Building a Cherry Wood Freestanding Mirror | WoodWorks with David J. Marks, Ep. 9

In this episode of WoodWorks, we build a contemporary freestanding mirror, featuring elegant bent lamination legs and a rich, oxidized cherry frame. This piece combines modern aesthetics with the timeless appeal of cherry wood, enhanced by dovetail-shaped ebony handles and brass pins.
Here's what we cover:
Prototype and Form Creation: We start with a full-scale drawing and use it to craft a prototype and a bending form. This form helps us shape the challenging curves of the mirror's legs using bent wood lamination.
Material Preparation: We slice cherry wood into thin strips to make it flexible enough for bending. A new, sharp blade ensures clean cuts without damaging the wood.
Bent Lamination Technique: We apply slow-setting resin glue to the strips and clamp them in our custom-made form. Proper preparation of the form ensures the glued wood doesn’t stick and maintains a perfect curve.
Final Assembly and Detailing: After the legs take shape, we join them to the frame using precision joinery. We also integrate ebony handles that contrast beautifully with the brass pins and oxidized wood.
Finishing Touches: We apply a potassium dichromate solution to deepen the cherry wood's color, followed by a protective layer of Tung oil to enhance the grain and ensure durability.
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Woodworking can be dangerous. Employ good safety practices, exercise caution, and always be sure to wear proper eye and face protection. David J. Marks assumes NO LIABILITY for injury or accidents. Safety awareness is imperative to prevent personal injury. Educate yourself by learning and following the safety guidelines and usage procedures that are outlined in the operator manual of your tools.

[@scotthutson736]

I've commented here before, but I'll write it again. WoodWorks was a staple Saturday viewing at my house 20-odd years ago. It's fun seeing the original episodes in 2024. Being a much more accomplished woodworker than I was at the time makes these videos even better as I see some of the things I've learned being used by David.

[@DavidJMarks]

Hey Scott,thank you very much for your wonderful comment! I was very lucky to be selected out of 100 people to get the job of hosting this show.I worked overtime constantly to make sure that it was the best work that I could do at the time.I've recently shot and edited a video on woodturning a hollow vessel so as time goes by,I hope to make new content.

[@Woodbutcher00]

Another great episode David, Woodworks was such a great series display your true craftsmanship🪵

[@DavidJMarks]

@@Woodbutcher00 Thank you very much for your comment, I genuinely appreciate it!

[@gd5043]

I think this is one of my favorites. I love the tung oil/cherry combination!

[@DavidJMarks]

Thanks Dale!

[@Mrjglass213]

So glad to see these shows living on via KZbin! I had the pleasure of meeting David at his niece's wedding to my co-worker. Even though it was a wedding David was kind enough to spare me,a huge fan, a few minutes to talk about woodworking. A real class act and an amazing woodworker!

[@Veteran1965]

Another one of my favorite TV shows

[@mattgarcia9687]

YIPPEE!!! Is it Friday already???

[@DavidJMarks]

Hahahaha, glad to see you enthusiasm Matt!

[@CCoburn3]

They are pricey, but you can still get tools that size. You just have to look for used industrial woodworking tools. If you are going to be a professional woodworker, I suspect you need large jointers, etc.

[@FrancisoDoncona]

Yes an answer might be impossible but he glanced over once you bandsaw the strips did he joint them, plane , sand or scrape them prior to glue up?

[@reforzar]

Run through drum sander.

[@DavidJMarks]

Hello Francisco,I usually run the strips through my drum sander.As I watched this episode,I did go from the bandsaw to the glue up which tells me that the Producer might have been tight on time and skipped shooting that step.Another possibility is that since I used a 6 tooth per inch hook configured Lenox bandsaw DieMaster 2 blade,I would have had a very smooth surface and it's possible that I did go right from my bandsaw to a glue up.Thanks for your question Francisco.