A really ugly effect on end grain for an arts and crafts dresser

[Eric Anderson]

I have a grain problem that I would like the newsgroup's opinion on. I have an arts & crafts dresser that is in quartersawn oak. The problem is that the edge of the top has a really UGLY grain figure. Yea, I should have done something in my choice, but I did not realize how bad it would turn out. My chest of drawers ...

not show this up in the same way. This is the dresser. It has just been stained, but I am willing to do some drastic things if necessary.

would like to get your opinion on it. I have pointed to pictures of the arts and crafts dresser. As I said, the wood is quarter sawn and I was able to get the quarter sawn edge on almost every area, but the top edge shows plain sawn. Worse yet, when it got stained, it gives the appearance of the stain running.

question is:

Is there a finishing solution (possibly to de-accent the grain) Should I bite the bullet and take the top off and attach a quarter sawn edge?

Eric Anderson

[Geoff]

I would attach a quartersawn edge. Overall great job however.

[Leon]

I would leave it alone. I don't think the work required to "really fix it" would be worth the time involved. Wood is not perfect.

[Swingman]

Damn, Bubba ... beauty is obviously in the eye of the beholder. The contrast is gorgeous to my way of thinking. I do it on purpose just to get that look.

Besides, if you mess with it, Joat's gonna have to be placating the ww gods again, and he's getting cranky in his old age.

In short, leave it alone! You'll be glad you did.

[Brian Duberley]

Obviously it is a matter of taste, but from what I can see in the photo the figure of the side of the top is attractive and forms a good visual boundary to the front view. My advice, for what it's worth is keep it as it is.

Brian Duberley

[Patriarch]

"Eric Anderson" wrote in news: [e-mail]:

If anything, redo the edge. The problem is that YOU know that this isn't what you wanted, and it's likely going to bug you.

The first table I did, a small nightstand, has the same problem with one of the legs. It's in the guest room, tucked in a corner, hiding.

Patriarch

[eganders]

I see that I may have a problem with the length of the URL. I hope that this will correct it.

dresser

edge

closeup of edge

I have a grain problem that I would like the newsgroup's opinion on. I have

> did not show this up in the same way. This is the dresser. It has just

necessary.

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9.jpg

[David Lankford]

Eric, the dresser is beautiful. I wouldn't do a thing. That's the natural grain pattern on the quarter sawn oak.

I am building a mantel our of quarter sawn oak and have been trying to get the color of finish similar to what you have here. Would you mind describing what stain you used, the method of application, and your sanding procedure. I have been sanding to 220 and everytime I wipe the excess stain, dye, gel off, it leaves the wood too light. To get it to a deeper color, I have had to not wipe off hardly any and I am concerned that when I apply the top coat, it will loosen the stain and ruin the finish.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

David

[Larry Jaques]

On 10 Feb 2005 12:37:18 -0800, the inscrutable [e-mail] spake:

It did. Throw your pigment stain away NOW, Eric. Karma has spoken. ;)

Try fuming and waxing next time. If you must stain, try an aniline dye.

They give free shipping on your first order and I hear that their prices are half that of other stores.

[Will]

Where's the ugly stuff? I couldn't see it. Maybe you could put an arrow on the photo so I know what to agree with.

OK now that I'm finished pulling your ...

Looks fine to me.

Nice work!

If you are not happy with it though... I will haul it away free. Normally I would charge for the service -- but since you are unhappy... :-))

[e-mail] wrote:

[eganders]

Well, I tried an idea I was given. I used some paste wood filler and sanded it down. Here is the result. Ordinarily, I am TRYING to accent the grain, but in this instance, as was stated above, I want a dye stain look on this edge only. Using filler does that.

[foggytown]

LEAVE IT ALONE! Every time you "correct" a natural flaw in wood you move a step closer to pvc-covered, flat-packed, self-assembly shit. Is that what you want?

FoggyTown

[fredfighter]

Not to sugges tthat you hcange the dresser now but the way to prevent this next time is to bevel the front edge of the top piece and glue on a separate strip with a right-triangular cross-section and quarter-sawn grain showing on the part that will be seen. Here is an attempt at illustrating with ASCII art, which should be viewed with a non-proportionate font:

--------------- / | / | ___________/___|

Stickly did something like this with his square pieces, making each from four right-triangular sections so that the quarter-sawn grain showed on all four faces.

If you are good with artist's oil paints, or know someone who is you could paint fuax quarter sawn grain on the edge in question.

BTW, that's not an end-grain effect that is bothering you, is is a side-grain effect, to be accurate.

[eganders]

Well, you are all on the money. The approach of putting a quarter sawn edge on it would be the way to go. I did use the paste wood filling technique and if it went any further, Foggytown would hit the nail on the head. It is real close now to being too subdued. I am going to complete it as is.