Author Archives: millcrek

About millcrek

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Leather Top Table ( More Carving like a machine )

Posted on March 11, 2014 by millcrek

This is a low table, factory made, machine carved, it was built sometime in the first half of the twentieth century. It came in to the shop missing one leg otherwise in fair condition. One of the existing legs was … Continue reading →

Posted in Repairs, Tables | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Carving like a machine ( game table )

Posted on March 6, 2014 by millcrek

A game table probably from the 1940s missing one leg and parts of the other three. The challenge here is to hand carve parts that look like they were carved by a machine. I cut poplar blocks for the missing … Continue reading →

Posted in Repairs, Tables | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

The Miniature ( Dog Cart 2 )

Posted on March 3, 2014 by millcrek

Where we left off the last time, the new spokes are installed. Here is the complete running gear. The cart with all the new parts. In addition to the obvious wooden parts a few metal pieces were also made. Coloring … Continue reading →

Posted in Repairs | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Miniature ( Dog Cart, part 1)

Posted on February 27, 2014 by millcrek

A dog cart made by the Birdsell Manufacturing co. These carts were made very much like the full size wagons the company made. They were popular from the 1870s to the 1920s. They were even sold through the Sears Roebuck … Continue reading →

Posted in Repairs | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Systems ( the chicken or the egg )

Posted on February 25, 2014 by millcrek

There are a several guides or systems, that are said to help one learn to “design” furniture. The most cited examples are, the column orders, the golden rectangle and the Fibonacci series  among others. There are  problems with all of … Continue reading →

Posted in design | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Pompous Ramblings, You Can’t Buy Skill

Posted on November 7, 2013 by millcrek

After rereading this post I’ve decided I sound like a pompous ass, maybe I am. On the woodworking forums, there are endless debates over which grinder, plane, chisel, saw, hammer or any other tool or machine is the best and … Continue reading →

Posted in art and philosophy | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Clean a finish before you decide to strip it off

Posted on August 10, 2013 by millcrek

Here we have the top of a small folding game table from the early to mid 20th century, as you can see it is fairly rough. Most people seeing it would immediately say it needs to be stripped and refinished. … Continue reading →

Posted in Finishing | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Dresser

Posted on July 10, 2013 by millcrek

The Erie canal was completed on October 26, 1825, it’s completion opened the areas west of the Appalachian Mountains to settlement and trade. Shortly after, Milwaukee began as a Great Lakes port and further opened the Midwest to a second migration … Continue reading →

Posted in Case Furniture, Repairs | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Spitting in the Wind ( preaching to the choir )

Posted on April 7, 2013 by millcrek

If you have not read Jack Planes post on hide glue, you should.

Posted in Uncategorized, Wood Working | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Orchard Lawn [The Gundry House]

Posted on January 22, 2013 by millcrek

Orchard Lawn, the Italianate home built in 1868 by Joseph Gundry is the home of the Mineral Point Wisconsin historical society and their museum. The society has many photographs of how the house was furnished when it was built. They … Continue reading →

Posted in seating, upholstery | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment