Anyone work with Douglas fir?

[Woodznutz]

I'm making a coffee table to go with my new sofa. I'm going to make it out of edge-grain Douglas fir. I made a small mockup and stained and poly'd it. I was blown away at how beautiful this wood finishes. Anyone else worked with this wood?

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

I'm making a coffee table to go with my new sofa. I'm going to make it out of edge-grain Douglas fir. I made a small mockup and stained and poly'd it. I was blown away at how beautiful this wood finishes. Anyone else worked with this wood?

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I have no advice, but would love to see this table when you finish it. Having lived my whole adult life in Western Washington state, until four years ago, it seems odd but one of the few things I miss about my former home is the incredible density of the Doug Fir forests. Beautiful.

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[toobfreak]

I'm making a coffee table to go with my new sofa. I'm going to make it out of edge-grain Douglas fir. I made a small mockup and stained and poly'd it. I was blown away at how beautiful this wood finishes. Anyone else worked with this wood?

I've worked with a lot of woods (one of my uncles owned and operated a hardwood planning mill and supposedly was kinda nationally famous for doing all kinds of big, custom jobs), but I can't say I ever worked with that! It sounds interesting.

One thing I might say is that while poly can be very nice (tricky if you are working the gloss), I tend to lean much more in the direction of natural oils like teak and linseed. I love a good oiled, hand-rubbed finish.

But to do an oiled finish right is a lot of time and work plus the upkeep, whereas the poly can make a really nice, durable wear surface for something that could see a lot of traffic and abuse like a coffee table.

 

[Darkwind]

I'm making a coffee table to go with my new sofa. I'm going to make it out of edge-grain Douglas fir. I made a small mockup and stained and poly'd it. I was blown away at how beautiful this wood finishes. Anyone else worked with this wood?

This is a technique used for cutting boards. I would imagine that its just a matter of scaling up to a coffee table size build.

 

[Woodznutz]

I've worked with a lot of woods (one of my uncles owned and operated a hardwood planning mill and supposedly was kinda nationally famous for doing all kinds of big, custom jobs), but I can't say I ever worked with that! It sounds interesting.

One thing I might say is that while poly can be very nice (tricky if you are working the gloss), I tend to lean much more in the direction of natural oils like teak and linseed. I love a good oiled, hand-rubbed finish.

But to do an oiled finish right is a lot of time and work plus the upkeep, whereas the poly can make a really nice, durable wear surface for something that could see a lot of traffic and abuse like a coffee table.

Everyone puts their feet up on the coffee table so I opt for the satin poly. Gloss is too shiny.

 

[toobfreak]

Everyone puts their feet up on the coffee table so I opt for the satin poly. Gloss is too shiny.

I've also done premium custom upholstery and antique restoration. You could also consider doing the top in tufted, wrapped leather with nail trim for a more rustic, colonial look.

Bonus point of the nail trim? Pick the right nail trim and (if you want) that'll keep a lot of shoes and feet off the table.

 

[Woodznutz]

I've also done premium custom upholstery and antique restoration. You could also consider doing the top in tufted, wrapped leather with nail trim for a more rustic, colonial look.

Bonus point of the nail trim? Pick the right nail trim and (if you want) that'll keep a lot of shoes and feet off the table.

I make the kids take their shoes off.

 

[Foxfyre]

I've worked with a lot of woods (one of my uncles owned and operated a hardwood planning mill and supposedly was kinda nationally famous for doing all kinds of big, custom jobs), but I can't say I ever worked with that! It sounds interesting.

One thing I might say is that while poly can be very nice (tricky if you are working the gloss), I tend to lean much more in the direction of natural oils like teak and linseed. I love a good oiled, hand-rubbed finish.

But to do an oiled finish right is a lot of time and work plus the upkeep, whereas the poly can make a really nice, durable wear surface for something that could see a lot of traffic and abuse like a coffee table.

I have never worked with any kind of wood in that way, but I have relatives in the custom cabinets/furniture making business and they love, love, love working with Douglas fir. Unfortunately they don't live where it normally grows though so have to import what they use.

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

I have never worked with any kind of wood in that way, but I have relatives in the custom cabinets/furniture making business and they love, love, love working with Douglas fir. Unfortunately they don't live where it normally grows though so have to import what they use.

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I remember that the logging regulations are so stiff in WA state, you almost have to have a signed letter from God to cut down a tree on your own property.

When we were house shopping, hubby and I looked at a property that was surrounded by Doug Fir -- about 3 acres -- and it was so beautiful!

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[Foxfyre]

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I remember that the logging regulations are so stiff in WA state, you almost have to have a signed letter from God to cut down a tree on your own property.

When we were house shopping, hubby and I looked at a property that was surrounded by Doug Fir -- about 3 acres -- and it was so beautiful!

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Yes we lived in a rural community on the far side of the mountain, Sandia Peak, that forms the eastern boundary of Albuquerque. The terrain there is pretty much alpine, the reverse of the high desert terrain where Albuquerque is. But the 14 years we were out there we loved being surrounded by pinon and pine forests. But eventually the very snowy winters--Albuquerque rarely gets snow and even more rarely gets much snow--and other challenges of country life got too much for us so we moved into the city.

Albuquerque though, despite the high desert climate, has an amazing variety of trees including some Douglas Fir.

 

[toobfreak]

I have never worked with any kind of wood in that way, but I have relatives in the custom cabinets/furniture making business and they love, love, love working with Douglas fir. Unfortunately they don't live where it normally grows though so have to import what they use.

It has never been a common lumber in my area. Douglas Fir is basically related to the Pine family, except that it grows unusually long and large and can grow very old. That probably imparts its own qualities to the wood, but it seems to me the best use for fir would be in places where unusually long or wide pieces of wood are needed to exploit its size.

 

[Foxfyre]

It has never been a common lumber in my area. Douglas Fir is basically related to the Pine family, except that it grows unusually long and large and can grow very old. That probably imparts its own qualities to the wood, but it seems to me the best use for fir would be in places where unusually long or wide pieces of wood are needed to exploit its size.

Our family that knows about working with wood do use it mostly for large products like big cabinets, large tables and such. But they praise Douglas Fir not only for its beauty when finished, but its staying power making it well suited for things that need to last a long time, even outdoor furniture.

Pine doesn't have that quality. Pinon never grows large enough to be used for much other than firewood.

 

[toobfreak]

Our family that knows about working with wood do use it mostly for large products like big cabinets, large tables and such. But they praise Douglas Fir not only for its beauty when finished, but its staying power making it well suited for things that need to last a long time, even outdoor furniture.

Pine doesn't have that quality. Pinon never grows large enough to be used for much other than firewood.

Well, Fir is part of the Pine family, just that Fir grows much longer and slower and older and that creates a density and strength to the wood along with a beautiful grain that can be brought out. But generally, I stick to red oak, poplar, rock maple, mahogany, pecan, wormy chestnut and the like. I'm not really sure if Fir is a true hardwood, but it might be.

 

[Twisted Gypsy Child]

I'm making a coffee table to go with my new sofa. I'm going to make it out of edge-grain Douglas fir. I made a small mockup and stained and poly'd it. I was blown away at how beautiful this wood finishes. Anyone else worked with this wood?

No, I did work with Douglas Smith though.

 

[Foxfyre]

Well, Fir is part of the Pine family, just that Fir grows much longer and slower and older and that creates a density and strength to the wood along with a beautiful grain that can be brought out. But generally, I stick to red oak, poplar, rock maple, mahogany, pecan, wormy chestnut and the like. I'm not really sure if Fir is a true hardwood, but it might be.

It is definitely softwood. But it is harder than most softwood--much harder than pine--and highly resistant to rot and weather damage so they tell me which is why it is so popular for flooring and furniture and things like that.

 

[Woodznutz]

It has never been a common lumber in my area. Douglas Fir is basically related to the Pine family, except that it grows unusually long and large and can grow very old. That probably imparts its own qualities to the wood, but it seems to me the best use for fir would be in places where unusually long or wide pieces of wood are needed to exploit its size.

It's basically used for framing, joists, large beams, etc. However, fine grained logs with few knots are selected out for furniture and crafts. Very expensive. Thankfully some of this select wood can be found among the face cut studs and 2x6's. I go through the piles and usually find enough good pieces for a project.

 

[Woodznutz]

No, I did work with Douglas Smith though.

I have a cousin who worked with Douglas MacArthur, over in Korea.

 

[Twisted Gypsy Child]

I have a cousin who worked with Douglas McCarther, over in Korea.

No relation to Douglas MacArthur obviously

 

[Foxfyre]

It's basically used for framing, joists, large beams, etc. However, fine grained logs with few knots are selected out for furniture and crafts. Very expensive. Thankfully some of this select wood can be found among the face cut studs and 2x6's. I go through the piles and usually find enough good pieces for a project.

Since I'm not in the business and know very little about it, I'll certainly take your word for it. I just know our kinfolk seem to enjoy working with it a lot.

(I wonder if General MacArthur would too. )

 

[sparky]

I've a fairly well stocked carpentry shop in my barn , not that i'm one, but have the ear of many in the trades......that said, post a few pix for us Woodz! ~S~