The guy next door is a house flipper and I had mentioned that I cut mesquite, which is in demand in the SW for high end homes and furniture. Anyway, he asked me If I could get him some 8/4 to make a countertop about 7 1/2' X 38" for an island in the kitchen of the house they are currently working on.
He liked the eucalyptus floor and we used the random width idea in the countertop. We jointed the boards up and ripped them to equal widths, then biscuit joined them.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1901.JPG)
I helped him with the wood matching and here he is teaching me his artist trick of extending cracks and holes by carving with a dremel to extend them into the next piece so the whole piece has a better flow.
Cool. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:
Glippity glopping the holes and cracks.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1902.JPG)
Cool. Looking forward to more pics :)
Very nice, and do you use 2 part epoxy for your glippity glop?
Jon
Nice!
Using the Dremel to extend the cracks is really a neat trick. I never thought of doing something like that, but it should add a lot to the finished product. I might just add some cracks to my next project. Can't wait to see it finished out.
I'm curious about the glippity glop also. I tried something similar but new to me the other day on knots. Acrylic gesso tinted with carbon black.
I like that idea! That is going to be really nice!
Thanks guys. ;D
Yes, the glippity glop is 2 part epoxy. 2 parts resin : 1 part hardener + a little black colorant. They sell lots of colors, all of it not cheap but pretty good stuff.
I'll keep you posted as it goes along. Wade said he had it filled to bumps yesterday. It may be close to finished. I'll have to go over and check. ;D
Gooped and rough sanded. ;D
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1931.JPG)
Man, this work is easy when somebody else does it. ;D 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) :snowball:
This gives me ideas for doors. Anybody know about a tenon cutter that works kind of like a biscuit joiner?
And what such a thing would cost?
Looking mighty good!
Quote from: mesquite buckeye on August 10, 2015, 01:53:11 AM
Gooped and rough sanded. ;D
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1931.JPG)
Man, this work is easy when somebody else does it. ;D 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) :snowball:
This gives me ideas for doors. Anybody know about a tenon cutter that works kind of like a biscuit joiner?
And what such a thing would cost?
Are you referring to something like the festool domino? If so, bout $900 to $1600 depending on size
That is gonna be eye popping. Extending those crack lines is a nice touch.
Good lookin', I don't recall if you have mentioned what ''goop" you use or not, my memory sometimes plays tricks on me... :-\ May I ask what it is ??? :P :P
Merçi
Marcel.
No problemo. Two part epoxy with black colorant mixed in. ;D
Gooped is a term meaning glippity glop has been applied. ;D ;D ;D :snowball:
Finish sanded.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1932.JPG)
Also inlet for posts. ;D
With a couple of coats of beeswax/mineral oil.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1935.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1934.JPG)
Stunning! The crack enlargement really blends it all together!
Very nice.
Forgive my ignorance, but can you explain how to apply the bees wax and mineral oil finish?
Its a hand rub finish that is applied with a peice of cotton, I use an old t-shirt. It comes pre mixed in a small container that one can get at most good hardware stores. Lee Valley carries some, I use a local made Bizwax.
Right. Also if you want to have the wood darker, mesquite darkens pretty quickly if you leave it out in the sun for a few hours. Desert ironwood does the same thing.
Thanks for the thoughts, guys. This one was really easy (for me).
Good news is he is talking about doing mesquite countertops in more houses they are working on.
Maybe a door eventually.....
Cha ching. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:
Another tip from the school of hard knocks. To keep the wide pieces from twisting it takes 2 biscuits on each end. Don't ask me how I know this. ::)
Steady as she goes. You are really looking good. smiley_thumbsup smiley_thumbsup
;D
So, here it is, all done except for the oohing and ahhing when prospective homeowners arrive. ;D
Three coats of beeswax/mineral oil. Just needs to be attached. Got about 1/2" of twist corner to corner. Will easily attach flat. Wish I had one of SuperRob's flat work tables. :( :snowball: :snowball:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1938.JPG)
There's Wade with his masterpiece. ;D
The turquoise colored base is made from the old, weathered fence that used to surround the property. He showed me how he does it but I don't feel right divulging his trade secret. I will say it looks even nicer up close.
And a little closer look.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_1937.JPG)
Now I gotta look up the festool domino..........
How are you going to pull out the twist?
It has a lot of flex in it. We were able to bend it to fit with maybe 20-30 pounds of force. Just draw it down with screws from below. It may not even be twisted. the cabinets could have that much error from the floor. :-\
Awesome
Now that is something right there !
I think he has like $820, $420 for the lumber and like another 400 in processing and supplies in it plus his time. The epoxy was over $50 by itself.
Thanks. I think it turned out pretty nice.
Gorgeous! I love the look of mesquite!
Your stuff is very cool as well. ;D 8) 8) 8) :snowball:
Looks awesome, good job :)
;D
Don't be shy ... ask him for permission to share. ;D I'm just kidding, we all have some trade secrets that are nice to have. I, though share mine !!!! :D
smiley_contract_point smiley_contract smiley_contract smiley_contract
I am glad I read this post. I learned something useful, that trick about extending cracks and stuff.
;D
The house is now finished and all staged up for sale.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_2141.JPG)
;D
That bar top makes a great centerpiece.
Somebody is gonna be very proud. :)
:)
Wade's latest countertop creation. This one is like 3' X 10'.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_2711.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_2710.JPG)
The bottom is old pecky cypress from the fence in the back yard. He also used some of it for some rolling barn doors for a pantry closet. Wade is very artistic.
The black area at the far end was a bit punky. I thought Wade could probably fix it by soaking in some epoxy. Worked fine, soaked right up and is now really solid and interesting. Now maybe we can sell more of our punky mesquite previously thought to be worthless. ;D ;D ;D
By the way, the house next door sold within a couple of weeks for real close to the asking price. Our new neighbor has since told me when he saw that mesquite counter that he had to have the house. ;D
I'm thinking this could be a regular thing. Wade is also thinking he might be able to use some of my cedar as rustic posts for his post and beam work that he does on lots of these houses. :)
Might help someone... When filling large cracks I first fill in the bottom of a crack with plastic wood.
Or I mix saw dust and glue. After it dries I mix up paint to match the color of the wood the best I can.
I found it best to stay on the dark side. Paint inside the crack. After the paint drys I fill with the two part epoxy
Muskeet,
That is a very nice countertop.
Needed one more coat of beeswax/mineral oil still when the photo was taken. Darlene likes the live edge less than the finished edge... Not sure if I like this one as much as the last one myself, but love the warmth you get from mesquite wood. Also cooks a nice steak. ;D
One more thing if I didn't mention it. Food prepared on a mesquite cutting board picks up a little of the flavor that way as well, that being a good thing. The effect decreases with age.
That's nice ! Looks good even surrounded by a house full of wanted fugitives who apparently do not want to be identified...🙈
They are not all that wanted. :-\
Git er done.
Big fat congrats! pretty stuff
Kbeitz,
Why the plastic wood or glue saw dust combo on the bottom versus using 2 part epoxy all the way through?
I'm thinking to save some $. With brittle woods like mesquite it is better to tape up the bottom of the cracks with frog tape and fill them completely with epoxy for the added strength. If the wood is otherwise really strong I think you could get away with doing that.
Latest countertop. This house is almost done.
Wade is getting better at this...
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_3067.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_3068.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_3069.JPG)
I would add that the last one never got left out in the sun. It will darken on its own eventually.
Another house, another mesquite countertop. I think this one is like 9 1/2 feet long. I think this one has the prettiest wood in it of any of them.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_3426.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1466635748)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_3421.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1466661532)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_3425.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1466661292)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_3422.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1466661230)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_3424.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1466661256)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/31219/IMG_3423.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1466635539)
Fantastic piece.
:)
I looked at this and had to come back later and look at it again....now I'm looking at it AGAIN. :)
I love it!
I'd like to be honored with the brag on, but I guess I will have to pass it on to Wade. ;D
He did the matching.
Thanks goat. ;D ;D ;D 8) :snowball: :snowball: :snowball:
Don't be too hard on da goat, it only took um three times to realize he had his sunglasses on, once he took um off he could see how realy amazing top really looks. :)
purdy purdy did I mention Purdy ;D
Thanks. ;D I will tell Wade this is the best one yet by acclamation. ;D 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) :snowball: