No it isn't the power split in the 2010 Audi R8, 60% to rear and 40% to front : its the amount of attention you might pay to my pieces splitting 60% form and shape and 40% to the finish... Thats what a friend said this afternoon. He flashed his woodworking experience credentials and lent me some advice that one must pay attention to the way furniture is finished, at a heightened level, not just "pay attention". I debated back and forth that I haven't selected final finishes as of yet because I have yet to conclude which finishes I think are a balance between flash and functionality.
One point before I move on: I welcome criticism [good or bad] but this discussion was a bit "forced": rather than offering solutions to what is a LONG and arduous process, his comments felt like they needed to be countered, until I realized that I don't disagree... Age gives you wisdom and at moments like that you use it: although I am working on a million things a few issues stood out to my friend and they bothered him enough to ignore it all and focus on those issues that mattered to him. I appreciated his rigor and timing, I only wish others would be as diligent in dishing out their gut feelings as soon as it hits them: they think they'll be received with force but the truth is the ONLY way you make a high quality product is by increasing your rigor by MANY folds, even if you are a hard ass, knit picking, type A, perfectionista. If you play golf you know what I mean, "ay que apretar cuando el tiro esta dificil".
As an Architect you learn to never fall in love with one scheme, over time you learn that you need to tread much water before you reach the shore of your solution. Even then you'll always question this decision over that decision [its confusing like that]. When "Making" anything you realize that you must have targets or thresholds or standards that you must stick to: some lie only in your head because the finished product isn't there to be criticized yet and the rush to create will only further obliterate that rigor, so put on your armor write down your thoughts and keep pushing.
So here is to friends with guts who keep the doers shooting straighter and more precise.
dl.v
Thinking about using the right stains and sealers was a huge deal when I originally made the first prototypes. I wanted surfaces that had a matt varnish look to them or entirely natural, all I knew is that I didn't want to use any harmful solvents to stain. We had a brand new baby in the house, and I knew that eventually he would start touching, gnawing, and sucking on parts of the furniture (its inevitable, they do that kind of thing...).
So I started my research and came to the conclusion that Natural Soy was the best non toxic stain sealed with natural Beeswax! I found all I needed on this website, I quickly ordered the Timber Soy Stain
and tried it out... Not that easy to work with, it takes a few applications but the end result is beautiful! The wood looked natural, all the detail in the wood stayed intact and the smells weren't there after it dried... I don't get paid to talk/use these products, I just want to talk about why I chose them. I read the white sheets and specifications and instantly liked the way the product was made... I encourage you to always read the white papers of anything you purchase.
The Beeswax I used for finishing was from DaddyVans! Which of all crazy things its actually a polish not a sealer. But since the soy is non toxic I've learned the wax does a great job at sealing it and polishing the wood. The wax is very hard to put on, and to get a polish it takes lots of work... The wax dries perfectly, and the finish is very very nice, depending on how much and smooth you sand of course... No smells, and works on mixed wood found in butcher block, red oak, and standard plywood (all the materials I used for the prototypes). 
The more higher end materials I'll be using on these 9 pieces will do very well with my choice of stains and sealer/polish. I'll speak later to the actual preparation of the materials for finishing, but for now the decision to use these materials was partly experimental, driven by the need to leave behind toxic alternatives.
dl.v
60/40
One point before I move on: I welcome criticism [good or bad] but this discussion was a bit "forced": rather than offering solutions to what is a LONG and arduous process, his comments felt like they needed to be countered, until I realized that I don't disagree... Age gives you wisdom and at moments like that you use it: although I am working on a million things a few issues stood out to my friend and they bothered him enough to ignore it all and focus on those issues that mattered to him. I appreciated his rigor and timing, I only wish others would be as diligent in dishing out their gut feelings as soon as it hits them: they think they'll be received with force but the truth is the ONLY way you make a high quality product is by increasing your rigor by MANY folds, even if you are a hard ass, knit picking, type A, perfectionista. If you play golf you know what I mean, "ay que apretar cuando el tiro esta dificil".
As an Architect you learn to never fall in love with one scheme, over time you learn that you need to tread much water before you reach the shore of your solution. Even then you'll always question this decision over that decision [its confusing like that]. When "Making" anything you realize that you must have targets or thresholds or standards that you must stick to: some lie only in your head because the finished product isn't there to be criticized yet and the rush to create will only further obliterate that rigor, so put on your armor write down your thoughts and keep pushing.
So here is to friends with guts who keep the doers shooting straighter and more precise.
dl.v