Stuart will be demonstrating Surfboard Shaping at Carba Tec This Saturday ..from 8 - 12 pm.
Welcome you to come along and see how a hollow wooden surfboard is made and ask as many questions as you like.
Surfboard Info Packs also available .
Qld Maple Bathroom Vanity Unit...
Making the focal point of this stunning bathroom makeover, we designed built and installed this Qld Maple Bathroom Vanity. Staining the Maple to a deep rich Mahogany colour, it provided a dramatic contrast to the wonderful monochromatic décor.
With 3 large cupboards and 3 drawers, this custom built vanity not only provides visual appeal but also essential storage for the bathroom.
Caring for your Furniture in Winter...
With winter here, the temperature drops and so does the humidity. With these changes, timber furniture can dry out and possibly split in various places…
You can avoid this by using a suitable furniture wax to promote and keep moisture in the grain. Simply wax on with a clean dry cloth and then wax off any excess, doing this a few times during winter will noticeably enhance your furniture and keep it in pristine condition.
Recently restored Art Deco Furniture will maintain its beautifully restored condition by regular use of a good Furniture Wax.
This will prolong the life of the finish , as well as provide a barrier to everyday wear and tear...
If you are unsure of which product to use, or would like some information on our in house furniture maintenance and repolish Service, please call us on PH; 3256 9000 or email us enquiries@bywaterdesign.com.au
Highlight on Student Work ...Woodworking classes...
It is always so inspiring to see our students develop their skills and woodworking knowledge over the years. Their dedication and enthusiasm is one of the reasons why we love conducting our woodworking classes. Bruce, one of our Thursday night students, has been with us for well over 4 years. During this time Bruce has produced a wide variety of work including an entertainment unit, CD Cabinet, Drinks Cabinet, Netball Stand for The Diamonds Restored Dining Chairs and is currently completing work on his stunning Silky Oak Dining Table.
Bruce's dedication, commitment and always willingness to learn new skills is an inspiration !
Its all in the Detail...Okanui Surfboard
The devil is in the detail for this gorgeous Replica we made of the classic 1940's Okanui Surfboard . Standing a glorious 10ft high . This modern classic offer a sweet ride and is a visual beauty making a wonderful addition to the Deck, Pool Room or Bar...
Wooden Surfboard Show August 3 - Currumbin Alley Gold Coast
Sunday August 3rd is the Annual Wooden Surfboard Day down at the gorgeous Currumbin Alley Gold Coast.Come and see us , have a look at our wonderful display of student work and our current array of surfboards. This is a wonderful opportunity to see some fabulous boards from around the country, have a great surf on a beautiful Queensland Winters Day and meet fellow enthusiasts ...
Shaping a Wooden Surfboard...
One of the joys of making your own Surfboard , is taking the time to create something exactly the way you want it to be. Being involved in all of the processes.
Come and experience the fun of making your own Classic Wooden Surfboard. Classes Tuesday Night & Our Intensive 3 Day Workshop August ; 13, 14 & 15 !
Just another Hand Plane...
Leaving a hand plane in the rain overnight. Brings about the most amazing texture and patterns...
The Dovetail - A 30 second history
The dovetail is one of the most integral parts of furniture construction. The word dovetail dates back to the 16th century. It's from dove (n.) + tail. So called from resemblance of shape in the tenon or mortise of the joints to that of the bird's tailfeather display.
The dovetail dates back to the Egyptians of the First Dynasty(3000 to 2800 BCE) and was used for entombed royalty and wealthy nobles with handcrafted furniture using the dovetail joint.
Archaeological finds in Chinese Emperor tombs dating BCE also reveal the dovetail joint in use in this oldest of existing cultures.
Inner City Bedroom Suite
Bywater Design recently completed work on a very modern, functional yet stylish bedroom suite for an inner city home. The clients wanted a minimalist design but to house special features such as; The bed to appear as if it was floating Runway lights along one side of the bed A pop up tv at the foot of the bed (where it can easily be hidden or used at the flick of a switch) A rich dark timber to accentuate the clean lines. 
The clients were ecstatic with the finished product and loved the choice of timbers - Cambia and European Beech. Cambia is a highly practical timber; its thermal modification process ensures its longevity especially in humid conditions such as Brisbane. Ash that has been treated this way is an ideal choice given that it mimics many tropical hardwood species yet not at the cost of rainforest timbers.
Student Work - After Hours
It's great to see students working on their projects outside of class hours... Bruce recently completed this wonderful Silky Oak Bar.
Congratulations Bruce - it looks great. We will be over for drinks soon ...
Wooden Surfboard Restoration
Combining his love of both surfing and woodwork...Stuart was very excited when approached to restore an Australian classic 1950's wooden hollow surfboard... The board as shown below was in a fairly bad state of disrepair and needed significant restoration and restructuring.
This fantastic retro board is an Okinuee . The Okinuee, is the Australian version of the iconic Malibu Surfboard. These surfboards were first made just after The Melbourne Olympics in 1956, when Aussie surfers, unable to source Balsawood used Hollowed Plywood instead and so the Okinuee was born.
The only distinguishing future on this particular Okinuee is the name Babs ;inscribed on the front.... The name is most likely to have been a tribute to the maker or the surfer for his girlfriend /wife... lucky Babs !!
The extensive restoration and repair process included; repair and reglue centre structure, repair to centre rails, modifications to the crossbeam, nose and tail sections to secure the main frame. Plywood panels were then fixed with screws and glue, and a draining plug added.
An extensive sand, and repolish completed the overhaul of Babs.
::Model no 14 :: Fast history facts
From the ashes of the Industrial Revolution , the Modern Age moved furniture production out of small workshops and into factories for mass production on a grand scale. Arguably, the first Modern piece of furniture mass-produced was by Prussian furniture maker Michael Thonet (1796-1871)
After 25 years experimenting with bending steamed wood and producing innovative "bentwood" furniture, Michael Thonet and his sons created the No. 14 as the first mass-produced seating furniture on the market. Going into production in 1859 , this chair has become a certified design classic, selling more than 50 million units between 1860 and 1930..
Today this iconic chair is produced in various styles, materials right across the globe.
2Pak :: A most versatile finish
At Bywater Design, we proudly offer a wide variety of finishes for both our restoration and custom making pieces. Certain circumstances may dictate a particular finish, but in a number of areas especially with furniture production there is a wide range of options available. Most recently we have seen a big demand for 2pak finishes. 2pak polyurethane This 2 part finish is a non yellowing finish with outstanding resistance to most elements, and can take a considerable amount of wear and tear. It has excellent durability to UV thus providing maximum gloss and colour retention. The fact that this finish can be made up in most any colour or hue makes it ideal for colour matching existing furniture or highlighting focal points in the home/office/restaurant . Some outstanding recent 2pak finishes completed in the workshop
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For any questions or further information regarding 2pak finish please do not hesitate to call us on PH: 3256 9000
Its all in the detail ... Carving for Churchie.
Bywater Design are proud to participate in the celebration of the hundred year anniversary of The Anglican Church Grammar School Churchie; in addition to previous work we completed; shown here , we were delighted to have recently completed work on 2 Mahogany (plantation) Sideboards These sideboards would be made to match existing furniture and to include 16 traditional carvings.
Carvings are a wonderful addition to selected furniture pieces, they highlight the design, create a sense of drama and formality and their design can be based on a coat of arms, heirloom, flora etc thus evoking a deep sense of history and character within the piece.
Stuart was very happy to take up the wonderful challenge and opportunity of hand carving each of these 16 carvings.. .
::Bedroom Makeover::
Frustrated at the lack of space and storage, some lovely clients required bedroom furniture that was both highly functional, and incorporated classic styling to enhance and blend in with their existing decor... American Ash was the timber chosen for its superior grain, versatility, longevity and colour hue that marries perfectly with the colour scheme of the bedroom.
The large chests of drawers, and bedside tables included dovetailing and soft close runners for ease of movement and will withstand constant use for many years to come
The Queen Bed with its large Slats is accompanied by 2 Bedside Cabinets.
The Bed side cabinets, offer much-needed personal storage space and complete the symmetry that is needed to give balance and flow to the room.
Student Restoration Project...
Few people have a vision of what an old worn out wardrobe can look like if converted into a bookcase We have completed several conversion projects like these for clients and they have always been amazed at the finished piece .
So we were delighted when one of our Woodworking Students, chose to take up the challenge himself and convert his old Silky Oak Cabinet into something new and wonderful.
David was not deterred at all by the processes and time involved to complete such a makeover.
With the expert guidance from teacher Dave, David then went about on his restoration journey of stripping the old finish, removing the old mirror ...
In addition new shelves were made and fitted
Then the cabinet was sanded and David polished the cabinet to match his existing decor.
The finished product looks absolutely amazing.
Well done David on a remarkable job and for persisting to achieve what you set out to do.
You should be proud of your accomplishments.
We cant wait to see you next project !!
~Top Shelf~
All of our gorgeous Serving Ware Accessories are FoodSafe.
Long lasting and just require a little TLC to remain in pristine condition.
Happy Entertaining !!
Not so conventional...
Never boring, out of the ordinary, thinking outside the square, These phrases certainly apply to these amazing and unconventional items of furniture recently discovered on a quick trawl through the internet...
Restoring Churchie...
The Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie ) situated in East Brisbane has a rich history steeped in tradition and education. Established in 1912 in Toowong Qld and moved later in 1918 to East Brisbane, the School has been undergoing transformation and restoration as part of its' centenary celebrations.
Bywater Design are proud to be associated with the schools' refurbishment.
The most recent work undertaken were the restoration of the Entrance Doors to the Darnell Building...
Constant exposure to the harsh westerly afternoon sun, heat and UV extremes have left these doors in poor condition.
The existing doors were completely removed for a complete restoration at the Bywater Design Workshop. Temporary plywood doors were installed for security and practical elements.
Cleaning 100 years of grime, dust oil etc was a very ardeous but rewarding task.
The doors were finished in 2 pak marine epoxy exterior grade, highly suitable for harsh weather conditions.
Restoration now completed the temporary doors were removed and the new and much improved Darnell Doors were re installed and will maintain their excellent condition for many many years to come .