and..... ACTION!

Hi,

I'm sorry it's been a while... After finishing the console table i went straight back to my work bench and haven't left it much. So that explains some of my absence. But now time is on my side and there's loads to show you. So here it goes;

First i'd never explained how the crest underneath the console table was made up. Because the legs came in under the top at set angles i could use those to make sure the crest would connect properly. So they were drawn out on a piece of stock. That, and putting up guide lines made sure the crest would be dead centre between the legs.

The carving was fiddly because it had a lot of piercings. When the crest was almost done it was attached to the legs with glue and dowels. The really last carving job was the connecting area between the crest and legs. 

And then it was onto one of the most satisfying jobs there is when making furniture. At least, that's my opinion. When the oil to seal the wood is applied you can see the color deepen as it sucks it up! Every time it gives such a buzz... it's like it is coming to life, like feeding a starved animal or watering a dried up plant. A real transformation! I've finished the table with more coats of various substances :) and made a sweet traveling box for it too. As i always do when pieces are for sale.

Then i went back to a project that had been on hold; door hardware. In particular lock shields (is that how you call them?) to accompany real working door locks. I was asked to carve various designs out of wax, so they can be cast later on. That way you can pick your own choice of design when you buy the door lock. 

I'm still getting to grips with the material, wax is so much different then wood!  But i love it, although half of my carving tools are useless with wax :)) It's a lovely project; these working locks are a really cool addition to any house, adding detail and dynamics! 

Talking bout dynamics; I love to see that return in scale furniture too. Alternating, folding or extending...  furniture you can adapt to the situation. It can be a sewing table with retractable fire screen... or just a chest of drawers you can pull out and play with :) I've made several folding chairs in the past and was researching extendable tables for a future project. There are some amazing pieces out there, that are engineering masterpieces! But next to impossible to figure out (plans of this table are very protected of course), let alone to rebuild in scale. But i did find a design by Thomas Shareton that i've adapted slightly. It's commonly referred to as a draw leaf table. 

I've started making a modern mock up table to see where the pitfalls lie in building this construction. Believe me, there are many...

The calculations & construction didn't allow room for error. Which did happen, of course :) But it was a stupid mis calculation so all i had to do was build new parts. Then it took a bit of fitting together, testing and taking it part again to adjust and make it work smooth. Some small parts like the pegs and stops i'de made out of brass. In the original they were made out of wood, but in this scale i figured that wouldn't be strong enough to take the action.

And here's the action :) 

I have to say, it was a great idea to build this test piece because i've learned so much. I can now confidently proceed to make a replica of an antique one i'd seen at The Rijks Museum about a month ago. I think some of you might recognize a certain bug in these pictures below?

On my knees, taking pictures and measurements, in a crowded exposition space...

Have a great day, and enjoy the small things in life,