Extension table leaves

[bunkerbill]

I've just bought an old mahogany extension table and it has no leaves. I'd like to have some leaves made but I'm not sure what material to use. The table is 1.22m wide. The top is solid mahogany so ideally the leaves should also be solid mahogany.

Is this a viable thing to do or is mahogany too expensive? One alternative is to use a cheaper alternative and stain it to match the colour.

Your advice please. If I do have them made I would also need suggestions as to who could do it. I live in North Manly, NSW.

Thanks.

[astrid]

How old is the table? how much is it worth too you?
You should be able to get a reputable restorer to make up some leaves from recycled mahogany but it wont be cheap, hence my first questions.

some pics wood be good:)

[andrewsd]

Both options are certainly open to you. I would prefer going with mahogany so that you have consistency of grain but the staining option will work.

[bunkerbill]

I've attached some photos. One is a general shot of the table and the other is a photo of the edge to give an idea of the profile I'd need for a leaf. The table is pretty simple.

We're going to use the table as a dining table. The table is in reasonable condition. There is a fair bit of marking and scratches on the top. I was going to take a minimalist approach and avoid sanding the top.

We'd like to use one extension leaf so that we can have three chairs on each side. So this one leaf would have to match the table.

We may want to extend the table to seat a large number of people but those extension leaves would be temporary and covered with a cloth so the timber wouldn't matter.

So back to my original questions: What would mahogany cost and if its prohibitive, what would a good substitute timber be?

Thanks.

[astrid]

Cedar, If you want to have one leaf open all the time and on view. you can use cheaper stained planks for the occaisional.

If you are going to do this yourself Its going to be hard to find the timber.
I recently had a table that the client wanted wider, this was an old cedar table.
I had a restorer source and fit the new slab of cedar, I had to trim the ends myself and polish it and play with the colour to match the new cedar to the old.
The timber and fitting cost $350 for a slab about 30cm wide and 2000 long that was mates rates.
So If your looking for someone to source the timber, cut, plane the edges, loose dowel join, bevel the edge and polish it your prolly looking at $5-600 for one leaf. your occaisional leaves will be cheaper

[bunkerbill]

Thanks Astrid.

Someone suggested that I use veneered particle board and get the molding made to match the existing molding.

This would be cheaper but possibly not the best solution.

Any thoughts?

[astrid]

might be ok for the spare leaves, but not really suitable if you want an antique table.:rolleyes:

[bunkerbill]

What timber would you suggest for the occasional leaves?

I have another question about oxalic acid. There are several black 'stains' on the table.
Will treating the stains individually affect the surrounding surface?

(BTW I'm in the process of removing the old shellac finish using alcohol).

Thanks again Astrid for your helpful suggestions. :)

[NaomiA]

We have used oxylic acid on the black stains to our outdoor oak dining table, the trick is not to leave the substance on for too long otherwise the wood may lighten slightly. Best to gradually use the acid until the stains lighten.

[astrid]

re occaisional leaves- anything you like
re oxy acid, place a wad of cotton wool to just cover the stain, dribble the oxy onto the cottonwool so it soaks the pad but dosent spill over onto other areas.