The Discarded Workshop

09/02/2026

08/28/2026

I refinished this chair for a client. Personally I liked it as is, but i don't own it and they wanted a more updated feel which I can appreciate. I also will jump at any chance to work on 150 year old rocking chair.

The stain underneath was wild and after hours of sanding was still left deep in the grain. So just doing a natural clear coat was out of the question. But using a nice walnut stain which has red in the undertones worked to even it out.

This was a lovely chair to work on and hopefully it'll be in the family for another 150 years.

08/27/2026

A trio of contemporary materials. A commission

In the past, when people have asked about refinishing pieces made late 90s/early 2000s I've said no. I wasn't set up to any spraying, my toner work left something to be desired, generally speaking the veneer is so thin and on mdf creates problems that i just wasn't comfortable taking on.

Ive been doing work and felt more confident taking these on. And as I started working on them my confidence started to shrink particulary With unexpected shock of plastic components.And then needed to slowly rebuild said confidence through slowly trying techniques i haven't done before. They still don't match the factory finish but I am happy with them.

All to say is spent a lot of time thinking about materials and fast furniture, and how much is landing in the landfill, and continued degrading of work, all fuelled by ai and tecno fascists. It was a slippery slope and maybe I'll try to write about it.

08/06/2026

A lovely pair

For sale: $500 sold together

This vintage dresser nightstand came to me in rough shape, peeling paint, broken top, missing handles. The last owner really did a number on it. (Me. I am the last owner or at least my partner 😉)

But the bones where there. Just needed an update of the paint, fixed some runners and new handles and these are like new again.

Mostly solid wood top, drawers, frame, with some hardboard. Very structurally sound and in like new condition.

Dm to claim

Dimensions

Dresser

33w× 38h × 18 deep

Nightstand

18w x 22h x 17 deep

08/04/2026

All in black please!

A client reached out to me. They had bought a custom dining room table in black and were wondering if I could make these match. (Last two photos)

The buffet and big cabinet were matching probably 1950'sish the corner was from the 1970's. These were such good quality builds heavy as heavy goes but so much life left in them. Finished in black with 5 coats of laquer to give multiple years of life to them!

Once I got all the doors off, glass out, shelves off i became a little overwhelmed by the number of pieces. Including thinking I was done only to realize I failed to finish on of the doors, imagine my heart break. Alas such is life it got done in the end.

I'm starting to book into the fall. So reach out now to book your place!

07/23/2026

On sanding

There is no way around sanding. But sometimes it sure is worse than others. This is an antique chair, client thought around 150 years old. Sometimes it's hard to do what the client wants, the patina on this chair was lovely. But it's not mine nor does everyone need to have my taste. Important thing is it stay in their house.

Shellac came off realively easy, but the stain didn't at all. I tried, oxalic, I tried hydrogen peroxide, acetone (i knew this one wouldn't work), and i even tried more stripper. Nothing really worked the stain was deep in the grain. But every time i touched it came off on my hands. I read a few months ago how some antique red stains used brick dust that was rubbed into the grain i wonder if that was used here.

The only solution was was to sand starting at 80 grit. There are no real tricks, pads help but are not a catch all solution. And the spindles shown in the video are so delicate i was worried about them snapping. So the only solution is to take a strip of sand paper back it with some duct tape and so slow and steady. Each spindle probably took around 10 mins for each grit.

Still a ways to go. But the red is almost gone.

07/17/2026

Fixing grandma chair.

My client recently inherited a set of chairs from her grandma. There were her favourite and was constantly tinkering with them. She really lit up when talking about her relationship with them. By the time they got to her they had seen better days. Our conversation initially started with her wanting to repurpose them in some sort of bench as she felt they were to rickety. After looking at them I purposed a bench, but also walked her through a simple repair, explaining that the joints had just come loose and simply repairing them would make for longer lasting piece of furniture.

This is a wonderful chair solid maple, beautiful texture on the back and arms, solid chunky legs to support weight. This chair can be repaired in a generation.

Chairs are so easily thrown out, but so simply repaired and can last for such a long time. You have rickety chair noone is alllowed to sit in. Shoot me a dm and let's figure out a way to change that.

07/15/2026

Everything is fine

The smoke from wildfires up north was so bad it hurt my lungs when I left the shop for 5 mins

But don't worry it's just indigenous communities burning.

Everything is fine.

We have a prime minister who says why even bother trying to hit our carbon reduction goals it might impact billionaire bottom lines

But don't worry we'll spend billions on pipelines and data centres.

Everything is fine

We have a premier who hasn't enacted a meaning climate policy in 9 years

But don't worry we'll build new highways, and reduce access to information. Who needs to be informed

Everything is fine

We have a mayor when the academic techs fascists say jump she says here's a special council meeting to lobby the council just make sure you say children will die if we hold off on building your unregulated datacentre for a year.

But don't worry, we'll still push people in encampments to edge of death, and support our racist police board

Everything is fine

Just wake up and go to work

Everything is fine

Everything is fine

04/10/2026

I think it's time for a proper introduction! I'm Blake McCall and I'm The Discarded Workshop. I work in a small shop primarily with handtools, and I'm attempting to be as sensitive to the impact on the land, water and air as I can be.
I accept commissions, so if you've got a piece that needs some repair or restoring, message me or check out my website at the link in my bio.