Leo Sharkey's Fine Woodworking

My construction methods are a blend of old and new. I do not shy away from power tools, but at the same time prefer to use hand tools wherever possible. For example, when making mortise and tenon joints, I make the mortises using a 1 hp mortising machine and rough out tenons on my table saw. The mortising machine cuts extremely accurate and precise mortises much more quickly than is possible by hand. The table saw removes bulk material quickly, but is too rough for final finish work. So, I cut the tenons oversize and then use a shoulder or rabbeting plane to trim the tenons for a precise fit. This mixture of power and hand tools enables me to save time where possible but preserve the fit and finish that are only possible using hand tools. Like my construction techniques, my finishing methods are also a blend of old and new and depend on the intended use of the piece. Most tend to be wipe-on, or hand rubbed chemistries such as polyurethane / oil blends, oil / varnish mixtures made famous by Sam Maloof, oil only finishes such as tung or danish oil and shellac. When choosing a finish, I balance the needs of the furniture with its intended use. For example, coffee tables tend to be treated harshly and need a durable finish that will resist hot liquids and alcohol, so I usually use polyurethane / oil blend finish. The poly / oil is extremely durable and will not dissolve in alcohol like shellac. Shellac however is an excellent choice when finishing some of the oily, waxy tropical figured woods used for end and hall tables.