How I Destroyed Our Dining Table.

by just a little of everything in Workshop > Woodworking

37272 Views, 48 Favorites, 0 Comments

How I Destroyed Our Dining Table.

5663238850e1b603d30002fe.jpeg
IMG_20151127_115445.jpg
IMG_20151203_133906.jpg
IMG_20151127_115550.jpg
IMG_20151203_134517.jpg
IMG_20151203_134510.jpg

Somewhere around in the middle of the 1990's my mother bought a new "Solid" oak dining room set, a table and 6 chairs.

Having 4 teenagers in the house only 1 chair survived the past 20 years, but the table stood the test of time (somewhat), as you can see from the before pics, it only had some ware and tear to the finish.

We inherited the table about 7 years ago and I finally convinced the wife it needed refinishing, here's how it went.

IMG_20151128_230502.jpg
IMG_20151128_230510.jpg
IMG_20151128_230649.jpg
IMG_20151128_231131.jpg

First thing to do dis-assembly. Remove table top and legs from the base, replace washers/nuts onto bolts you don't want to lose them.

IMG_20151129_105849.jpg
IMG_20151129_105818.jpg
IMG_20151129_105905.jpg
IMG_20151129_110544.jpg
IMG_20151129_121902.jpg
IMG_20151129_113203.jpg
IMG_20151129_113221.jpg

Next step was to use a technique called "Shou Sugi ban" to darken and protect the wood.

Shou Sugi Ban (or Yakisugi) is an ancient Japanese exterior siding technique that preserves wood by charring it with fire. Traditionally, Sugi wood (cryptomeria japonica L.f., also called Japanese cedar) was used. The process involves charring the wood, cooling it, cleaning it, and finishing it with a natural oil.

IMG_20151129_122655.jpg
IMG_20151129_125136.jpg
5665387450e1b603d3000cac.jpeg

With the legs finished I moved on to the table base.

IMG_20151129_125239.jpg
IMG_20151129_140638.jpg
5665ccc22e7fb6cb780001a9.jpeg
5665cf86937ddbfa5500069d.jpeg
IMG_20151129_125648.jpg

I started burning off the old finish from the table top, first on the sides then I moved onto the table top.

IMG_20151203_133900.jpg
IMG_20151129_152751.jpg
IMG_20151129_153016.jpg

After the initial charing/sanding of the top I went back over the top with the torch And that's when disaster struck, the top of the "solid oak" table top started peeling off... when I brushed off the charcoaled wood, I realized it was only a thin oak veneer that was glued to chipboard/particle board with a 1/2 inch of real oak around the outside lip.

Now I need to figure out what I can do with this hunk of junk table...and the wife was/is not pleased.

Thanks for looking at my disaster piece of an ible.