Chairs, bench and table, and teeth.

I got my wisdom teeth out today. Something I probably should have done when I was much younger but it is now done.  The timing was good as I just finished up with a big order of a table, 6 chairs and a 6' bench. They are pictured below and will be picked up tomorrow am by the shipper who will take them to California.  Not only was it a nice size order but they are all pieces that I really enjoy making.  

Below are one each of my New Waltham chairs.  They seem to have taken over as my best selling chairs.

waxing the underside of the bench. You can see that I add extra bracing on the legs. My chairs get just one brace per leg.

The New Waltham Bench, rightside up.

The trestle table waiting without its leaves.

and shown here with its leaves.

Our mailbox.  I was picking up the mail on my way back to the house and had my camera with me... The rusted box sits on a length of  honey locust that I cut from our yard about 6 years ago.  It has been hit by the plow,  batted with a baseball bat a few times and once someone drove right over it. (there were tire tracks on either side of it.)  The box is a replacement (#3 I think) but the post has lasted through all that. Honey Locust. It's just tough wood.  Our postal service has had it tough too. We'll see if it lasts.

Enjoy the brown winter.
Tim

Trestle Table w/ Leaves II

It is always nice when a new design is well received.  Over the years, I have had many orders for my standard Trestle Table.  It is an example of what I generally strive for.  A look that is based in tradition but also somewhat modern looking.  Strong, clean and elegant if I may describe what I think of it.  

Last year, I made my first Trestle Table with leaves which was well received by the client and soon after, a new client ordered the second of this design.  There is a lot going on so it is still not simple the second time through.  That being said,  I was very happy to see that I did not feel the need for any changes this time.  On many pieces, I tweak designs each time I make them.  I feel like I got it right on this one the first time.  The pictures below are taken just as the table was almost finished.  A few details are not completed such as mounting knobs on the ends of the leaf slides. That was a few days ago. Tonight, I just gave it all its first coat of oil.  Pictures of the finished table #1 can be seen here.

fitting the leaf slides

one leaf in place

the concave edge of the leaf is shaped by hand to match up with the end of the table.

Two weeks ago I hiked up a nearby peak. It still looks like this today. No snow in February. I am so glad that we did not buy a ski pass this year.