I am looking for advice on how to stain cloth backed tambour. Is there a trick to keeping the stain from bleeding thru the fabric, or is it expected that the color will go all the way thru and actually color the fabric? Of all the years that I’ve been making furniture I have never had experience with tambour and now I have it to do. The other option would be make and prefinish tambour strips and then glue them to the fabric, but I’m short on time and would really rather use premade tambour.
Ron
Replies
Hi Ronaway ,
Go ahead and stain the wood in a normal fashion . I'm guessing you are concerned about getting the stain between the slats ? Use a rag not dripping with stain but on the dry side for in-between . Use a small paint brush to get in there if you need to . I have never had any bleed thru the back of the fabric . Even if some stain did bleed thru the back of the fabric , it would be un seen as far as I would say , so no worry .
good luck dusty
Ron,
In making a tambour, you would normally finish the slats before gluing them to the cloth backing. This way there is no chance of staining the cloth material. I just completed a roll top desk with a cable tambour. I chose this method over the cloth tambour as I didn't want the hassle of gluing them to the cloth backing.
Bob
Edited 2/16/2006 1:24 pm ET by azarby
Cable tambour, that's a new one for me. I like the idea, but I'm wondering what happens if when your tambour strips shrink and grow. Grain direction is long ways, so they'll expand across the panel, stretching and loosening the cable. How has that panned out for you long term? Do you do anything to keep the cable tensioned through seasons?
Also, is the cable exposed in curves?
Thanks!My goal is for my work to outlast me. Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.
The cable tambour is available from Rockler. The cables are hidden so you should never see them. The trick is to really tension the cable tightly when assembling the tambour. The slats actually touch each other very closely. Tighten the cable and then tighten them again, and then do it one more time. That should take out any stretch. As for long periods of time on shrinkage, swelling, I haven't had it long enough to find out. I don't think it will be a problem because of the randomness of grain direction of each slat. Remember the slats are sealed pretty well with your finish, so any changes should be very slow.
Bob
I suppose it'll depend on how long a tambour you're making, whether movement would be an issue or not. I've just not seen cable tambours in the furniture I've looked at, and I'm hesitant to conclude they just weren't smart enough to think of it. So I'll be very curious to see what your experience is with this piece over time. Hope you'll keep us updated, or maybe someone else can chime in...My goal is for my work to outlast me. Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.
High John D ,
I started my apprenticeship doing antique restorations and such . We worked on several old roll top desks with the cable tambours . Seems to me the cable was weighted down in the back , like a metal bar that was in a hidden compartment behind the kneehole area . The cable needs to travel with the tambour , otherwise you would see the cable , and you don't .
dusty
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