Jeff's parents visited with Joe and Faith Sunday night.   We have looked forward to seeing this group together.  The grandparents' Molly Stark table and chairs have been with them since 1950.  On this first visit to their home, the grandparents enjoyed a meal with the newlyweds.  I'm not looking at this post as the conclusion of the Molly Stark restoration, but as the story of the beginning of Joe and Faith's years of using the table as the center of family events. 

Home At Last

Traveling from one end of the eastern coast to the other, the Molly Stark table and chairs have finally arrived at their new home.  Joe and Faith commented how well the maple color coordinates with their furnishings.  Wednesday is Joe's birthday and I understand that a cake is in the works.  This will be the first of many happy celebrations, dinners, and activities with family and friends gathered about the table.  Tonight, as Joe, Faith, and Jeff sat around the table, I was able to attend virtually through the marvels of Skype.  The searching,  loving restoration, and travel was worth every second.

Family Tree?

As of this writing, The table and chairs have completed their first leg on their journey to Orlando.  They are in Jeff's SUV in the driveway of his parents.  The grandparent's set and our children's set are within a stone's throw of each other.  I cannot help but muse,  "Could they have come off a 1940's assembly line on the same day?  Could one tree's boards be shared by both sets?  On the other hand, were they separated through the manufacturing process by many years just as they were separated by many miles geographically--one from South Carolina and the other from Maine?"  The answers must remain a mystery.  Although the maple table and chair sets have had disconnected paths for over 60 years, they now bridge a generation before Jeff and me and a generation after us. 

 But what about us?  We are now in search of our own Molly Stark set.  During the past year, one came available from Michigan, but we were too late.  One was for sale in California, but that was too far.  Yesterday, we received an email from someone who has one for sale.  I am anxious to see where this set is located and the condition. 

Keep posted for Sunday delivery in Orlando!

Wax-on, Wax-off

Now for the final step--Staples Crystal Clear Paste Wax with Carnauba.  Jeff bought a buffer for this step.  The only part of the dining set that he will apply this to is the table top as he thinks it will need a little added protection.  
Delivery day for Orlando is approaching soon.  Besides using the table for its intended function, Jeff is taking a puzzle to put together on it and our sister-in-law is sending a Scrabble game.  We know this table will be the hub of many family activities. 

The product Tried & True has been wonderful.  This is the finish made of polymerized linseed oil and beeswax.  The smell is very pleasant.  Linseed oil has a very distinctive aroma which is very soothing.   During this step one does not feel rushed and it is not at all messy.   Jeff has put the fourth and final coat on the table.   He will let it cure for a week and then apply the bowling alley wax.  As you can see, he has moved his operation to our living room.  It is good to have finished the "dirty work"  and now enjoy the finishing touches.   

During the last few days, we have bleached, conditioned, stained, and put a finish on the table and chairs.  Overall, we are very happy with the results.  We still have one or two more coats of the linseed oil and beeswax to apply.  Jeff cannot wait until spring to deliver the set to Orlando and he hopes to go down in the next few weeks.   We are wondering what we will do with our time now.  Jeff has spent well over 100 hours on this project so far and we have enjoyed each step.

During the month of December we have traveled the entire East Coast from Maine to Florida.  We visited our daughter and son-in-law in Orlando this past week.  Their Christmas tree is in the spot where the table and chairs will call home.  Although we tried to find round-head, quarter inch, Phillips head, two and a half inch zinc screws for the chair seat braces, we were unable to locate any.  Lowes did have the proper size but we had to get flat-head instead of Phillips.  The important thing was their fit and they are perfect in that regard.  With the sanding and repairs completed, today we bleached the entire set.  The evening is young and we may begin conditioning the wood and staining tonight.