My coaster conundrum.

@TheHorse (221013)

Walnut Creek, California

December 20, 2022 3:01pm CST

Since my AR-4x project is done, and my Christmas trees are made, I am turning to coasters for my next project. Martin Guitars sent me some mahogany sound holes that have really cool grain. Mahogany is a hard wood, and has more interesting grain then the spruce of most guitar tops. As I am "polying" them up (putting polyurethane on the so they will resist water), the grain "pops," as it does when I restore the walnut wood of old speakers. My conundrum: Should I make some mahogany coasters without felt bottoms? The bottoms are as pretty as the tops on these things! I usually put felt on the bottoms on my coasters, so they won't scratch tables, appear more "luxurious," etc. I'll see if I can find a recent photo that captures the grain of these things. Would you be OK with coasters that had no felt bottoms?

11 people like this

10 responses

@RubyHawk (99405)

• Atlanta, Georgia

21 Dec 22

I think I’d add the velt bottoms to protect the furniture.

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@TheHorse (221013)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Dec 22

But I do wonder if non-felted coasters could really scratch furniture.

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@TheHorse (221013)

• Walnut Creek, California

22 Dec 22

@RubyHawk They are not very rough.

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@RubyHawk (99405)

• Atlanta, Georgia

22 Dec 22

@TheHorse I guess it’s according to how smooth they are.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317814)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

20 Dec 22

They're beautiful! Yes, I would be all right without felt.

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@TheHorse (221013)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Dec 22

I may email Martin Guitars and see if they have more of the mahogany cut-outs.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317814)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

21 Dec 22

@TheHorse Sounds like a good plan.

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@TheHorse (221013)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Dec 22

@just4him Maybe I'll do that this morning.

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@BarBaraPrz (47875)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

21 Dec 22

Nope. I want the felt shining through those rather large holes... and put some poly in the holes, too

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@BarBaraPrz (47875)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

21 Dec 22

@TheHorse These look larger than what you've shown us before.

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@TheHorse (221013)

• Walnut Creek, California

23 Dec 22

@BarBaraPrz Those what look larger? The holes? I'd have to check and see which coasters have larger holes. I think Martin's are bigger than Collings's. I rarely make Larrivee or Santa Cruz coasters.

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@TheHorse (221013)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Dec 22

Heh. Some People DO decorate the holes--they put something in there.

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@DaddyEvil (138373)

• United States

21 Dec 22

I would rather have felt on the bottom of them if they were being made for me.

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@DaddyEvil (138373)

• United States

21 Dec 22

@TheHorse My coffee and end tables are glass and wood.

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@TheHorse (221013)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Dec 22

I will probably continue to make most with felt on the bottom.

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@TheHorse (221013)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Dec 22

@DaddyEvil The glass tables could deal with no felt, no problem.

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@RasmaSandra (81292)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

20 Dec 22

They are looking good, What I want to know is Did you and Kitty get all shaken up in the earthquake, and are you all right?

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@TheHorse (221013)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Dec 22

I read about it today. I'll have to see when it occurred. I cant say I felt it. Or did I?

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@TheHorse (221013)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Dec 22

@LindaOHio I'll check USGS now. I gots to see WHEN it happened. I'll explain in a bit.

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@LindaOHio (183254)

• United States

21 Dec 22

@TheHorse It was up near the Oregon border. 6.4

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@JudyEv (342868)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Dec 22

I think I'd prefer them with bottoms, only because I have a wooden table.

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@TheHorse (221013)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Dec 22

I wonder if un-felted mahogany could really scratch a wooden table. I honestly don't know.

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@TheHorse (221013)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Dec 22

@JudyEv Heh. When I gues about something, I call it a "hypothesis." That makes me feel real smart!

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@JudyEv (342868)

• Rockingham, Australia

21 Dec 22

@TheHorse I should think it would. Just guessing really.

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@celticeagle (169147)

• Boise, Idaho

20 Dec 22

Good that they resist water. Wouldn't make much sense if they weren't. I enjoy seeing the grain in the wood. I would rather have felt on the bottom.

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@TheHorse (221013)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Dec 22

I will probably keep making most with felt on the bottom. But some have such pretty grain on the bottom...a new era for Horse Industries.

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@FourWalls (69674)

• United States

21 Dec 22

I would. I think the felt would only be necessary if the house was on a hill, leaning so that your cups might slide off the table.

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@wolfgirl569 (109121)

• Marion, Ohio

21 Dec 22

It would depend on where I was going to use them.

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@TheHorse (221013)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Dec 22

I would suggest using them under beverages.

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@wolfgirl569 (109121)

• Marion, Ohio

21 Dec 22

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@TheHorse (221013)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Dec 22

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@LindaOHio (183254)

• United States

21 Dec 22

I would prefer a felt bottom. Just my preference. The coasters look great.

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@TheHorse (221013)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Dec 22

i don't feel like they're "completed" unless I put felt on them. But I may try to change that notion.

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