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  #1  
Old 11-06-14, 05:30 AM
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Opinions needed

Okay, so I'm doing a woodworking project that will be entered in State Fair in February. I think it was originally a Woodsmith project, but I got the plans from Plans Now a few years back, but never got it built. This is the item:

Craftsman End Table Plans - Take a Closer Look

Anyway, while precutting the pieces that will be the side spindles I started looking at the two different grain patterns (this is quarter-sawn white oak), the usual straight grain and the side that has [I had to look up what it's called] ray flecks. So here's the question, would using the ray flecked surfaces facing out give the project a more unique appearance or should I rotate those sides away and stick with the plain, straight-grained look? I don't need to make any big decisions right away as I am just at the stage of having got the legs to size and am cutting the mortises in them [with my drill-press; very time-consuming]. I took a break from the tedium of the mortising and pre-cut a few of the other pieces which is how I got to this question. Anyway, here are the sample pieces of the available surfaces:

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When I get to that part of the project, I can test fit the pieces in both configurations to see how it looks against the rest of the table, but just curious what anyone thinks with the initial idea.
 
  #2  
Old 11-06-14, 05:40 AM
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I like the ones on the left.
It would be a waste using quarter sawn oak and not take advantage of it's grain.
 
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Old 11-06-14, 06:09 AM
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Might depend on how it looks with finish on it too. It might bring it out and be stunning, or make it look like saw burn marks.

If it enhances it, I vote for the ray flecked stuff as well. Do you have enough for all the spindles?
 
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Old 11-06-14, 06:20 AM
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Sorry, Master Guns, I think I would need to see both in place to decide. It could be that the ones on the left add character or it could be that they distract you from the overall beauty of the piece.
 
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Old 11-06-14, 06:59 AM
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The quarter-sawn grain complements the simple style of the table. It's a Craftsman-style project--it would be blasphemy to hide the grain that's a BIG part of that style of furniture.

If I recall that project the instructions direct you to glue up the legs by stacking thinner pieces with the edge grain facing forward so you will see the rays & flecks.
 
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Old 11-06-14, 08:50 AM
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Personally, I like simple, so I prefer the plainer ones on the right. Just my 2cents!
 
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Old 11-06-14, 07:28 PM
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Have all the blanks cut already, Vic, so no problem with quantity. I think I even have at least one extra I could test stain. And, yes, I was thinking the same thing about them ending up looking like blade burn marks which would be a deduction in the judging.

Mitch, when I get the other pieces ready, I'll dry fit one side in each style and then see how they look against the surrounding wood. It is kind of difficult to visualize the spindles just loose like that.

Guy, the plans actually call for the legs to be cut from 8/4, unfortunately not available in QSWO from my favorite hardwood lumber mill (Niagara), so I had to glue them up. The flecks are not visible in all the lumber, but I think what I have available from what I ordered the top and the spindles look to be the only pieces that would have any significant flecking.
 
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Old 11-07-14, 02:26 PM
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If you veneer the balance of the table with a quarter sawn oak veneer, you could increase the interest from just the stiles to the whole unit. The shape on the legs would tend to give a problem with veneer, but straighter legs would add interest as well. https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...awn+oak+veneer
 
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Old 11-07-14, 03:45 PM
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The entire point of quarter sawn white oak is the flecks. They will look beautiful when stained and finished. Have them face out. All the other pieces without it can go in the garbage where they belong.

Another tip: Don't round the corners over with a router as it looks in the sample picture. Just remove the sharpness with a block and sandpaper.
 
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Old 11-07-14, 04:45 PM
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I don't throw very much in the waste pile @ $7.20/bdft.

Too late on the round over. I finished the mortises on the legs and cut the end tapers and rounded edges this afternoon.

FWIW, my last fair entry [snack table storage: http://www.doityourself.com/did-it-m...e-storage-326], the judge mentioned that she ALWAYS did round overs on edges, partially as a means to reduce potential wear, etc. Although she didn't mark me down for the sharp edges, neither did I get any brownie points.
 
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Old 11-07-14, 05:43 PM
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Maple inlay on the top? Yes, maybe, no? That would make it snap.
 
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Old 11-07-14, 09:19 PM
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Since this is a juried show you should play to the judge's expectation of what a craftsman piece should look like. straight lines, square edges, no embellishment (inlays), and lots of contrasty grain.
 
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Old 11-08-14, 04:46 AM
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I don't throw very much in the waste pile @ $7.20/bdft.
Ouch! Retail prices hurt!

I've been buying wood locally for my projects around the house at retail. It's been poplar and maple so the retail price hasn't meant too much to my wallet. I am going to make a bathroom vanity out of walnut and I was lucky enough to tack my order on to one at work to get the better price. I was able to get 4/4 for $7 a bd ft. I probably would have paid closer to $14 otherwise.
 
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Old 11-08-14, 05:39 AM
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IF you have a good place to store it, buying directly from the sawmill is economical. Since it isn't kiln dried you have to give it plenty of time to air dry. I'm almost out of oak but I do have some cedar stored in my barn/shop
 
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Old 11-08-14, 05:43 AM
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Yeah, that $7.20 bd ft is 4/4 mail-order delivered to my door with one edge jointed. I plane it to size here. One of the downsides to living in the Sunshine State; I either have to order by mail or pay big bucks at the box stores for limited selection (red oak and poplar). Not cheap either way.

Judging is single judge; the lady judge was from here in Florida, this year's is a guy from New York, Scott Grove; no telling what he'll be looking for. A lot of times the judges are particularity interested in seeing more exotic woods used than my standard red oak [I'll just trot down to the local lumber yard and pick up some cocobolo....right!]. Also interesting designs which I tend to lag because I work best from plans rather than my own creativity.

Here's the actual judging criteria:

JUDGING
The following scorecard will be used as a basis for judging entered items:
(1) Workmanship 40 points
(2) Material Selected 10 points
(3) Design 20 points
(4) Finish 30 points
(5) Complexity 50 points.

Date of judging is February 1, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.

Some of the pieces that are entered are really, REALLY good, much better than I could ever create with my 60 year old table saw in my crowded garage wood shop. Fortunately you're not competing head-to-head, more like playing golf and you're trying to shoot par.

Here's an interesting one from last year. They called it a "pi" table. See if you can find the numbers in pi: 3.1415926

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Old 02-17-15, 09:17 AM
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No joy in Mudville and no ribbon at the Tow Guy's. Would have been pretty surprised as I was not very pleased with my workmanship on the project. To the untrained eye it looks really nice, but there were enough little things that I knew going in it would finish out of the money when viewed by a woodworking judge. Will still look just fine right next to my favorite chair.
 
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Old 02-17-15, 09:27 AM
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And the pictures of yours are in ga ga land, or what???
 
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Old 02-17-15, 11:15 AM
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I'm away from house, will post one later. I'll be sure and blur it up with Photoshop so it'll look better.

Actually I'll stick pics in DIM and link it here.
 
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Old 02-17-15, 11:23 AM
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The fact that you entered it in a contest tells me it is better than the average Joe. We always beat ourselves up about things we do, but in reality, we are the only ones who see the blemish. It's because you put so many man hours into it. Anyway, its nice to show off sometimes.
 
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Old 02-18-15, 07:56 AM
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Okay, had a bit of trouble posting in DIM; it may or may not appear, but here's the finished photo (un-Photoshopped). Hopefully the DIM will post becasue I added some really good in-progress photos.

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Old 02-18-15, 10:16 AM
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Looks nice ..........
 
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Old 02-19-15, 08:57 AM
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Good job! Nice feedback, thanks.
 
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Old 02-19-15, 09:16 AM
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Looks good from here
.
 
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Old 02-19-15, 09:39 AM
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I especially like the little tweaks, such as the double tapered leg bottoms, and, I assume, mortise and tenon joinery all around. Great job. Name:  blue ribbon.jpg
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Old 02-19-15, 11:57 AM
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I'll recommend you to the Fair admin as the woodworking judge for next year.
 
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Old 02-19-15, 12:46 PM
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There is no way you can not pat yourself on the back for that, excellent work!

Is this contest a national thing, or local?
 
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Old 02-19-15, 12:55 PM
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I like that table. Stout looking. I built something very similar, but with drop leafs at sides. I'll try to get a picture.
If you haven't tried a rule joint for leafs, they're interesting. All you need is a 1/2" radius bit and a 1/2" cove bit (matching), and the special hinges.

Good Work
 
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Old 02-19-15, 01:23 PM
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Here's mine. I think they are similar even though not the same size. Kind of the same idea or style. I would like to make a few like yours for beside a sofa.

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  #29  
Old 02-21-15, 03:55 AM
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And the plot thickens

Florida State Fair, Chris.

Brian, I like yours and I can see some similarities in the design.

Now the GOOD news. My brother picked up the table from the Fair earlier this week [he's a lot closer and had to pick up his photography entries] and when he dropped it off last night we found the grading sheet in the drawer [actually in the hidden rear part of the drawer] and it clearly shows "2nd" in the "Place" block.

TA-DA!

Launched an email to the competition people as to what's up with that. Second place gets me 50 bucks [and ribbon] I think.
 
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Old 02-21-15, 06:19 AM
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Hey, materials partially paid for, anyway. Way to go!!

Adjusting:

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Old 02-21-15, 07:05 AM
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My bro also picked up our daughter's photography entries, one of which won a 2nd place. Ummm, oh, Katie, I'm sorry but they must have forgotten to send your ribbon with that photo......
 
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Old 02-21-15, 09:39 AM
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They sent it to my house by mistake.

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