather stuff. I'll put it away, look at it the next day and, "what on earth was I thinking?"

Ive had mental block before too. Ive been researching for a book I wanna do on some 33,000+++ members of a certain Military in WWII-who earned ther countries highest and or most rarest decorations. Ive been doing this on and off for near 14v years now-and I figure im less than 50% complete.

 

[ameridaddy]

First off, I think painting mahogany is a capital offense...welll...maybe just a flogging would do in this case.
That said, sleep on it, because things will seem clearer the next day or so.
I vote for leave the drawers alone; strongly contrasting colors on major features make for a thrown together look, IMHO.
As to the top - I vote for try to match the color. If the top comes off, you could use the bottom as a test panel.
If the top is solid mahogany and not a veneer, you can do another refinish if it turns out badly. Lots of work, but doable.

Have you thought about using a tung oil or linseed oil finish?
One coat per hour for a day, wipe down excess after each.
One coat per day for a week, wipe down excess.
One coat per week for a month, wipe down excess.
Somewhere along the way you'll see a warm soft glow that you'll like.
'
Neat thing about an oiled finish is that a ding can be repaired with just a rubdown with the oil. No sanding or stripping required unless you need to smooth a ragged edge.

The varethanes/urethanes are durable, but can easily give a plastic coated look to a nice piece of wood and are difficult to repair in the future.

 

[walkin jack]

The finish I put on it in 1962 was lacquer with rubdowns between coats with pumice and linseed oil. Won't be doin' that but I've never use the tung oil. I will look into that. Thanks.

I'm making progress in the decision making. Decided to leave the drawer fronts and body as they are. Still deliberating what to do with the top.

 

[ameridaddy]

The finish I put on it in 1962 was lacquer with rubdowns between coats with pumice and linseed oil. Won't be doin' that but I've never use the tung oil. I will look into that. Thanks.

I'm making progress in the decision making. Decided to leave the drawer fronts and body as they are. Still deliberating what to do with the top.

Tung oil doesn't darken the wood as much as linseed oil does. I thin 100% tung oil 50/50 with mineral spirits, wipe on liberally, let stand ~20 minutes, wipe off wet areas, wait til one hour is up, then repeat as above. If you sand it to ~220-320 before oiling, you shouldn't have to rub it down until you start seeing a build up. Once there, I rub it just enough to haze the shine with 0000 steel or bronze wool, wipe it down with a clean paper towel or lint-free rag to de-dust it, then add another coat of oil.

At that point, it won't take very many more coats of oil to get a nice shine. For me, the work is in the initial sanding of the raw or pore filled wood. After that, the oiling process takes days, maybe weeks, but each coat is easy to do and takes only a few minutes out of an hour. I like it because while there is patience required to accumulate many coats, it is not back breaking labor.
Another finish I like is Waterlox semi gloss. It does need a rubbing between coats, but takes only maybe three coats with a 0000 rubdown between coats. It's a little more water resistant than only oil because it is a tung oil/varnish mix.

Be sure to open up and lay out flat to dry any rags or towels wet with any of these finishes. Never ball them up wet or you might have a spontaneous combustion fire later.

Linseed oil, tung oil or the Waterlox have a powerful smell; don't plan on using them in the house or you will sleep in the garage for a while. Actually, your wife will sleep in the garage and you'll sleep outside somewhere. Nice thing is when the smell is gone, you know the piece is dry and ready to use.

 

[walkin jack]

Today I got a wild hair and decided to give that new can of MinWax red mahogany stain I bought for this project a shot. I thought I might as well since I bought it and had it in case I decided to stain it instead of leaving it natural. I flipped the desk over to see if the top was finished on the underside or still raw. It was raw so I put some of the stain I bought for the job in a spot and cut off my legs and call me shorty, but it is 99.99999999% perfect match. This stain is a MinWax product. I don't remember what brand I used in '62 but it also was red mahogany. But even if it was the same brand how in the heck could the two still match with all the years between them.

Anyway this decided it for me, as if this was the sign I have been waiting for. I will definitely be staining the top. I still have some sanding to do but I'd guess I have about 80% of the old finish off. Sure feels good to have this decision behind me and I'm really excited about seeing it done. Even though I was totally undecided I am now totally comfortable with the decision. Sure glad I waited and checked it out before deciding. If I can keep the temperature between 55 and 90 deg.F and the humidity below 80% I should be able to have it done by next weekend. I'm not going to rush it though It's waited this long so a few more days won't hurt a thing.

 

[shouldazagged]

I never refinished anythiong but gun stock, so I have no advice to give. But you're a good man, Jack. The care you're putting into this is a loving act.