cheap furniture project

I'm designing and building a dog crate/end table this weekend and have
some finishing questions that I was wondering about. I figured I'd
also convey my initial design thoughts in case others have some
potential caveats to point out.

Basically, I'm building a four-sided box with lattice panels on the
side held into the frame with dados. Think end table with a lattice
skirt around the legs. I'm considering a plywood bottom, although I'm
considering whether it really needs a bottom. I'm thinking if I do a
bottom, I'll use removable casters to make it somewhat portable. One
of the sides will be face-framed with a hinged lattice door. The top
will most likely be edge-banded birch ply.

The purpose here is to create something a little more asthetically
appealing than the standard wire crates that also fills a furniture
space we've needed for a while. I'm using cheap materials (pre-made
lattice and Borg Pine) because I expect a certain amount of abuse on
the end product. I also suspect that I will have to scrap and rebuild
after a certain amount of time, so I'll be saving the plans

I'm staining it pretty dark to come close to matching some of the
other furniture in the room. Now, for the questions...

1. I'm considering using basic Minwax stain or gel to get the depth of
color I need. I expect the wood to get chewed up somewhat. Will the
stain be toxic? If so, to what extent?
2. What should I use as a finish coat, shellac, poly, or something
else? I'm not opposed to different finishes on the lattice bottom
versus the top, which will be much more visible. Once again, chewing
is the concern. I'm leaning toward shellac because I suspect it will
be easier to retouch when the crate gets scartched or chewed up.
3. Any thoughts on the design as a dog crate?

Jay wrote:
cheap furniture project

I'm designing and building a dog crate/end table this weekend and
have some finishing questions that I was wondering about. I figured
I'd also convey my initial design thoughts in case others have some
potential caveats to point out.

Basically, I'm building a four-sided box with lattice panels on the
side held into the frame with dados. Think end table with a lattice
skirt around the legs. I'm considering a plywood bottom, although I'm
considering whether it really needs a bottom. I'm thinking if I do a
bottom, I'll use removable casters to make it somewhat portable. One
of the sides will be face-framed with a hinged lattice door. The top
will most likely be edge-banded birch ply.

The purpose here is to create something a little more asthetically
appealing than the standard wire crates that also fills a furniture
space we've needed for a while. I'm using cheap materials (pre-made
lattice and Borg Pine) because I expect a certain amount of abuse on
the end product. I also suspect that I will have to scrap and rebuild
after a certain amount of time, so I'll be saving the plans

I'm staining it pretty dark to come close to matching some of the
other furniture in the room. Now, for the questions...

1. I'm considering using basic Minwax stain or gel to get the depth
of color I need. I expect the wood to get chewed up somewhat. Will
the stain be toxic? If so, to what extent?
2. What should I use as a finish coat, shellac, poly, or something
else? I'm not opposed to different finishes on the lattice bottom
versus the top, which will be much more visible. Once again, chewing
is the concern. I'm leaning toward shellac because I suspect it will
be easier to retouch when the crate gets scartched or chewed up.
3. Any thoughts on the design as a dog crate?

It seems like everyone in the world who decides to visit me, brings a
puppy. Only one puppy has broken out of the plasticky kind that is often
labeled for travel - and that was an American Eskimo Spitz and he did that
by jumping up and down until he had shaken the bolts out of the plastic
nuts. A lovely and handsome Sheltie chewed through 3-4 wooden gates and a
great big Akita chewed 2 wooden gates (am I a slow learner or just extra
hopeful?) from the very bottom to about half way up. I know how tempted I
might be to have a table vs a crate but what kind of dog are you planning
to put in there? My own two dogs still sleep in their travel crates at
night and often nap in them during the day - but I'm not sure they'd still
have their crates if they'd been made of wood when they were puppies. Too
much chewing.

How about a table that fits over a crate? a table top over the crate?

Jois

I know how tempted I
might be to have a table vs a crate but what kind of dog are you planning
to put in there? My own two dogs still sleep in their travel crates at
night and often nap in them during the day - but I'm not sure they'd still
have their crates if they'd been made of wood when they were puppies. Too
much chewing.

How about a table that fits over a crate? a table top over the crate?

Jois

We went for the steel mesh fold flat crate, with a home made mdf top
with 1/2" quarter round on the top to support the carved 1,1/4" dress
strip (which also locates the top) and form an anti roll off edging.
Given our lab still naps/sleeps in it it make a useful table and hidy
hole for him when the kids get load...

Badger

(Jay) wrote in message . com...
cheap furniture project

I'm designing and building a dog crate/end table this weekend and have
some finishing questions that I was wondering about. I figured I'd
also convey my initial design thoughts in case others have some
potential caveats to point out.

Basically, I'm building a four-sided box with lattice panels on the
side held into the frame with dados. Think end table with a lattice
skirt around the legs. I'm considering a plywood bottom, although I'm
considering whether it really needs a bottom. I'm thinking if I do a
bottom, I'll use removable casters to make it somewhat portable. One
of the sides will be face-framed with a hinged lattice door. The top
will most likely be edge-banded birch ply.

The purpose here is to create something a little more asthetically
appealing than the standard wire crates that also fills a furniture
space we've needed for a while. I'm using cheap materials (pre-made
lattice and Borg Pine) because I expect a certain amount of abuse on
the end product. I also suspect that I will have to scrap and rebuild
after a certain amount of time, so I'll be saving the plans

I'm staining it pretty dark to come close to matching some of the
other furniture in the room. Now, for the questions...

1. I'm considering using basic Minwax stain or gel to get the depth of
color I need. I expect the wood to get chewed up somewhat. Will the
stain be toxic? If so, to what extent?
2. What should I use as a finish coat, shellac, poly, or something
else? I'm not opposed to different finishes on the lattice bottom
versus the top, which will be much more visible. Once again, chewing
is the concern. I'm leaning toward shellac because I suspect it will
be easier to retouch when the crate gets scartched or chewed up.
3. Any thoughts on the design as a dog crate?

Here's the reply to the question I posed to MinWax themselves...

Quote

Hi Jay,

Currently Minwax does not manufacture a stain or clear finish that is
FDA approved. We do not perform animal testing and cannot test for
ingestion. Most Minwax clear coatings are fully cured in 14-30 days.
Once cured, the film is considered inert and is no longer releasing
toxins or chemicals.

I suggest contacting Liberon @ 1-800-245-5611 (online @
www.liberonsupply.com) or Mohawk @ 1-800-545-0047
(www.mohawk-finishing.com). Both Liberon and Mohawk manufacture
coatings that are safe for infant furniture, high chairs, recreational
objects (games, puzzles, children's toys) salad bowls, wooden
utensils, chopping/butcher blocks, and food preparation surfaces.
Here's another link you can also try:
http://www.triedandtruewoodfinish.com/

Thank you for contacting Minwax.

Sincerely,
Eric

/Quote