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Staples Cabinet Makers
The Wood, the Source, and the Finish |
The Wood
Old growth lumber is among the finest wood available to
craftsmen and artisans. The enormous canopies of foliage of old growth forests
allow the trees to grow very slowly over centuries. Slow growth produces tight
growth rings and results in dense, heavy, strong and extraordinarily beautiful
wood grains. The protection of old growth trees and forests in the United
States means that this kind of wood is very difficult – if not impossible – to find commercially. For
example, the pine that one might find at the local lumberyard is harvested from
much younger trees and hasn’t had the advantages that come from hundreds of
years of slow growth. Today’s commercially available pine is much softer and
lighter than dense old growth pine.
Staples Cabinet Makers reclaims lumber from razed homes,
barns and mills throughout
The Source of the
Wood
People continually ask Stephen Staples were he finds the wood
and other accessories he uses in his work. His reply is that, more often than
not, the material actually finds him. He says, "It is interesting how the
universe has a way of sending things along to those who will most care for
them. We are all just caretakers of our possessions for a period of time. With our heirlooms, we lovingly leave them to
our heirs or an institution that we know will treasure them. With most reclaimed building artifacts, however,
we stay just ahead of the wrecking ball and ultimately a pulverizer that turns
an entire house to pulp in just a few minutes. It's a sad sight indeed to watch
a magnificent dwelling turned to rubble.
I
will continue to strive to save and repurpose these materials as long as I am
able."
The Finish
The finishing techniques that Stephen Staples employs have
been used by shipbuilders for centuries. Staples
Cabinet Makers tabletops are finished with multiple coats of a specialized
blend that includes marine spar varnish and boiled linseed oil. Each coat penetrates the wood producing an
embedded luster and depth that cannot be achieved with any other method.
Stephen developed his finishing blend to enhance the aged colors, patinas,
tones and character of the wood grain. Stephen often says that “time is the greatest
craftsman,” and his pieces preserve what history has already accomplished.
Stephen is fascinated by and understands the importance of
"texture" in his work. It is a concept introduced to him by a
sculptor friend, and one that he continues to study and explore. Stephen
applies these sculpting principles and techniques, and years of study and
practice of hand finishing to all of the furniture he produces. He understands
that the finest creation can be destroyed by an inadequate finish, and his
methods add a rich dimension to an already much-admired vision and sense of
style.
Finish Maintenance
Marine varnish is flexible and can be easily maintained and
rejuvenated with additional coats.
Stephen advises owners to, once a year, wash their tables with paint
thinner or mineral spirits to remove any grease and dirt, and recoat the
tabletop with a blend of 35% marine spar varnish and 65% mineral spirits. After
applying a liberal coat, let set for 2 minutes and then use a clean soft cloth
to wipe off the excess leaving a thin film of the varnish.