Custom Lamp- Fish

All finished. It provides much needed light in the room. I love how it turned out!

 

 

No I wouldn’t do it again.

I love it but it was a lot of work.  It will be a family heirloom that I hope my kids will cherish.  ( I think they will)

My father gave me a 36″ log that had been hand cut, and notched from my grandfathers barn that stood on the family property for probably 100 years.  I’ve had it for a couple of years now, and trying to decide what to do with it.  If finally hit me a couple of weeks ago.  I needed a lamp for the living room.

Our decor is lodge style with deer and fish on the walls, so the best idea for my lamp was a carving with fish.

It took me about 2 weeks of time spent at night and weekends.

I did remember to take pictures along the way.  These are the best pics I wanted to share.

Thanks for taking a look…

 

 

 

 

Planning

Outlining the fish

Carved and sanded, ready for stain.

A closer look at the Bass…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

closer look at the Bream

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disasters with Polyblend non-sanded grouts

Tile with patches of grout embedded in the tile. (this part of the tile doesn’t look real bad, but you didn’t see the worst of it that I didn’t take pictures of… )

OK- so you would think the warnings and instructions would boldly explain the issues you would have with this type of grout on textured or non sealed tiles.  THEY DON’T!

This was the situation…

Tile was grouted, and large patches of grout  remained on the tiles after washing and washing, scrubbing and scrubbing for a couple of hours!  We were about to give up, and live with it.  We took a break and searched the internet with no luck finding a similar problem or solution.  The only thing we found was if you experienced a haze to use a vinegar and water solution.

So we decided to use straight vinegar with a wire and vegetable brush, and  we went at it again.  We were pleasantly surprised that it started coming off!

So for all of you that experience Polyblend non- sanded grout disasters,

try pure vinegar, a brush and a little muscle!

Tile looking good with no grout!