Oak

[JanieB]

I've been lurking on this site for over four years now. My late husband and I had plans to renovate our late 18th C house in 2004 and had had plans drawn up, etc but he died before we had the work done. I've taken a week off work to clear the house before the elecricians and plumbers come in. I don't yet have LBC permission for the kitchen extension.

To come to my query, which doesn't really have to do with the house except that the furniture is in keeping. I have inherited a dining table and chairs. They were made from the reclaimed timber from a submerged warship. Originally there were 8 Chairs - 2 of them armchairs. Two of the side chairs were damaged in a flood in the 60's. They both survived with help for some years but first one and then the least damaged recently gave up the ghost. Which means I'm now two chairs short and I would like to get them copied.

I know some purists won't like my next query, but, the table is 7ft long and 2ft 5ins wide. If you measure it out you will realise that there is plenty of room for 8-10 people round the table but no room for serving dishes down the centre. I would like to find someone who can replicate the chairs and add another plank (sympathetically) to the table.

When I look up oak specialists I find people who replace oak timbers in buildings, no-one who can do what I want.

 

[Jon Maine]

Sounds like you need to find a cabinet maker. There is a very good one who sells his stuff from the one craft gallery here in Shepton Mallet called David, the number is 01749 343777 it would be worth getting his number from them, he is extremely good and reasonable.

Can you post a picture or two sounds intriguing.

 

[JanieB]

I'm currently living in the start of a building site and the table is covered in tiles etc. I will endeavor to clear it in the next cuppla days and post piccies.

 

[biffvernon]

Sounds like you need to find a cabinet maker.

Indeed. Here's another, my next door neighbour, Roger. You can see pictures of his work on his website: http://www.pigswhistle.com/.

 

[Penners]

I know some purists won't like my next query

Don't worry about that. It's your table - if you need to maodify it, your should do so. People have done this with every type of furniture from crude to fine, since time immemorial. Besides, you're adding to it without destroying what's there already. Even with a listed building, this would normally be perfectly acceptable.

Whereabouts in Oxfordshire are you? There used to be a useful little man who had a workshop just off Corn Street in Witney ( can't remember his name, I'm afraid). Possibly in Corn Dell Gardens? He did mainly upholstery, but I'm sure he could point you towards a good cabinet-maker.

This lot were mentioned favourably when I lived in that area: http://www.burford-woodcraft.co.uk/acatalog/about_us.html

And I heard positive comments about this chap: http://www.matdicksonfurniture.co.uk/.