| Contemporary Headboard -- Shaping and Finishing |
From "Wood Works"
episode WWK-107 |
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With the frame assembled and the glued, and the back-panel cut to fit, the mahogany headboard is nearly complete. The finishing touches include using a variety hand-tools for finely shaping the curved-rail portion of the frame, installing the back panel and applying a dark wood finish. Materials: Hand-held router; 3/4-inch radius bit
Wood-shaping hand tools -- e.g., wood rasp, scraping plane, micro-plane
Potassium dichromate dye
Paint brushes
Clean rags
Protective rubber gloves
Mahogany trim strips; wood screws Safety Alert: Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses when working with wood, saws, drills, routers, etc. Safety Alert: Always wear protective gloves when working with wood stains and solvents. Shaping the Curved Rail Steps: - With the headboard profile established, the final bit of artistry required is the three-dimensional shaping of the curved rail. A hand-held router with a 3/4-inch radius bit is used first in order to trim away the sharp edges (figure A), and begin bringing out the oval shape of the rail. With one side of the rail rounded with the router, the headboard is flipped so that a matching rounded shape can be achieved on the other side.
- After the router has been used to smooth off the outside edges of the frame, it is used to do the same to the inside edges -- stopping short of the bottom portion of the arch where it joins with the leg. A wood rasp is then used to blend the 3/4-inch radius of the rail with the 1/8-inch radius on the inside of the leg (figure B ). In our demonstration, David Marks used a #49 pattern-maker's rasp for this detail work.
- With the radius-trimmed portions of the frame blended together, a combination of hand tools are used to finish off the rest of the frame, creating a tapered oval shape for the curved rail. In our demonstration, a Japanese scraping plane (figure C) was used first.
- A micro-plane (figure D) and hand-scraper were then used to further smooth the contour.
- After some hand-sanding, the headboard is complete and ready to accept the wood finish.
Potassium Dichromate Finish Steps: - For the finish on this piece, a dark-staining potassium dichromate was selected. Brushed onto mahogany, this finish gives the wood a deep, dark chocolate color. The dye comes in the form of orange-colored crystal that dissolves in water.
- Several coats of dye (figure E) will be required to achieve the desired rich, dark finish.
- Once the potassium dichromate has been applied and had time to dry, apply a treatment of tung oil to produce a warm, hand-rubbed finish.
- Important: When using water-based dyes, the water will tend to raise the grain of the wood. To compensate for this, the wood was wetted slightly, allowed to dry and then sanded smooth.
- Safety Alert: Potassium dichromate is a toxic chemical. Read and follow all safety precautions that come with the dye chemicals.
Thin strips of mahogany trim (figure F) are used to attach the back-panel to the backside of the finished frame. The trim pieces are dyed and finished to match the rest of the headboard. To fix the panel in place, glue is applied to the edge of the panel and into the rabbet cut into the backside of the frame. The panel is then lifted into position (figure G), and the trim is attached with screws to hold it in place. When the glue dries, the headboard is complete. This contemporary design exhibits understated elegance. The exposed-spline joinery adds strength and subtle visual accents, and the dark finish warms the figure of the wood. Tip: For maintenance, rub the piece with a soft cloth with a few drops of lemon-oil applied. This will remove dust and help maintain the rich glow of the wood. Click here to order your tools and materials for this project from Woodcraft!
RESOURCES :
Fine Woodworking
A magazine devoted to high-quality craftsmanship in woodworking.
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com
The Small Wood Shop (The Best of Fine Woodworking)
Author: Helen Albert (Editor)
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561580619
Woodworking Techniques: Best Methods for Building Furniture from Fine Woodworking
Author: Editors of Fine Woodworking magazine
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561583456
Mastering Woodworking Machines (Fine Woodworking Book)
Author: Mark Duginske
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 0942391985
David Marks Website
David Marks, DIY's Wood Works host, is a master woodworker. For more information on cut sizes and project details, please contact him via his Website at www.djmarks.com
Beds and Bedroom Furniture: The Best of Fine Woodworking
Model: 1561581917
Author: Editors of Fine Woodworking
(1997)
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com
The Complete Woodworker's Companion
Author: Roger Holmes
Publisher: Watson-Guptill
ISBN: 0823008665
The Complete Book of Wood Joinery
Author: Robert J. Decristoforo
Publisher: Sterling Publishing Co.
ISBN: 0806999500
Advanced Woodworking
Model: 0783539126
Author: Editors of Time Life Books
1998
Time-Life Books Inc.
Website: www.timelife.com
Popular Woodworking
F & W Publications, Inc.
Website: www.popularwoodworking.com
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