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Work of pride crafted through co-operative approachWhen local businesses work together, they help each other by sharing knowledge and expertise and the result can be quite spectacular. By Latrobe City Council - 28th July 2003 - Back to News This was certainly the case when Moe based businesses, Oldenday Classic Furniture and Moe Timber Supplies recently combined their respective talents to produce a magnificent boardroom table.
Latrobe City’s Investment Manager, Leo Billington, said that the table is a mark of what can be achieved by combining an artisan’s touch of style with an old-fashioned appreciation of fine timber.
"The table, measuring approximately 2.5 metres by 1.2 metres and weighing an estimated quarter tonne, now has pride of place in the boardroom at Moe Timber Supplies," Mr Billington said.
"The incredible journey from timber to table started four years ago when Steve Micah, of Moe Timber Supplies, discovered four red ironbark logs during private forestry operations in the hills north of Glengarry.
"My family has had a long association with Gippsland’s timber industry and I immediately recognised the value and beauty of this timber. The logs were amongst some silver-top ash which grows in the same area on ridges in hungry, poor soil and this is what grows fine timber," Mr Micah explained.
Mr Micah decided to have a table made to highlight the impressive wood grain and thereby preserve the timber as a functional piece of furniture for others to appreciate.
"The timber was sawn, allowed to air dry over 15 months before being kiln dried. We then dressed the selected timber and contacted Oldenday Classic Furniture who assembled the table, gave it a final dressing and then gave it the high gloss polish to give it that beautiful finish," Mr Micah explained.
Gordon Walker of Oldenday Classic Furniture took over assembling the table, finally transporting it to its new home in two pieces, the base and top.
Mr Walker said that it took the equivalent of 40 hours to make the table and involved four people to assist with lifting and gluing the top.
"The top was glued in sections, then each piece was sanded until two distinct sections were finally glued, therefore having only one join. I can assure you the top was very heavy by then," Mr Walker explained.
Mr Walker’s long established expertise working with hardwood really stood out as he used some old, but well proven furniture manufacturing skills.
"I decided to clamp and glue the top sections together as furniture artisans did 100 years ago. This was done by twitching rope, gradually tightening each plank and allowing the glue to set for 24 hours each time. This was a deliberate and very effective way to produce an even, smooth, almost seamless finish," Mr Walker explained.
The top was assembled to its base in the boardroom at Moe Timber Supplies so it will be difficult to remove and there it sits quite resolute, showing off its gloss surface with a quiet sense of pride.
In terms of local businesses working together, Mr Billington believes this project is an inspiration.
"It exemplifies a combination of similar skills and expertise coming together to produce a truly local product using materials and knowledge sourced directly from within Latrobe City. Even the table legs, using the same timber, were turned by Morwell-based Coach-House Wood Turning," Mr Billington explained.
According to Mr Micah, the table is a unique work of art.
"I am extremely proud of the table and of the effort and skill put into creating it. It is not just a table, but a family heirloom," Mr Micah concluded.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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