Bethlehem Steel .. Wood and Steel Tables

The finished table and chairs at the SVAC show in May 2010

If I remember my family history correctly, my grandfather worked for Bethlehem Steel as a riveter for 52 years, starting when he was 13 in 1915, retiring at 65 in 1967, dead a year later. He worked on all the great bridges of the 20th century that Bethlehem Steel was involved in, which was most of them it seems ... I've been thinking of him as the boys and I have been creating a series of pieces, not custom, around the theme of metal and wood. We've sold a couple to clients passing through and we hope to sell these in the near future. The goal of this series is tell a story, highlight the (unusual) wood, and to build things efficiently and economically.
This is the beginning stage of the table above that we finished this week. The boards (20") were from a log of walnut I purchased from IrionLumber to make a pool table, a project that was, shortly after the boards arrived, canceled.
Two of the matching boards had a square cut out at the sawmill that obviously was to avoid sawing into a spike in the tree. Click the pictures to enlarge them ....
I went back and forth on what to put there, burl, little wood patterned inlays, but in the end, decided a couple textured, blackened steel plates would do the job. I can always change them later if inspiration strikes or if a client wants something personalized there ...
The boards were 10' long and we chopped two cracked crotch sections off the ends. (Not many people have a space for a 10', one piece table) This side table is 28" long x 20" wide x 24" high ...
All the photos in this post were taken in the (currently crowded) finish room and cut from their busy backgrounds with photoshop.


And then, we fnished the one board coffee table. Blow this up and check out the wood. When we made the dining table with the other part of this board, it was stained dark, which masked the various colors that are present in the natural wood ... 39.5 wide, 64 long and 17" high ...

On all these items, the phrase "Buy It Now" from Ebay applies. Pass it on ... Thanks ...

What I'm Reading, 2010

You lost me there for a minute .... I've been reading ... And, actually, I am pleasantly surprised at the flow of new inquiries and project design requests trickling in ... We're currently working on a walnut slab table project, the ladderback chairs, a new vanity project inspired by Dean Martin's Bar, a couple of steel and walnut tables, and my website, where we have added a new section called 'client testimonials'. There's a recent one in the 'Updates' post below. Over the years, clients and friends have suggested that I post some client letters, but, somehow, it seemed a little shameless to me ... I've been converted recently by a persuasive consultant, and now that I have them up there, it feels pretty good.

I've also been reading some. Winter is a good time for that. I recently finished Greg Mortenson's powerful new book 'Stones Into Schools', an update from his previous bestseller, 'Three Cups of Tea'. It's a great read and a timely and persuasive testimony to the potentail power of education rather than bombs in Pakistan and Afghanistan. It has recently been adopted by the US military as a common read for soldiers on duty there. The stories of challenges and sucesses building schools there are truly inspiring.



Also, one of my friends/clients has written a book about his family's experience. It's called 'What Else But Home', and the subtitle is 'Seven Boys and an American Journey Between the Projects and the Penthouse.' As a family who had two different 'guests' in our home for Will's junior year and most of his senior year in high school, it particularly resonated with Kit and I. The Rosen's journey, however, was much different. It's another testimony to education and support rather than discipline and (attempted) control.



And, finally, a revisit to a favorite author, Jim Harrison, who we have been reading for at least 20 years now. This guy can get you thinking with every, and I mean every, sentence. I borrowed it from a friend but I'm going to get my own copy. Some sections are so beautifully written and thought provoking they just take your breath away .... You find yourself opening to earlier sections to reread the best parts before opening to where you left off. A historic saga of family life and nature on the American Plains ... Try Dalva too ...

2/20 ... update .... having been so taken with The Road Home, I visited the library and in the last week and read two more of Mr. Harrison's books. The Summer he Didn't Die, and yesterday, in the throes of a headache and general malaise, The English Major in about a 20 hour period ... Both lived up to my expectations and if you like his style, you'll probably enjoy thesee too ....

Updates

This Just In:

"We just received the table and it's beautiful!!!!!!!!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!

We absolutely LOVE it!!!!!

Thank you for all of your very hard work, attention to detail and overall for making our gorgeous dining room table that we will use to celebrate many holidays, meals and celebrations!!!

I can't believe it's here :)

Warmly,

Kristi & Jeff "

It was one of those weeks when things come together ... We almost finished the big mahogany table we've been working on.. All that remains is to reassemble and polish it up on Monday. Tuesday it will be on its way to Boston if all goes well.. Click the photos to enlarge them ...
The unfinished, 'finished' table
First coat of Lockwood aniline dye ... 50/50 water, light golden brown walnut
After the first coat of gloss poly
The finish schedule ... to understand this shorthand more see other posts in the 'finishing' category to the right ...
We also made a scale model for a claro walnut slab table with a 1.5" thick steel "shaker' inspired base that we recently took a deposit on ... We have found at least one suitable slab, but the final choice has yet to be made ... checking out some other possibilities first .. We often make scale models. There is actually a category over to the right where you can see other posts with models and mockups. I feel they are an extremely important part of the design/visualization process.
The CAD file from which the waterjet cutter contractors will estimate. The parts will be cut from a slab of 1.5" thick steel and Sam will weld them together, polish and finish them in a shiny finish ...
The two walnut, steel leg, tables we're working on. The walnut boards will have blackened steel insert inlaid in them to cover areas of the boards which were cut out to avoid sawing hardware that was embedded in the tree. Handy things those metal detectors ...
Close up of the holes in the boards that will be covered by the steel
We finished the single board coffee table ... one board of mahogany 39.5" wide and 64" wide
And, to end the week, we installed a tv surround that I first mentioned back in November .. Scroll down to the bottom of that one .... Time flies ...

New Business

I'm not sure I can help this guy, but if any of you woodworkers out there want to contact him, I'll give you his email address ...

"Dear Sir,

Let me start with saying that going through your website was an
interesting adventure based on the pleasant looking pieces of
furniture, unparallel designs and craftsmanship found.
But sir, selecting your company out of the hundreds of furniture
makers around is more interesting based on the fact that we do not
want any disappointment.

Therefore, satisfying our quest is the most interesting of all. Can we
count on you; for well-crafted and durable pieces of 3-drawer bedside
chest, a dresser and a mirror/kitchen cabinet?

I will strongly suggest that you send down your printed catalogue
through post. This will go a long way in stressing your potentials as
well as helping the aged who can not expose their eyes to websites.

I look forward to reading from you.

Kind Regards
David. "

BOBCAT !

2/19 Maybe the bobcat was looking for these deer at our feeder last week ...

Jim beat me to work today and he was all excited when I got there. A bobcat strolled across Goodwood Lane as he was about to pull into the shop. He stopped his car and the bobcat stopped too for a minute before it strolled off into the woods. After lots and lots of time in the woods, it was Jim's first sighting in the (sort of) wild. Later, Sam noticed that it had actually strolled by the back door of the shop before heading out to the driveway ... Will was inside at the time, but missed it .... Me too, though I have seen the cat a couple of times 'in the neighborhood' ... A wildlife moment for sure.... Click the photos to enlarge them ...


Here's a link to bobcat tracks on line

Alleviating Social Media Fears

Bill LaBerge and I attended the quarterly meeting of the Vermont Wood Manufacturers Association Friday.. It started at The Brandon Inn with the business meeting in the morning. From there we adjourned to the former Brandon training center for a tour of the design center and new woodshop of The McKernon Group, longtime luxury home builders in the area ... It was a very impressive facility and the people we met there were very friendly and informative ... They fed us a nice lunch and set us up for the real reason I went to the meeting.

The afternoon session featured a presentation by Rachel Carter, who owns a public relations firm in Charlotte, Vermont. Rachel's mission is to provide Vermont businesses with "individualized public relations programs encompassing the power of social media and the ingenuity of grassroots marketing." It was, overall, a fascinating and well done presentation. She started with the basics, LinkedIn and Facebook, and went on to cover things like blogging, search engines, free online listing and analysis sites and Twitter, the micro blogging site. I've resisted some of this stuff so far, but after listening to Rachel, I think I will sloooowly integrate as much of it as I can into my
online marketing program and see how it goes ... All it seems to take is time and some interest in the process. I already have a blog. I'm already personally on Facebook and I've had some fun with both of those ... LinkedIn ... I can do that ... Twitter??? The thought makes me kind of cringe a little, but I'll check it out and see what's up with that. Who knows. I think Bill Gates is Twittering now. My first computer had a 40 MB hard drive and cost $3500. We've come a long way from there ... Onward ...

Finished the Jewelry Cabinet

Will completed the Jewelry Cabinet today ... Finishing takes time, and it's always best not to rush it ... He has been building the layers of aniline dye, gel stain,varnish and polish for the last week or so while he helped with the construction of the mahogany table .. He's also been adding the mirror, stool upholstery, velvet drawer bottoms and compartment dividers ... All done now ... It will be off to its new home on the Vineyard before long ... This was a interesting collaboration with the clients and an inspiring new design ... Click the pictures to enlarge them ...
Before the color ..
All done ...
With themirror and drawer dividers ... The trays slide easily completely in and out of the case ...
It is really hard to photograph a mirror
Shows what you can do with a little judicious photoshop cutting ... All the photos above were cut from their busy backgrounds as we have too much stuff in the finish room to set up the background paper ... Takes a minute but it is well worth the time ...

The finish sample and fabic choices we sent the client ...