Restoration Progress On My 1952 ER10

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 7:28 pm

Len wrote:Can't agree, Dusty. It is a work bench that has taken off and become a work of art.

OKAY I stand corrected then. It really isn't a "work bench".

The next project will obviously be a glass case in which to store this work of art.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 1:03 am

mickyd wrote:I'm debating what to do or what knot to do with the open nots on my bench boards. There are three of them visible on what will be the top surface. They all look similar to this:
.
.
[ATTACH]5909[/ATTACH]
.
.
My plans are to use a tung oil / spar varnish mix recommended by Nick. Color is natural.

So, what say you would gurus? Wood you fill the nots? If yes, with what?

Hi Mike,

Put me on the side of the fence for filling those knots. IMHO, filling them will knot detract from the looks, and I find smooth surfaces a lot better to work with then those with holes in them. As for what to use; you will probably knot be able to successfully hide the filler, so it does knot really matter. My dad made a very nice chest when he was in High School shop, out of pine, and, as is usual with pine, it had some knots in it. I do knot know what he used to fill in those holes in the knots, but it stands out nicely. I am glad they are there. It gives the chest some additional character.

tdubnik · Post by **tdubnik** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 5:09 am

I'd probably fill it in with epoxy tinted to a dark brown/black color. You'll end up with a smooth top and it won't detract from the looks.

mbcabinetmaker · Post by **mbcabinetmaker** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 7:07 am

With the work of art that is going to reside there I would trade them in on some 8/4 Zebrawood.

mickyd · Post by **mickyd** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 9:44 am

I'm reading the opposing posts and I'm bouncing around like a tennis ball on whether or not to fill the knot holes. I am really on the fence on this one. I decided that I'll go with the forum vote. Right now, it's 5 to fill 'em and 3 to leave 'em. I'll wait a few more days before the final tally.

As I thought about tom_k/mo's comment re the "character" of wood, I wondered how old these boards are. I went out and counted the growth rings. There are 45 rings visible when looking at the board end. I'd estimate that there were probably 20 more to get to the center of the tree. Another 20 estimated to get to the outside of the tree. Throw in another 5 years where the tree doesn't even have a trunk yets and it puts it's age at the time hatchet man went out to the forest to about 90 years old. Assuming that these are the original boards that came with the unit in 1955, it puts the trees genealogy at circa 1865, the year our civil war ended and also the year Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Wow! (I have an active imagination, huh?) And how could ANYONE think I should replace them with new lumber...(jpg40504!!:D )

Anyway, keep the votes rolling in. That will decide my direction. Thanks.

BigEd · Post by **BigEd** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 10:03 am

Vote from New England says "fill 'em" As is they will collect dust and other spooge which won't look very nice compared to the great job of restoration you did.

Good luck!

Big Ed

mickyd · Post by **mickyd** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 10:13 am

BigEd wrote:Vote from New England says "fill 'em" As is they will collect dust and other spooge which won't look very nice compared to the great job of restoration you did.

Good luck!

Big Ed

Foster RI....my old stomping grounds!! Had friends in Foster. Grew up in Putnam, CT a stones throw west on Rt 44.

Sure miss Rocky Point's chowder and fritters, not to mention the entire shore dinner!! Thanks for your vote Big Ed. 6 to 3 on filling

mbcabinetmaker · Post by **mbcabinetmaker** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 10:46 am

mickyd wrote: Assuming that these are the original boards that came with the unit in 1955, it puts the trees genealogy at circa 1865, the year our civil war ended and also the year Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Wow! (I have an active imagination, huh?) And how could ANYONE think I should replace them with new lumber...(jpg40504!!:D )

Anyway, keep the votes rolling in. That will decide my direction. Thanks.

I have changed my mind with that history lesson. My vote is to leave them natural.

etc92guy · Post by **etc92guy** » Sun Sep 13, 2009 12:31 am

I vote to fill them. Like Rhode Island said, your knot

going to want to clean the sawdust out that they catch. Clear epoxy would preserve the character or history.

iclark · Post by **iclark** » Sun Sep 13, 2009 3:00 am

you can add a Virginian vote for fill them. left open, they are one more place for small parts to hide when dropped.

Shopsmith Forums

Restoration Progress On My 1952 ER10

What color to paint my ER10? (post #216)