Carpentry

[gothick]

I am impressed with my carpentry skills, today. I made myself a fitted desktop for an alcove.



Look, there's even proper joints, and everything! Not bad for someone who hasn't used a chisel since GCSE Craft Design and Technology lessons, during which I mostly played cards with Philip Winter, from what I remember...



Anyway. I'm happy, because that's a piece of furniture I can start using and won't have to clear back out of the lounge when the wooden floor gets laid.

Although I do need to oil, wax or varnish it in some way. Anyone know much about finishing pine?

Comments

[kaveypie.livejournal.com]

Well done, you!

[hoiho.livejournal.com]

Anyone know much about finishing pine?

Depends what you want... Either varnish, like polyurethane, which is very hard wearing, but needs careful application to look really good; or rubbed-in wax, which is less so, and needs redone, but I prefer it for desks, as it feels nice, and isn't sticky against skin, and can be sanded back if needed; and it's simple, of slow, to apply.

[gothick-matt.livejournal.com]

Mmm, yes, actually I have some beeswax somewhere that I used on a £5 IKEA pine footstool, and it does now look pretty good. That could work nicely if I give it a few careful coats rather than the quick rubbing down I gave the footstool... I hadn't really considered the feel until you said that, but yes, varnish does have that slightly plasticky feel, doesn't it?

Might as well feel like proper wood if I'm going to the trouble of using proper wood, hey?