I've just done a woodwork course, and this stand is the result.
It's not as difficult as it looks, but it does take time. The wood is Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon), 2cm planks edge joined for the top (60cmsx40cms) and 3cm slices laminated up for the legs.
The leg slices were rough cut, glued together, tack-glued to the top and marked out a bit more closely, taken off and band-sawn to near-final shape, glued back on, and finished with a belt sander.
After the final belt-sanding, it was hand-sanded to 400 grit, with the edges just slightly rounded off.
It was finished with linseed oil to bring out the colour, two coats of golden shellac to seal it, and three coats of polished beeswax. The end-grain goes dark as you slide over into the legs - I quite like the effect.
It would have been about 40 or 50 hours all up, but that doesn't count a lot of stuffing around with some dummy legs made of pine to get the proportions right, and some attempts at fancy joints that just didn't work. Main tools would be a bandsaw, and belt sander and a hand plane to join the top.
Gavin
New stand
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Boics
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Re: New stand
Awesome work Gavin.
Simple and classy design.
I like the finish and colour a lot.
Simple and classy design.
I like the finish and colour a lot.
One of the fabulous things about growing bonsai is as you get old and decrepit your trees get old and beautiful
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Re: New stand
Very nice! The end result is great 
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Re: New stand
Hi Gavin
What a great stand the course must have been great
You might have to go into commercial production
The combination of autumn leaves and the stand's colour is perfect
Steve
What a great stand the course must have been great
You might have to go into commercial production
The combination of autumn leaves and the stand's colour is perfect
Steve
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Re: New stand
I have to agree with all the positive comments already posted, it looks GREAT. Many congratulations.
I recently acquired a reasonable amount of "blackwood" so it looks like a nice timber to work with, and your results are great.
I recently acquired a reasonable amount of "blackwood" so it looks like a nice timber to work with, and your results are great.
Check out my blog at http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/blog/Watto" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: New stand
Wow Gavin!
Is there anything you can't do?
Is there anything you can't do?
So the Redwood turns to the Bonsai and says "Lend me a Tenner"......
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Re: New stand
Very nice work Gavin. Let me see..50 hours at, say, conservatively, 30 per hour, 0h that would be 1500 bucks 
I will take three thanks. Seriously though, nice work and looks awesome but you need to work on background skills. Cant let you off that easily.
I will take three thanks. Seriously though, nice work and looks awesome but you need to work on background skills. Cant let you off that easily."Advice is rarely welcome, and the one's who need it the most welcome it the least"
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Re: New stand
I was going to say the same myselfbodhidharma wrote: Seriously though, nice work and looks awesome but you need to work on background skills. Cant let you off that easily.
Lovely table Gavin
Ken
Last edited by kcpoole on May 14th, 2014, 8:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: New stand
Thanks for your thoughts gentlemen - I posted it mainly to show that it was do-able.
Steve - the course didn't teach me the fine joinery that I wanted, and I ended up cheating left right and centre just to get a result.
Watto, Blackwood works well, can be a bit dodgy with glue joints - make joints tight, and clamp everything. Be a bit wary of modern finishes - they can give just a shiny surface, not that deep lustre of old furniture. Good luck with the making, should be fun.
Sean, there's lots I can't do… Neat. Wiring. Organised. Black pines. Tax returns.
Bodhi, I'd set the cost of the labour around $1000, but yes, it's totally uncommercial. As for the background, I'll expect studio lighting from both of you from now on…
Jow, there are no more photos, it really is just a process of rough-cut the shapes for the legs, glue them together, cut a bit closer, glue to the top, finish with a belt sander. The tricky bit is visualising it in 3D - I did some rough mock-ups to get the proportions sorted. I probably made more of a meal of it than I needed, looking back.
Gavin
Steve - the course didn't teach me the fine joinery that I wanted, and I ended up cheating left right and centre just to get a result.
Watto, Blackwood works well, can be a bit dodgy with glue joints - make joints tight, and clamp everything. Be a bit wary of modern finishes - they can give just a shiny surface, not that deep lustre of old furniture. Good luck with the making, should be fun.
Sean, there's lots I can't do… Neat. Wiring. Organised. Black pines. Tax returns.
Bodhi, I'd set the cost of the labour around $1000, but yes, it's totally uncommercial. As for the background, I'll expect studio lighting from both of you from now on…
Jow, there are no more photos, it really is just a process of rough-cut the shapes for the legs, glue them together, cut a bit closer, glue to the top, finish with a belt sander. The tricky bit is visualising it in 3D - I did some rough mock-ups to get the proportions sorted. I probably made more of a meal of it than I needed, looking back.
Gavin
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Re: New stand
Thanks for sharing Gavin. Woodworking our own stands is a challenge and it's great to see what is achievable.
Bonsai was meant to keep me away from the computer.
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Re: New stand
Very nice Gavin, worthy of a very good tree.
As you are always asking me when I am sending this or that tree over to you, and there are two there in the collection.
I thought it about time that the Canberrians reciprocated and sent a stand to me
Cheers Pup
As you are always asking me when I am sending this or that tree over to you, and there are two there in the collection.
I thought it about time that the Canberrians reciprocated and sent a stand to me
Cheers Pup
IN THE LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE ATTAINED, ACHIEVEMENT IS WITHIN SIGHT
I am not a complete fool, some parts are missing
I am not a complete fool, some parts are missing
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Re: New stand
Sure thing Pup, I'll just put my life on hold for a week or two… Bodhi's up for three or four, and I need a couple a bit smaller, that will take me through till August. Life's too damn short, and it's just not wide enough to fit all the stuff in, either. Thanks for the thought though.
Gavin
Gavin
