Dovetailed drawers, a solid wood top, and a rich finish round out the work on completing this heirloom treasure for your home.
Part one of this project addressed making a solid, hardwood case. Once the glue sets up, you can turn your attention to the details: drawers, the top, lower shelf, and the finish.
It’s really easy to gloss over (see what I did there?) the finish part — wipe on some finish and call it good. However, the process of finishing is just as important as the construction. In our case, we wanted to find a stain and finish combo that shows off the burr oak Logan milled from a tree in our area. At the same time, we were looking for a finish that’s reminiscent of the classic Craftsman colors. That's why we chose a gel stain color “Provincial” from Old Masters.
Our choices may not work well with the décor of your home or the materials you’re working with. However, I do think that gel stain is the way to go. It gives you excellent control and even color.
Watch the Episode: If the Woodsmith Shop isn’t on in your area, contact your local public television station. Or stream it here.
Download the Plan for this episode.
Bonus Materials
We used an oil-based stain and clear coat on the sideboard. But a water-based finish offers a low-odor, easy clean-up solution as an alternative. Learn how to apply a water-based finish in the video above.
If you’re ready for a break from a big project like the sideboard, but still want to keep the Arts & Crafts vibe going, check out this small book rack. You can get it done in a weekend, and it turns any surface into a library.
