How is everybody doing out there. We have had 2 days of sunshine in a row here in the great northwest and we are pretty excited about it.

My wife and I went to Portland this weekend looking for plans on a desk she wants me to build for her. It is a pretty simple design, I don't think I will have too much trouble with it but that is yet to be seen. My question is about the wood. She wants a notty pine look like you would find at the unfinished furniture places. I hate the idea of building something out of pine. What can I use or show her that might look like that but would come out with a beautiful finish. It is not that I don't like pine but if I am going to spend the time and money to build something I want it to look really good and not like something that comes out of the unfinished wood furniture stores.

Thanks

Thanks for responding. That was my first thought was oak.

What kind of finish are you planning on putting on it. In other words are you going to stain it a dark color or keep it looking as natural as possible or were you thinking of painting it?

 

Are you looking for a dark color or light color?

John hit the nail on the head. Color choice is the beginning. I have a lot of customers tell me they want a "cherry" finish. Cherry is a wood, not a color. But it helps move us along to get where they want. Is your wife maybe liking the light natural color of pine? I have made loads of pine pieces over the years. It is a sweet wood to work. There is a big difference between white pine and the stuff you buy at the lumber yard. If you can give us some idea of what it is she wants for color, I am sure between us all, we can come up with something. bob

She wants the clear unstained, unpainted look.

In a light or dark wood?

Dan Shuflin said:

She wants the clear unstained, unpainted look.

Light wood.

Maple, alder, ash, and beech are a few that come to mind.

Dan Shuflin said:

Light wood.

Thank you, I have not seen any beech that has been finished out yet but I have maple. I like the idea of maple. Thanks so much. Now I will start looking for some furniture made from those woods. Anyone have a picture of a piece made from those woods I would love to see it. You guys are awesome.

Dan

Poplar, Maple or Birch.  For that light, unstained look.  All hardwoods.  Pine is soft.

 

Try to convince her that "Knotty Pine" blotches quite a bit unless conditioners and other "bats wings and and file handles" are used.

Also tell her that no "high-end" furniture has knots.

Having regurgitated all that, some furniture that is made her way and finished properly actually might look nice.  She is the Boss, isn't she? 

Larry

OK, Charles..  If you do like the knotty pine look, I would use a very light brown stain to enhance the contrast from the knots to the heartwood.

Usually Number two knotty pine has solid knots that you shouldn't have to worry about.  Lowes, although a tad more expensive than Menards, has a very nice selection of it.

I also have a method for rubbing out poly that would look great on her desk.  Ask later if you are interested, and I'll write a Blog for it.

Larry

Larry

Consider me a sponge, I wanna know everything you guys have to offer. I would greatly appreciate your method for rubbing out poly. I am assuming you mean polyurethane.

Dan

I'll write it starting tomorrow.

Larry

I'll be waiting for that one also. Thanks Larry.

Harry
Larry Jenkins said:

I'll write it starting tomorrow.

Larry

this was done in plain hard maple with a golden oak stain. I used roofing tar mixed with some naphtha. No stain controllers needed.Hard maple needs to be sanded no finer then 150. This was a tall cupboard, almost 8' tall. bob

Wow that is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Dan

pine is also a soft wood. It isn't a good choice for a desk as it will dent easily just from writing a letter or a note.  

I'd go with some tiger striped maple.