Well, got the stain on and it'll be OK for the intended use (have I mentioned I don't like red oak?). The staining (which I do don't a whole lot) came out much nicer than the flash makes it appear...the color is fairly uniform across the desk; so I'm happy. On to varnish, then put into use. I did fill the grain on the top with Pore 'o Pack mixed with the stain, at this point it looks fairly smooth but I'll know more after the first coat of varnish.

I think it turned out great!

Turned out nice... I'm funny about oak and will only use miniwax early american stain on anything personal.. This cabinet served it's purpose and was given away. A shame kids gotta grow up...

 

That is one fine piece of work, Fred. In your hands, even red oak can be beautiful. 

On 10/27/2019 at 2:48 PM, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

 then some Cabot 8000 varnish. 

 

Where are you finding this, or is it an old stash???

I have about 2 quarts on hand (along with one P&L38, and one McCloskey Heirloom), but last week a local fellow bought a stack of Cabot proucts from an estate sale, and in the group was a full case of Cabot 8000 (gloss). It was listed on CL, he wanted $60 for the case, so I bought it. Not a steal by any means, but you do what you have to do. When I got it home, I looked at the last case I bought....I thought I had paid $19/qt for it. Nope, the price was still on the box, bought in 2009, and $10.99 quart (!).

Great job on the desk Fred!! I like the style of the desk.

Sorry, I like red oak. But then again, I like any wood that I can make anything out of. 

Fred, that is a very handsome desk.  It will be enjoyed for many years.   Danl

Fred, Great job on the desk . I am like you I do not like to work red oak but you got some nice straight grain on this. I have done  a mission piece or two but used white oak.

White oak is the only oak I've used for quite a few years, I have a sawmill that specializes in qtr. sawn woods and can always get some nice WO there. With all my red oak used up (now) I'll be back to building mission/A&C with white oak. I have a few leftover pieces from this batch that should be enough for a printer stand to go with this desk.

My A&C (Stickly) chairs were QSWO. One of red oak's saving graces is it's price. Out here, I pay around $10 a bf for QSWO. That's one reason to use native mesquite. Though, not quite appropriate for A&C.  

 Fred, that is a beautiful piece of furniture. I think the finish is great, I like the color.

 

I thought the arts & craft movement was started to get craftsmen back into the shop and build what they want & how they wanted. More of a personal touch. Maybe I'm wrong.  

Sort of a rebellion of artists and craftsmen against the burgeoning industrial revolution of 1860s England. 

A&C link

Fred, that is one durable and handsome desk.  You did a super job.  And, the finish looks great to me.

 

BillyJack, that is one fantastic storage cabinet.  Yeah, those dang kids come in, take over your life and after they drive you crazy, they just leave.  And, sometimes, take pieces of your heart.  Nice storage.  

A beautiful desk Fred.  Thanks for walking us through the build with you.

Disenchanted with the impersonal, mechanized direction of society in the 19th century, they sought to return to a simpler, more fulfilling way of living. The movement is admired for its use of high quality materials and for its emphasis on utility in design.

 

"they sought to return to a simpler, more fulfilling way of living",. Pretty much everyone here.

On 11/1/2019 at 7:30 AM, BillyJack said:

Turned out nice... I'm funny about oak and will only use miniwax early american stain on anything personal.. This cabinet served it's purpose and was given away. A shame kids gotta grow up...

 

You did a good job matching the cat with that stain,BillyJack

 

Fred you did that desk good with the stain you picked,even though the wood is red oak. We get mostly red oak here, I did get a stash of white oak that was over 55 yrs old one time and that was my first and last experience with it, I will have to say that it was a dream to work with and took a finish that was exceptional.

 

Herb

OK, to put a pin in this one. My desk is completed, and despite the finishing gufaws is now in place. I'm especially happy with how the keyboard tray turned out, I was starting to think it wasn't possible with an inset drawer front. Anyway, it's in place in my "man-closet" and in use. The best part was the vengence I extracted on what it replaced. I had mentioned I was using a POS Sauder desk, when we moved here I needed something fast...and didn't have a shop at the time. So Ipicked it up from Habitat for next-to-nothing; that was actually a little more than it was worth. Regardless, I took it to the shop yesterday and completely disassembled it (to remove the hardware parts). It now goes to the brush pile to be burned and bother no one ever again! I have a thing about not allowing hardware into my burn piles, never know what it might do in the future. Oh, yeah...I need to build a matching cabinet to sit the printer on and provide some drawer space, that's next. Anyway, pics:

 

Edited November 20, 20196 yr by Fred W. Hargis Jr

Awesome, Fred. Can't wait to see your take on a drawered printer stand. 

Definitely, Awesome!  It really looks great there.