Looks "pretty good" you say?! Looks great Cal! I love the way the finish pops all the carving detail, fantastic job. Definitely something for me to strive for!
Chris

It looks fantastic!

I like that you didnt go full blown into darkening up stuff with the black. You glazed enough to pop the carvings without trying to fake people out to make it look extremly old.

How about some close ups of the carvings? I'm particularly interested in the knees of the legs.

She's done.....

A light rubdown with steel wool and stuck the top on with construction adhesive (historically correct?) and the table is finished. If I had to do it over again I probably would lessen the overhang a bit on the slab so the egg and dart would be more visible, but overall I am really, really pleased with it. Projects like this are how I will continue to develop my carving skills.

In the next coming weeks I will attempt to get some nice photographs that show all of the details of the feet and the carving. So be patient with me until then. It is difficult as many of you know for me to get a good picture inside at night.

I want to thank all that have commented, posted, encouraged, complimented, asked questions, or otherwise participated in this thread. It has been a long haul on this table, I started cutting wood in April or May, I think. And I want to thank T-Mac for setting up such a great forum for "serious" woodworkers to share and discuss what we enjoy so much.

Please feel free to ask any other questions. AND...get your projects and play by plays done too! Thanks, Cal

What were the title of that old Hippies era song with the words... "Everybody let's get stoned"? I'm too old to remember it. Anyway Cal, I want to compliment you on a job well done and a Play by Play well executed. One Hit, No Errors 1 RUN SCORED!.. MLW at it's best.

Bruce

Awesome work on the finishing!! The only thing I'll offer as a constructive thought and also because I can't tell from the photo is to consider a coat of paste wax to balance the sheen. If you just rubbed it out with steel whool then I'd imagine that you still have areas in the carving where you couldn't get to that are now shiny compared to the rubbed areas. Paste wax will help balance the sheen and give the piece that nice soft glow where the piece has a healthy shine without being glossy. This also helps to protect your finish and work as well. Personally I'd use a dark walnut Briwax if it was in my restoration shop and while you're at it you can in essence use the dark wax as a sort of a glaze to further highlight the depth. If you do decide to wax it at some point at least use a wax that is as dark as the piece otherwise once the wax dries in the recesses it can turn light on you.

I love the comment about walnut and mahogany being hard to tell apart. I've had many many pieces come through my shop where I wasn't certain until I removed the finish on a back leg and cut into the wood. I've had cases where I had to send a scrap piece of wood into a lab as well to have it tested because I couldn't tell.

Congrats to you on your amazing accomplishment Cal. While Tommy may have started this place it's people like you that it's here for.

All,

I realize it has been nearly a year since this project was basically completed, but I finally got around to having some better photos taken of the project. And, there might be some of you that never got to see it the first time around.

So, in lieu of any other recently completed projects, here are the final shots of the Philadelphia slab table.

Thanks, Cal

LOVE those legs! Wish I was able to dso a set like that!

Paul
the little guy

Nice pics of your great work, bro. Looking forward to seeing you in Williamsburg next week.

-Matt