This video shows the attachment of the legs for the Game Table, "Game On". These support both the curved bit as well as the top. The legs, which are tapered, do indeed pierce the top. It was tricky but worth all the head scratching. Reviewing the video reminded me of the expression "we all put our trousers on, one leg at a time", and today was one of those days.
Because lest anyone thinks I or any other wood worker/artist (who has been at it professionally for around 27 years) is by now exempt from screw-ups, then you are severely mistaken. I was reminded yet again today that the finishing process can, has, and did once again kick my ass. And it seems to happen most often, when I am being the most conscientious, methodical and all that. I do indeed put my pants on one leg at a time.
You wan t to know what happened? If not skip the rest of this. If so, here it is in a nutshell. I paste wood filler (a pudding like product to fill pores) to the top of a very nice looking quarter-sawn, white oak tabletop. Then I stained it with a dye stain that I had cut with a bit of gum turpentine and mixed with another color to get the color I wanted. It was perfect. It was left to dry overnight but was face down as I intended to finish the bottom first. The bottom turned out fine as I was using a standard precat lacquer. I then turned the top over the next day and prepared to finish it. As this was to be a heavily used table, I intended to use a conversion varnish, which is very durable and moisture resistant. It is also very finicky in that it requires ideal surface conditions for top performance. I have determined that the stain and paste wood filler had not completely flashed off all of the solvents and I ended up with a top full of "fish eyes" or craters. Essentially, it looks like it has been shot with a shotgun from about a hundred yards. So, it is now scraped. Tomorrow it will be sanded and I will begin again, but this time allowing time for all solvents to evaporate.
Yep. Not such a good day. But there is always something to learn from it.
This is Dan Rieple. Believe it!
