I received an interesting call the other day. A local woman had seen some of my work in a consignment shop and called to see if I could build a desk. The thing is, it was started by her late husband, a trim carpenter who was starting to build furniture with the hope of retiring soon and building furniture on the side. They had started building a shop and home out of state to move to after retirement and unfortunately he passed away recently. I told her I would be happy to take a look and see if it is something I would consider taking on.
I met with her several days ago at her home. She had a picture of the desk she thought he may have been building but she said the only part he had uilt was the top. We got the top down from the rafter it was stored on and found it didn’t really llok like the top in the picture. We decided that maybe the best thing to do was take what lumber was on hand and built a simple table base to support the top and put one drawer in for stationary, pens, etc… I felt like this was the best option without knowing what he had planned for the top. His work will be used and my work is only a means to support it. I don’t plan to do anything to the top other than a light sanding and knocking the corners off with a hand plane. The top is made of reclaimed cedar barn siding and I am using some of his stock reclaimed barn siding to make the base as well.
The table is nearly done and I have found it to be a wonderful project. To be able to help someone through a time like this with my woodworking has been very enjoyable. There isn’t a minute that goes by when working on this table that I don’t think about him and the work he was doing and I never even met the man. I hope if I leave a project unfinished someone will take the care to complete it in a way that pleases those I leave behind.
Tom
Douglasville, GA
Edited 3/4/2004 9:46 pm ET by Tom
Replies
Tom,
I did a similar project for a lady about 2 years ago. I completed a hope chest started by her late husband. I did feel a little more satisfied with this project than I typically do with "non sentimental" pieces, even though her late husband wasn't much of a woodworker. She was very pleased to have it completed.
Tom
I think it's great of you to do this. Hopefully we'd all give it a go, given the opportunity!
Robin
"Well-behaved women rarely make history."from the Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love
Tom,
I had a similar job from a neighbor. The difference is that the husband was still alive, but had experienced a brain aneurysm and couldn't do any woodworking. I has learned a lot from him (he was an older guy and I a young wipper-snapper). His wife asked if I could finish a bookcase he had started after his brain surgery, but found himself unable to finish. When I picked it up, it was apparent that the brain anuerysm and surgery had changed him, I would have to start over. The shelves were of different widths (front to back) and didn't match the width of the sides. He had also driven screws through the sides to attach the shelves, through beautiful curly maple. I invited him down to my shop to "help" and hoped he would enjoy at least hanging out in the shop. It just about broke my heart watching him fumble around my shop and feel sort of useless. I think it might have been a mistake to bring him along. He stayed about an hour and then went home. Over the next few days, I took it apart, inlaid some cherry butterflys over his screw holes, cut everything to the right size, made a nice cornice and base, and finished it. It was going to be a gift for his daughter. They were very appreciative and offered to pay me, but I just couldn't accept it. They moved a way a year or so later, and he insisted I take a bunch of his tools (small stuff like squares, depth guages, etc.). It was hard to see a proud man who had been a machinist and reasonable woodworker give up his tools and move into an apartment. In the end, I'm sure he appreciated my friendship, and they liked the bookcase enough that they kept it for themselves! It will always be one of my more memorable pieces.
Mike
Tom
Careful... Charitable acts can be addictive and very often communicable...
santa...jt
Proud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled