LAMINATING THE LEGS
When I left off I had cut most of the strips. That was a very tedious job and I broke it up over several days (over 80 total).
I finally got to the point where I could start bending my laminations. Here is the “dry” trial run:
Here are the strips laid out to apply the glue. I had to mix the special glue made for laminations:
And here is the first glued up leg in the form:
After about three days I had all eight legs. Some of them are still wrapped in the plastic that keeps them from sticking to the form:
My gluing form doubled as a jig for positioning the legs on my Radial Arm Saw bench to trim the ends. This ensures that each leg is exactly the same height and the feet are flat on the floor.
I ran them through the planer to clean up the faces:
Then I used my spindle sander to clean up the sides:
THE OCTAGON
The “Octagon” is the structure underneath the tabletop that the legs attach to.
I set my saw to the magic number 22.5 deg to cut the eight sides. It came out perfectly the first time, I guess I got lucky.
Then I set up my “tenon sled” on the tablesaw with a single dado blade and cut the slots for the keys:
I planed some maple stock to make the keys:
And cut them to length:
Here is the Octagon all glued up:
This thickness sander is new to my shop and this is the first time I had a chance to really use it. It worked great for cleaning up glue and truing the top and bottom of the Octagon.
My first sneak peak at the base of the table!
The joint between the legs and the Octagon needs to be very strong, since they are only connected in one place. So I plan on cutting a curved slot on each side of the Octagon to accept each leg.
I made a pattern/jig for my router to rout out the channels. This allowed each channel to be in exactly the same location and same angle so I don’t have a wobbly table:
Here is the leg set into the channel:
The finished Octagon with leg channels:
The legs glued and clamped to the Octagon… I plan on adding either dowels or screws to each joint for extra reinforcement later:
I couldn’t resist…
Now All I need to do is make the bent-lamination Oval-shaped apron, and dye/finish the table top.
About 19.5 more hours. Total building time so far: 28.5 hours
-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com
19 comments so far
kevinw
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63 posts in 631 days
posted 146 days ago
Very interesting. Thanks for posting.
-- Kevin, Blue Springs, MO
lew
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4471 posts in 647 days
posted 146 days ago
COOL!!!
As I read the previous posts, I was wondering how you were going to clamp the parts together- Nice!!
Clamping techniques always give me trouble- thanks for the ideas.
Lew
jcees
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553 posts in 691 days
posted 146 days ago
Boffo Blake-man! And very nicely documented too I might add. It’s a beautiful thing.
always,
J.C.
-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein
CaptainSkully
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468 posts in 450 days
posted 146 days ago
That’s so cool! I almost got seasick…
-- You can't control the wind, but you can trim your sails
Karson
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25792 posts in 1292 days
posted 146 days ago
Blake A great job and very inventive in the creation.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
mtnwild
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2013 posts in 419 days
posted 146 days ago
You make it look easy. Very cool, thanks…................
-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.
Rustic
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1247 posts in 488 days
posted 146 days ago
lookin great
-- There is no such thing as a mistake. Its called a design modification Rick Kruse, Grand Rapids, MI
bowyer
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342 posts in 287 days
posted 146 days ago
Your blog is very informative and easy to follow, thank you! The table is going to look great
Rick
-- If at first you don't succeed...Don't try skydiving
Damian Penney
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1030 posts in 883 days
posted 145 days ago
I’m constantly impressed by how efficiently you turn out these pieces. Great table, and great blog.
-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso
Todd A. Clippinger
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5632 posts in 991 days
posted 145 days ago
SNAP!
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
pommy
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948 posts in 583 days
posted 145 days ago
Blake looking very cool nice to see the process from SU to this stage can’t wait to see the top go on and the finishing process
Andy
-- cut it saw it scrap it
scott shangraw
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408 posts in 961 days
posted 145 days ago
Looks great Blake.Cool design can’t wait to see final project!!!
-- Scott NM,http://www.shangrilawoodworks.com
Beginningwoodworker
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4098 posts in 564 days
posted 145 days ago
This is going to be a cool table!
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
Zuki
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1232 posts in 969 days
posted 145 days ago
Reminds me of War of the Worlds.
You do great work Blake.
-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them
matt garcia
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716 posts in 563 days
posted 145 days ago
Yeah, War of the Worlds!! That is one unique design!!
-- Matt, Houston Texas
a1Jim
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16558 posts in 469 days
posted 145 days ago
Hey Blake
Cool design.great build.Outstanding photos and blog can’t wait for more.
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
bfd
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418 posts in 699 days
posted 144 days ago
Blake those laminations are amazing It blows my mind that the legs look as if they are floating in water and wouldn’t be able to support the load that it carries. I mean this in a great way as it almost gives the illusion that the table is suspended ….exactly like the “legs” of a true jelly fish. Even in the photo when the legs are upside down it reminds me of seeweed gently floating in a current. This is just Awesome Blake.
-- Brian, Folsom, CA http://www.brianfullerdesigns.com
majeagle1
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425 posts in 388 days
posted 144 days ago
Absolutely great blog Blake…........... the details, information and creativity are your normal “top of the line”
thanks so much. After watching your process I may now have to try some bent lamination…........
You mentioned special glue…... what is your formula / product and what makes it special?
-- Gene, Majestic Eagle Woodworks, http://majesticeagleww.etsy.com/, http://www.flickr.com/photos/majesticeagle/
blackcherry
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730 posts in 715 days
posted 144 days ago
This is definitely a creative design but where the Miles music, I think it would go nicely with the leg design…LOL as always Blake great craftsmanship and looking forward to seeing the end results…Blkcherry