The Wine Chair: A Journey Into Thompson Woodworks
You know how sometimes you stumble into a project, thinking it’s gonna be a piece of cake, only to find out it’s a whole wild ride? That’s kind of how things went when I decided to build a wine chair from Thompson Woodworks. Yeah, a wine chair. Not a regular chair; this one has a spot just for your fancy bottle of wine. Honestly, who doesn’t want that? I mean, I’m no expert, but I thought, “How hard could it be?”
Getting Started
So, it all started during a lazy Saturday morning. I was sipping on my mug of black coffee, still feeling that weekend bliss, when the idea struck me. I’d been trying to do a bit more woodworking lately—mostly just birdhouses and some shelves for the wife. But a wine chair sounded like a fun challenge. I looked up some plans from Thompson Woodworks, and right away, I was running to the garage like a kid about to ride a bike for the first time.
I picked up some oak; I’ve always loved the durability and beautiful grain of oak for furniture projects. The smell of that freshly cut wood hit me like a warm hug, and I thought, “Man, this is gonna be great!” I got my miter saw, which I have regrettably named Ol’ Reliable, and started cutting the pieces, all while gripping my cup of coffee. But let me tell you, as soon as I started measuring everything, I honestly had my first “oh crap” moment.
Measuring Twice, Cutting Once
I’d read—like a million times—that you have to measure twice and cut once. But in my enthusiasm, I skipped that step a bit too swiftly. As I cut one of the legs, it didn’t quite match the rest. I cursed under my breath—who knew wood was so picky? I mean, I thought grabbing a custom angle would be easy. I almost scrapped the whole thing right there since I didn’t want to waste the wood.
But then I stopped to take a breath. After all, it was still just wood, right? Somehow, I ended up laughing at my folly. So, I used those miscut legs as practice for my sanding. I figured they could at least give me some experience before I tried to work with my precious pieces.
The Real Work Begins
So, I made it through the legs and started fabricating the seat. I had this vision of a beautifully curved seat that would hug you while you enjoyed a glass of wine. I grabbed my jigsaw—another trusty tool. I love the sound it makes; kind of a high-pitched whirring, like it’s just as excited as I am to take the plunge. Just as I was dancing with my vision, I made another mistake. I slipped, and the jigsaw almost flipped out of my hand! Had my heart racing, let me tell you. The curve ended up a little off, maybe not the masterpiece I was dreaming of.
But you know what? I took a moment and looked at it. It wasn’t perfect, but it had character. I started to think about how life is like that—flawed but beautiful in its own way. So, I just rolled with it and figured I could hide the imperfect edge under some plush cushions. That’s what shims are for, right?
Finishing Touches
Once I had it all together, it was time for finishing. Good ole stain was my go-to here. I used a nice walnut stain that smelled like a cozy fall afternoon—sort of sweet but grounded. However, I made another mistake when I got ahead of myself. I applied it too thick in places, and it was like they had a spotlight on them. I almost wanted to mock it, “Could you be any more obvious?” But then, I remembered that people spend time at the farm stand in tattered jeans; they’ve got charm, too.
After a few hours of sanding down the uneven spots, and where I thought I’d used too much, it slowly began to look the part.
The Moment of Truth
The real moment of truth was when I added the wine holder. As I mounted that piece in, I felt a wave of excitement washing over me. I envisioned evenings with friends, gathering around the wine chair, laughing and sipping Merlot from glasses that may or may not match. When I placed a bottle in that holder for the first time, I practically cheered. Who knew a piece of furniture could bring so much joy?
Of course, my wife walked in and looked at it skeptically. She said, “Are we really gonna drink on that thing?” And I laughed, “Not if you keep looking at it like that!”
The Takeaway
So, if you’re thinking about jumping into this woodworking world—whether it’s a whimsical wine chair or something more traditional—just go for it. Mistakes will happen. You’ll cut wood wrong, get the wrong stain, or even feel like tossing it all out a window. But every twist and turn is gonna teach you something. And it really can become a conversation starter at your next gathering.
I wish someone had told me this before. Woodworking is not about perfection; it’s about appreciation—of the wood, of the process, and even of the blunders that lead to character. So, grab your tools, drink that coffee, and let your creativity run wild. You’ve got this.
