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I saw a 2 tables for sale. 1 Walnut from the 1960 and a Jakaranda. Was thinking of buying them and resaw it into Back and Sides. Is this bad Idea ?? The tables are about 1" thick and seem to be glued with a spacing similar to a 3piece back.

Lars.

Furniture is often cleaned with Pledge or similar cleaning products which contain lots of silicone. This will penetrate deeply into the wood and cause all kind of finishing headaches. Just something to be aware of.

You've got it bad Lars

If the sawn sets were to be flatsawn, there could be more potential problem with movement, but this is well-aged wood, so I'd guess that is less of an issue.

The family heirloom dining table is leaning against a wall in my basement. It's not a pretty piece, design-wise. No-one has dining rooms big enough for it anymore. No one in the family really wants it. It is a BIG pile of mahogany. The other day, I thought I heard it whispering "resaw me ... resaw me ..."

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

I've got a small home-made table I bought at a garage sale 30 years ago for $4. It's made of solid walnut burl. I've been yearning to resaw it for headplates and rosettes, but I can't bring myself to do it. It's not very well made, but has a certain charm. My present commission is begging for a rosette from it. Sigh.

But if I had your tables, Lars, I'd go for it.

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I think it's a great idea, Lars. I look for these types of things too. Another thing to watch out for is that the top is solid wood. Many times table tops are veneered. I found the most incredible old antique table out of Brazilian Rosewood about a year ago. My heart almost came out of my chest!! It wasn't even that expensive. I started to look closer and noticed that the laminations under the table top were in different locations than the ones on top --veneer. Oh well Since I wasn't that into a brazilian rosewood ply guitar I let it go - ha ha. Just something to consider.

I agree. Saw it up and use it. Flatsawn sides are a little harder to bend. I have had the grain 'delaminate' but was able to repair and carry on.

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Greg
http://garibaldiinstruments.com/

I'm giving the same warning as randolf here. Don't be shocked if these tables turn out to be veneered. I have ran across many antiques that are veneered over a cheeper less attractive core wood. Mainly poplar. I'm talking furniture dating to the early 1900's. These veenerers were good at their trade. You can't tell until you cut into it. One thing you might find compared to the older stuff is plywood or some other artificial core. This was becoming very popular in the 60's. But hey the only thing you got to lose is the time it takes to cut into it. You may hit a jackpot. My nephew is giving me an antique cherry wardrobe from the 30's. His mother got it from a very old neighbor before she passed away. I hoping i hit the jackpot too.

Great. I will atleast get it and do some cutting and we´ll see what turns up .
I will post some shots of it as I got it.

Lars.

my first guitar was made from a solid locust-wood door that i had resawn by hand!!!
its been 5 years +- but i think i still have the blisters.

I have a EIR coffee table that has supplied neck laminations for Mandolins and numerous bridges & headplate veneers.

I also have three mahogany church pews which will keep me in necks well into the next century!!

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Old Post Office tables, built in the early 20th century are usually solid mahogany, or solid wood. I still have mahogany in my stash from some post office tables from 1901, beautiful dark wood.

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