I don't know if this is what you had in mind but its the only other woodworking I've done. I had an old, rickety (sp?), and ugly boxed in staircase and loft railing that had been bugging me for years because it was so out of place in what I thought would be a nice looking room if the stairs looked good.
I had had this idea that big-featured pieces would look good instead and finally one day I committed to the project by literally getting up out of the chair and ripping out the existing stairs. I tore it all down to stringers and then installed temporary treads and railing.
I found a local guy who milled lumber and I placed a custom order with him for this doug fir. I picked up the fir, stacked it in the garage with a fan blowing on it and let the bulk of the moisture out of it before I started working it.
I used electric hand planer, belt sander, palm sander, and router on each piece. Every piece is custom fit because some of the main pieces were twisted or not square. I had to reinforce and level the existing stringers. I also refinished those beams in the ceiling.
It took me 4 solid months of working 10 hr/ days, average 3 days/week. It is sealed with Seal a Cell (two coats) and stained (two coats), and has one coat of, yes, Tru-oil. I hand made all the trim too. Total cost, $600
