New guy saying hello and asking for some ideas

Greedo · 10 Oct 2012

Hi there,

Just joined and the site looks great.

Just a quick bit of advice. I have recently taken up woodwork after a 20 year break.

I am enjoying building my skills back up again but have some wood I'm looking for some advice on. 20 years ago I built a tv and video cabinet at school made from solid mahogany. It is pretty big and I have recently dismantled it and looking to make something new with it as my parents used it for 15 years and has sentimental value to me.

Anyone got any advice as I'm stumped as to what to make as mahogany seems such an old fashioned wood these days.

Cheers guys

AndyT · 10 Oct 2012

Welcome along. I know what you mean about mahogany - it used to be the ordinary timber merchant's default hardwood, used for window frames and all sorts. I think FSC schemes and an awareness of the dodgy sources helped change people's opinions of it, but it can be lovely stuff to work with, and there's no more responsibly sourced wood than something salvaged.

What you make depends on how big your recycled boards are, but how about a small table? You could glue up a double thickness for legs, which would not need to be chunky any way. You could try a bit of carving on it, or some contrasting inlay lines to lighten the looks. Or how about a tray - which can be as simple or as complicated as you want, with carving, mouldings or even Chippendale style piercing if you fancy a challenge!

Another nice idea would be a book rest (iPad rest if you must!) - there's a nice old French design that Roy Underhill has publicised where you cut a hinged stand out of a single board. It needs something well-behaved and fairly wide, so might suit what you have.

Cheshirechappie · 10 Oct 2012

Hi Greedo, and welcome back to woodwork!

Mahogany isn't so much unfashionable, I think, just less available than it used to be. A lot used to come from Brazil and the Amazon rain forests, and with better monitoring of illegal logging these days (still not perfect, but better than it was), and more importers following origin accreditation schemes, less 'naughty' wood slips through the system. Since yours is 'reclaimed', I think we can class it as OK! Besides, you can hardly stuff it back in the tree now...

Just an idea - keep the wood to one side until something crops up that justifies it's use. I'd be tempted to keep a bit for toolmaking; many of the old cabinetmakers made their own winding sticks, panel gauges and large squares from mahogany since it tends to be stable (and, for them, readily available!). The rest might make a couple of really fine jewellery boxes, or an elegant occasional table - sort of thing that might solve a wedding or anniversary present problem in due course.

Greedo · 10 Oct 2012

Cheers guys. All food for thought. I'm liking the idea of a table to be honest as it is wide enough for that. If I remember when I made it as part of my craft & design higher at school it took me and 2 mates to carry it home. It's a sturdy bugger.

No skills · 10 Oct 2012

Just to echo what has been said really, save it for something that strikes you as a special project. Not sure if mahogany is out of fashion or maybe just price range (?) for a lot of things, I'd imagine your stock to be of good quality though - proper air dried/seasoned stuff when you got it.

The book stand Andy mentioned is a neat looking thing (probably a search for Roubo book stand would find pictures) and have been tempted myself to make one.

Welcome to the forum.

AndyT · 10 Oct 2012

I meant to say that I agree with your idea of re-using old furniture. I've got a little oak coffee table I made using wood from my parents' bedroom furniture that they bought when they got married. I'd never have wanted the chests of drawers, but I like knowing the origin of the table. Also, it's lovely quartersawn stock that was hidden under a layer of 1920s gloopy brown varnish.

A big advantage of a coffee table is that you can make it any size you want, according to what size timber you have.