Darryl Keil Last Activity 2025-09-09 11:09 AM
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Carl Morrell

 
Subject : Creative block - need ideas for rat's tail plume cherry
Posted : 2003-12-13 7:51 PM
Post #31126
The subject says it all. I have been holding on to the most beautiful perfect flitch. Cherry crotch, rat's tail plume. No cracks and the rats tail is over 2 feet long. I need a design for a bed. Anyone have any ideas?

The idea of a radial match with the plume going up and out from perhaps the bottom center of the headboard. Sounds almost comical, and uncreative.

TIA, Carl


 
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Darryl Keil

Posts: 1455

Joined: 2003-05-22
Location: Maine

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Subject : RE: Creative block - need ideas for rat's tail plume cherry
Posted : 2003-12-15 1:02 PM
Post #31128 - In reply to #31126
Carl,

Well, clearly crotch veneer begs to be matched radially so thats a obvious choice, but a two way match could look pretty nice also, maybe framed with another veneer.

Do you have a particular style in mind? Contemporary? Traditional? If traditional what period? Could it be contemporary with a traditional theme? I often look through books to get a general idea of what I might like and then take off from there. Sometimes it can be a combination of two or more pieces I like. A detail from this one and the style of that one. Good design is not easy and often can be the hardest part of furniture making. I try to let ideas float while I gather information. You have the veneer which will dictate the design to some extent, now try to collect styles and details. The more information the easier it is to pull together a design. At least that's the way I do it.

Sincerely
Darryl Keil


 
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Carl Morrell

 
Subject : RE: Creative block - need ideas for rat's tail plume cherry
Posted : 2003-12-15 6:24 PM
Post #31129 - In reply to #31128
Darryl,

Thanks for your reply. Yes I have looked at a lot of furniture. I really like the Home Furniture periodical that used to be published by Taunton. It seems that beds are the least popular piece of furniture. With tables and cabinets being most prolific.

I am contemporary in my designs. Thing is, I do not think I have ever seen a rats tail plume used in a piece.


 
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Dr Ray Dewey

Posts: 2

Joined: 2003-12-16
Location: toronto, Ontario Canada

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Subject : RE: Creative block - need ideas for rat's tail plume cherry
Posted : 2003-12-16 4:42 PM
Post #31131 - In reply to #31129
I have never heard of this type of figure. Any chance you could show us a picture??


 
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Carl Morrell

 
Subject : RE: Creative block - need ideas for rat's tail plume cherry
Posted : 2003-12-16 6:07 PM
Post #31132 - In reply to #31131
Dr Dewey,

This type of figure usually comes from the crotch and the wild part of the figure is long and narrow. I have uploaded a pic to my not so good web server. If the url does not work, email me, and I'll send you a pic.

I am at: cmorrell@nc.rr.com
pic at: http://www.geocities.com/carlmorrell/cherry.jpg


 
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Darryl Keil

Posts: 1455

Joined: 2003-05-22
Location: Maine

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Subject : RE: Creative block - need ideas for rat's tail plume cherry
Posted : 2003-12-18 8:39 PM
Post #31137 - In reply to #31132
Carl,

After looking at the picture of your veneer I'm not sure it really fits with the project you are thinking about. It's pretty but a bit narrow for bed panels. I'd save it for a different project.

This is just my opinion and design is such a subjective thing.

Sincerely
Darryl Keil


 
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Carl Morrell

 
Subject : RE: Creative block - need ideas for rat's tail plume cherry
Posted : 2003-12-18 9:11 PM
Post #31138 - In reply to #31137
Ouch Darryl, that hurts. I bought it specifically to make a bed. I do have a lot, about 40 sheets. Can you explain what you mean about it being narrow? I was thinking if the centers were just used in a radial, it would not be symmetrical. So I would somehow make a cut close to the plume and bookmatch them. Perhaps it's time to start doing some photoshop cut rotate and paste to start visualizing some ideas. I have done that in the past. Since I am a programmer, I am tempted to write a program that allows one to move sectors over an image to see what a radial bookmatch would result in.

The last bed I made I used redwood lace burl, and gave up on a radial pattern and did a set of vertical bookmatches, came out pretty good.

My big concern with this one is the length is only 27" and I am trying to design a king size headboard, which is 76". So the second wood would have to account for another 10" if I was doing a radial. So that is another big problem.

Well thanks for looking, and I welcome your comments. You have to help me out here, since I bought a big bag from you (I own 3), and I need to use it more than once! Honestly, I have told people about how great you are several times. Thanks again

Dr Dewey, I tried to reply to your email, but your inbox rejected me

Carl


 
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Carl Morrell

 
Subject : RE: Creative block - need ideas for rat's tail plume cherry
Posted : 2003-12-18 10:05 PM
Post #31139 - In reply to #31137
Heres a quick cut & paste for a vertical bookmatch.

http://www.geocities.com/carlmorrell/furniture/kingheadboard.jpg


 
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Darryl Keil

Posts: 1455

Joined: 2003-05-22
Location: Maine

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Subject : RE: Creative block - need ideas for rat's tail plume cherry
Posted : 2003-12-21 12:34 PM
Post #31144 - In reply to #31139
Carl,

Sorry about my no vote on the rats tail plum cherry for a bed design. Offering design advise can really be a slippery slope sometimes. Just because it doesnt grab me for this particular project doesnt mean someone else might see it as the perfect veneer.

Even after looking at your digital mock up it still doesnt grab me. The figure appears in too narrow a band for the expanse of the headboard for me. The headboard looks too strippey. In my style of design I like the veneer to accent and compliment the design of a piece rather than dominate it or be the design itself. Sometimes I'll have a spectacular veneer around for years waiting for just the right project. I find an especially dramatic veneer can be harder to incorporate in a piece than a tame one.

Again, this is just my opinion here. Dont take my views as the way it is. Im just sharing my design approach with regards to veneer. If you decide to make the bed send me a picture afterwards, I may eat my words.

Sincerely
Darryl Keil


 
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Carl Morrell

 
Subject : RE: Creative block - need ideas for rat's tail plume cherry
Posted : 2003-12-22 5:04 PM
Post #31145 - In reply to #31144
Darryl,

I appreciate your input. To be honest, I am not thrilled with my photo-chop. This is the second time since I've had the veneer, that I am coming up blank with a design.

So let me ask my question another way. Is there ANY design/application for a rat's tail plume? Has anyone ever seen a good design done with it?

Carl


 
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jason stumpf

 
Subject : RE: Creative block - need ideas for rat's tail plume cherry
Posted : 2003-12-24 6:57 AM
Post #31146 - In reply to #31145
carl,
i made a table for a client a while back out of solid wenge and wenge veneer. the veneer was quarter sawn, and because of the dark/light shading, we decided to do a slip-match of the leaves in a diamond pattern. take a look here: http://www.pbase.com/image/24409924
the edge around the table is solid 8/4, as is the "X" in the middle, the 4 panels are veneered onto mdf. the lazy susan on top is made with a single veneered panel (same slip/diamond match) with solid wenge edge.


 
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Darryl Keil

Posts: 1455

Joined: 2003-05-22
Location: Maine

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Subject : RE: Creative block - need ideas for rat's tail plume cherry
Posted : 2003-12-27 3:56 PM
Post #31149 - In reply to #31145
Carl,

I think this veneer would look great on almost anything with narrow panels like drawer fronts, columns (like on the sides of a fireplace mantle), table base or table legs, chair parts. Things like that. Also framed with a short grain border and an inlay in between, although that is more traditional.

Sincerely
Darryl Keil



 
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Carl Morrell

 
Subject : RE: Creative block - need ideas for rat's tail plume cherry
Posted : 2003-12-27 6:34 PM
Post #31150 - In reply to #31149
Darryl,

Ahh, now I see your perspective. BTW, I was going through some old periodicals, in Home Furniture I found a pic of your work. It was a cabinet in a dark (madagascar ebony?) wood. The main panel used a straight narrow straight grain repeated many times.

Sincerely,
Carl


 
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mcnerney

 
Subject : RE: Creative block - need ideas for rat's tail plume cherry
Posted : 2003-12-29 6:26 AM
Post #31151 - In reply to #31126
It may seem obvious but what ever you decide don't forget the overall thickness of mattres & ALL pillows that will be there ALL the time. I did once & I was disappointed with my final result. Could you please email me a photo?
mikhel@sympatico.ca
mike in Ottawa
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