Thursday, April 14, 2011

Current Work






Wall Unit
Baltic Birch, Maple MDF, Maple Solids
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7 comments:

  1. Mark RhodesApril 14, 2011 at 9:50 PM

    That looks very clean and crisp Darnell, what have you used in the way of feet for levelling? or did you have a nice level floor to start...something very rare over here.

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  2. DarnellApril 15, 2011 at 6:07 AM

    Thanks Mark.
    There is a slab of Baltic Birch ply on the floor that follows 2" back from the front contour. It's there to lift the unit off the floor, lightening the piece and ensuring there is clearance for the bottom of the doors. My plan was to shim that piece level but the floor was straight enough I didn't have to. I was VERY pleased, as that almost never happens. The entire install took less than an hour.

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  3. Jeff BranchApril 15, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    I agree very crisp and the finish looks very even. Nice work!

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  4. DarnellApril 15, 2011 at 8:01 PM

    Thanks, Jeff. The finish was the biggest hassle, usually I shoot two coats of lacquer and I'm done. The outer cabinets went as planned but the espresso centre required two coats of colour, a coat of tinted lacquer, and two coats of clear. Between this and a dining table and chairs I was in the spray booth for four days.

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  5. Mark RhodesMay 1, 2011 at 12:28 AM

    I'm using an oil wax blend for all my finishing at the moment, its easy to apply and is very durable as its a floor finish, its also easy to repair. All my clients so far seem to like its natural appearance. Most projects are taking much less time to finish, perhaps half, and I can get my apprentice to do it, its that easy. I don't know if you have an equivalent in Canada or you can just buy the one I'm using which is...

    http://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/wood-finishes/wood-oils/hard-wax-oil.htm?gclid=CNLC25-dxqgCFYFB4QodKU0MoA

    Give it a try Darnell its the future:-)

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  6. DarnellMay 1, 2011 at 7:16 AM

    That's an interesting product, Mark. I use post-cat nitrocellulose lacquer. A sprayed coat is dry to the touch in minutes, and sandable and ready for a second coat in twenty. I can finish and deliver most pieces in the same day, although I give at least three for off-gassing before I take a piece to a customers home. It's extremeley hard and durable, and gives the wood the best colour and higlights chatoyance and figure better than any other finish I've seen. It's drawbacks are the high cost of entry, the application learning curve, somewhat difficult repairability, and its toxicity. As much as I like the product, it's days are numbered, because of its VOC's it's slowly being banned one location at a time. I understand it's near impossible to obtain lacquer thinner in several areas.
    So, I'm forced to change, and I think I'm headed toward water based lacquer. I don't think it's as hard or durable, and I prefer the look of nitro, but I think it's my next best option.
    However, I am going to look into the oil wax blend. I will give it a chance, but from the little I've read I don't think I would use it on anything aside from light use objects. I prefer a thin film finish on things like tabletops. In the war between hard to damage, hard to repair/ easy to damage, easy to repair, I side with the hard side.
    Thanks for the tip. I don't believe I've ever heard of oil and wax being described as the future. :)

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  7. Mark RhodesMay 1, 2011 at 10:44 AM

    Its definitely worth giving a try, and gives a surprisingly durable finish that I would use on tops. Clients like it as they can repair it themselves down the line, and its pleasant to use with no special equipment needed, bar a brush and some wipes. I don't have to worry about harmful chemicals any more, or even wear a mask. Think of it as a retro finish, that's been made better:-)

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I'm a woodworker on the Canadian prairie.