Currently on the bench
The snow is finally melting away as temperatures rise and winter makes her exit. With that, applying finish to projects is in full swing. Progress on the sapele / walnut coffee table was slowed due to a freezing cold February. As you can see, that barrier has been overcome and the coffee table has been completed. The base was coated with natural danish oil and then a thin coat of de-waxed shellac. The top was a little bit more involved. I attempted to use Crystalac to fill the walnut grain but was not completely happy with the product. After sanding it away, I coated the walnut with danish oil. Once the first coat set, I applied a second generous coating to the top and, before it could dry, used it to wet sand with 320 grit sandpaper.
This process creates a bit of a slurry between the danish oil and the fine sawdust. Rubbing this slurry into the wood fills the grain and perfectly matches the colour. Next it was a matter of building up a protective finish. For this I used Old Masters semi-gloss polyurethane. Each coat was thinned further and further, sanding lightly with 400 grit sandpaper between coats. I am very happy with the sheen and quality of Old Masters and would definitely recommend it over other box-store brands. The figure that presents itself when milling a piece of black walnut beautifully blossoms during the finishing process. The figure is striking in this table top.
Containing so much wonderful character, it will make a beautiful focal point in any room it is placed. This sapele / walnut table is a bit on the large side and is suitable for anything from a love-seat to a full sized couch. The size is also more than suitable for a floor-seated dining table. As with all our work, this piece was a pleasure to design and create and we will miss it when it goes. Reach out on twitter and let us know what you think. Enjoy!
-Mike-