Here's the completion of the project I mentioned in my other thread:
https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=6276
The finishing is applied, and the stand has its new home:
For construction it began with an MDF top rectangle fitting into mortises in the 4 legs. Then decorative rails were added around the top. Next, the secondary shelf system was built up from the several pieces doweled together and doweled into the 4 legs.
I like dowel construction for my own furnishings. It's especially easy to do with the Shopsmith and horizontal boring. And, I read that James Krenov used dowel joinery a lot. If I ever build for other people, I might go for a bit more professional appeal with true mortise and tenon.
My finish is just 2 layers on this stand. The first layer is a thin Formby's rub-on / rub-off varnish, which I've found gives walnut a nice look, even on end-grain. After that nice look is established, I added a thicker water-based polyurethane for durability. (I found out some time back that the water-based poly directly on walnut doesn't look as nice, especially at the end-grain areas which can get cloudy-looking.)
