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83K views 104 replies 17 participants last post by  Smitty_Cabinetshop 
#1 ·
Milling 6/4 Rough Sawn Lumber Parts

After several days of study and analysis, I decided I would make a trestle table for my granddaughter Torrence. It boiled down between this relatively small trestle table or a shaker style writing desk with two drawers under the table top. Each would be approximately the same size of about 60 inches long and 30 inches wide.

Frankly, the decision really came down to my desire to make a beautiful trestle table; one with great curves and shapes.

Actually this trestle table's top will be 54 inches long and 27 inches wide by 29 inches tall. This will be designed similar to a table designed by Gary Rogowski in an article he wrote for Fine Woodworking Magazine, September 2010. I plan to make a few feature change to Mr Rogowshi's article with respect to the shape of the top and the stretcher. Of course, this table will have tower legs on each end with a single stretcher connecting the two a few inches below the table top. I will make the typical through tenons with thin wedges that can be tapped into place in order to hold the stretcher in place. I will make the top so it can have its screws unfastened if the table needs to broken down for transport when moving.

I had a 6/4 rough sawn cherry board in my shop's lumber rack. It had twisted while in my shop. So I began milling the table parts to see if I could use this board and get the dimensioned parts I needed for the stretcher, feet, legs and caps at the top of the legs. In order to maximize the parts thickness, I cut the board to the parts approximate lengths and even to rip some of those parts so I could reduce the effects of the board's twist. It worked for me when making one surface flat on my jointer.

I was able to mill these 6/4 parts today so I do not need to purchase a new 6/4 rough sawn board. I have what I need.

I can next go to my hardwood lumber store to purchase the 4/4 cherry rough sawn lumber. I will make the table top from this 4/4 lumber. That shopping trip will be Monday, at the earliest.

By looking at the milled parts in the photos below, can you tell how I mark the flat jointed surface with the edge squared to it at 90 degrees?

Furniture Cabinetry Wood Drawer Wood stain


I ran these parts through my thickness planer . Next I will rip these parts on my table saw to get the final dimensions of width and their lengths, including any tenon lengths to fit into mortises.
 

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#51 ·
Fitted Through Tenons into Leg Mortises

This morning I am fitting the stretcher's long tenons into the leg's through mortise.
Engineering Machine Technology Audio equipment Electrical wiring


A bit more hand chisel work and I will have it.
Wood Building Floor Flooring Hardwood


After both through tenons fit well, then I will cut a through mortise angled at 8 degrees. That mortise will be through the tenon's top and drilled or cut all the way to the bottom of the tenon. However, a part of the mortises' top will be hidden into the leg and more of it hidden at the tenon's bottom. The wedge's small bottom end will just fit through the exposed mortise .
Carpenter Wood Tradesman Tool Table


It is the friction of the wedge against the outer wall of the leg that will hold this whole table together.
Table Wood Creative arts Workbench Wood stain


The angled sled you see on my table saw was built so I can get that angle correct on my drill press. The small but long wedge as seen laying on the leg and my workbench will hold the whole table together when fastened up.

Wood Wood stain Flooring Hardwood Table


Well, after dry fitting the through tenons in their leg mortises I had to look at my unfinshed table top on its leg assemblies.
Table Furniture Wood Desk Workbench


Wheel Tire Furniture Table Wood


Next I need to cut the angled through mortises so wedges can be inserted or hammered in so the legs and the table can be locked into a stable position.
 

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#52 ·
Angled Mortise Cut in Thru Tenon

Today I setup my 8 degree sled up on my drill press so I could drill small 1/4 inch holes in order to make the mortises in which the wedges will hold the legs tightly together.
Milling Machine tool Engineering Toolroom Gas


I clamped the stretcher to the sled and then aligned the mortise hole under the drill bit. Then I clamped everything down tightly.
Saw Wood Milling Drill Drilling


The mortise will be made where the XXXs mark the spot. You can notice the 8 degree angle marked on the sides of the tenon for the mortise. Since my drill bit was not very long I had to roll up my floor drill press' table in order to punch through the tenon.
Wood Rectangle Hardwood Plank Wood stain


I placed one of the cutoffs of he tenons and shimmed it so I would not blow out the underside of the tenon.
Wood Wood stain Hardwood Plank Building material


After drilling both tenons, I clamped the stretcher to my workbench.
Table Wood Workbench Desk Hardwood


This night I just made sure I had a clear hole through this tenon. I will use my hand chisels tomorrow to clean up the surfaces and square off the ends of the mortise.
Wood Wood stain Hardwood Plywood Flooring


Tomorrow I will clean the mortises so I can fit the wedges through them.
 

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#53 ·
Angled Mortise Cut in Thru Tenon

Today I setup my 8 degree sled up on my drill press so I could drill small 1/4 inch holes in order to make the mortises in which the wedges will hold the legs tightly together.
Milling Machine tool Engineering Toolroom Gas


I clamped the stretcher to the sled and then aligned the mortise hole under the drill bit. Then I clamped everything down tightly.
Saw Wood Milling Drill Drilling


The mortise will be made where the XXXs mark the spot. You can notice the 8 degree angle marked on the sides of the tenon for the mortise. Since my drill bit was not very long I had to roll up my floor drill press' table in order to punch through the tenon.
Wood Rectangle Hardwood Plank Wood stain


I placed one of the cutoffs of he tenons and shimmed it so I would not blow out the underside of the tenon.
Wood Wood stain Hardwood Plank Building material


After drilling both tenons, I clamped the stretcher to my workbench.
Table Wood Workbench Desk Hardwood


This night I just made sure I had a clear hole through this tenon. I will use my hand chisels tomorrow to clean up the surfaces and square off the ends of the mortise.
Wood Wood stain Hardwood Plywood Flooring


Tomorrow I will clean the mortises so I can fit the wedges through them.
When I did my trestle table I just did the mortise straight and then angled the outside end, the inner edge was inside the leg that was held and I didn't want to remove more material than necessary.
 

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#56 ·
Through Tenon Mortises Cleared for Wedges

I spent a lot of time today working with my hand chisels to clean the drilled holes I made yesterday. These are the through mortises for the wedges that will hold the legs together. They give the trestle table its strength. I did take my time to clean these mortises so they would let the wedges through but would not have a sloppy fit.
Table Wood Workbench Desk Hardwood


I even used my magnifying glass to see the mortises and the use of my hand chisels clearly.
Goggles Wood Gas Saw Hardwood


I was glad I had these Rockler purchased lighted magnifying glasses.
Bicycle tire Wheel Automotive tire Bicycle part Bicycle wheel rim


Once I got the mortises right so the wedges would ft nicely through these mortises I did a dry fit into the leg assemblies.
Furniture Table Cabinetry Wood Drawer
 

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#57 ·
Through Tenons & Table Top Layout

I used a 2 inch diameter circle to round the corners of these through tenons that will contain the wedges for this trestle table
Wood Wood stain Floor Hardwood Flooring


Wood Wood stain Hardwood Lumber Plank


My plans for this top will be to pattern it after trestle table designed and built by Daniel Chaffin. He wrote a Fine Woodworking article published in the September/ October 2013 issue.
Wood Creative arts Wood stain Hardwood Varnish


From the image in the magazine article and attached here, you can see the light reflected from the wonderful beveled side…

http://www.finewoodworking.com/2013/08/01/a-trestle-table-with-modern-appeal

The underside of the table top has two bevels:
(1) for the ends that are crosscut straight the bevel is cut at 60 degrees.
(2) the sides that has a smooth curve cut from end to end on each side after bevels on those sides are first cut with a saw at 45 degrees and then beveled further with a hand plane to 64 degrees.

For the thickness of my table top and with a 64 degree bevel that requires I make the curves start on the table's top 1 7/16 inches in from the ends on each side.

To sketch the curve I rip cut a long thin strip of hardwood on my table saw. It will be at least 64 inches long. At about 3/16 inches thick will make it easy to bend and thick enough to hold its curve as I draw the curve on the table's top with a thin pencil.
Wheel Tire Wood Automotive exterior Vehicle


The attached photo shows my layout of these two bevels at one of the top's corners.
Table Wood Rectangle Floor Flooring
 

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#58 ·
Whoa, Let's Be Safe With These Bevel Cuts

I was preparing to cut the 30 degree bevel on the table top's ends and the 45 degree bevels on the side on my table saw by using my tall rip fence jig.
Automotive tire Automotive design Machine tool Motor vehicle Gas


Wood Flooring Gas Bumper Motor vehicle


Then I realized that holding the 60 inch length table top on its end was silly and dangerous. It would be very tipsy; hard to hold steady. Instead I will build a circular cutting jig for my Rigid circular saw. This meant a trip to my local large box store. After looking at the material options I decided to purchase a 4 ft by 8 ft sheet of 1/2" thick MDF. Since I was there to buy this sheet I also took the opportunity to buy three full sheets of 3/4 inch Birch plywood, 4 ft by 8 ft.
Table Wood Desk Flooring Floor


I have decided to build a roll around tool cabinet for my shop. This is a Woodsmith Shop Notes plan with a Shop Notes online library ownership I had purchased. I have a bunch of tools and power equipment that I want into a cabinet. Right now they are in the original boxes or tool cases they arrived in. Having them in a tool cabinet will make they more readily available for use. The tool cabinet will also be mobile in my garage woodshop.
Cabinetry Furniture Shelf Shelving Drawer


Since I had to make a trip to the store, I did not complete the jig today. However, I did get the parts cut. I used a leftover 1 by 4 select pine 8 foot length piece for the fence. I jointed one edge flat and square to a wide surface. I then ripped the other edge square to the first. This will be the jig's fence when completed.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Floor Composite material


I cut one of the jigs to 60 inches in length and that left the other jig to be 36 inches. From these two circular saw jigs I will be able to cut the bevels for this trestle table top and be safe doing it.

Tomorrow I will glue and screw these two jigs together. I will get the bevels cut tomorrow.
Table Wood Rectangle Floor Flooring


Saw Circular saw Radial arm saw Wood Drill


Instead of cutting the bevels on the circular saw jig on the short-side of the saw's flat surface as shown in the photo above, I will flip the table over so the bottom surface will be up. Then I will be able to cut the bevel with the wide surface of the circular saw. It is probably the preferable method for cutting a sheet good with a circular saw; the show surface will be on the opposite side from the saw.
 

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#59 ·
Whoa, Let's Be Safe With These Bevel Cuts

I was preparing to cut the 30 degree bevel on the table top's ends and the 45 degree bevels on the side on my table saw by using my tall rip fence jig.
Automotive tire Automotive design Machine tool Motor vehicle Gas


Wood Flooring Gas Bumper Motor vehicle


Then I realized that holding the 60 inch length table top on its end was silly and dangerous. It would be very tipsy; hard to hold steady. Instead I will build a circular cutting jig for my Rigid circular saw. This meant a trip to my local large box store. After looking at the material options I decided to purchase a 4 ft by 8 ft sheet of 1/2" thick MDF. Since I was there to buy this sheet I also took the opportunity to buy three full sheets of 3/4 inch Birch plywood, 4 ft by 8 ft.
Table Wood Desk Flooring Floor


I have decided to build a roll around tool cabinet for my shop. This is a Woodsmith Shop Notes plan with a Shop Notes online library ownership I had purchased. I have a bunch of tools and power equipment that I want into a cabinet. Right now they are in the original boxes or tool cases they arrived in. Having them in a tool cabinet will make they more readily available for use. The tool cabinet will also be mobile in my garage woodshop.
Cabinetry Furniture Shelf Shelving Drawer


Since I had to make a trip to the store, I did not complete the jig today. However, I did get the parts cut. I used a leftover 1 by 4 select pine 8 foot length piece for the fence. I jointed one edge flat and square to a wide surface. I then ripped the other edge square to the first. This will be the jig's fence when completed.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Floor Composite material


I cut one of the jigs to 60 inches in length and that left the other jig to be 36 inches. From these two circular saw jigs I will be able to cut the bevels for this trestle table top and be safe doing it.

Tomorrow I will glue and screw these two jigs together. I will get the bevels cut tomorrow.
Table Wood Rectangle Floor Flooring


Saw Circular saw Radial arm saw Wood Drill


Instead of cutting the bevels on the circular saw jig on the short-side of the saw's flat surface as shown in the photo above, I will flip the table over so the bottom surface will be up. Then I will be able to cut the bevel with the wide surface of the circular saw. It is probably the preferable method for cutting a sheet good with a circular saw; the show surface will be on the opposite side from the saw.
Better safe than sliced!
 

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#63 ·
Table Top's Bevels Cut with Circular Saw Cutting Jig

Today I completed making the circular saw cutting jigs. I have one jig that is 60 inches long for cutting the 45 degree bevel of the sides of the table top. The other jig is 36 inches long for cutting the 30 degree bevel on the ends of the table top.
Wood Automotive tire Tire Floor Flooring


After fixing the fence to the top of the jigs with screws, I then cut the bevels with my Rigid circular saw. Once I had the jig trimmed to the saw blade with that angle, I was able to lay the jig on the top side of the table top and align it just so.
Motor vehicle Automotive tire Hood Automotive design Field house


The ends were not square so I marked the ends with a large square and a pencil line. I lined up the jig on that pencil and then cut the 30 degree bevel on the ends.
Wood Workbench Gas Machine Engineering


Then it was simply using the longer jig for the sides of the table top. Clamped the jig to the top and the top to my assembly table in order to cut these bevels.
Wood Rectangle Wood stain Hardwood Plank


I ran out of time today, but I will be back tomorrow to hand plane the side bevels that are now 45 degrees to approximately 64 degrees. That works out to be 1 9 1/16 of an inch from the edge of the table's sides.
Table Furniture Wood Desk Rectangle
 

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#64 ·
Table Top's Bevels Cut with Circular Saw Cutting Jig

Today I completed making the circular saw cutting jigs. I have one jig that is 60 inches long for cutting the 45 degree bevel of the sides of the table top. The other jig is 36 inches long for cutting the 30 degree bevel on the ends of the table top.
Wood Automotive tire Tire Floor Flooring


After fixing the fence to the top of the jigs with screws, I then cut the bevels with my Rigid circular saw. Once I had the jig trimmed to the saw blade with that angle, I was able to lay the jig on the top side of the table top and align it just so.
Motor vehicle Automotive tire Hood Automotive design Field house


The ends were not square so I marked the ends with a large square and a pencil line. I lined up the jig on that pencil and then cut the 30 degree bevel on the ends.
Wood Workbench Gas Machine Engineering


Then it was simply using the longer jig for the sides of the table top. Clamped the jig to the top and the top to my assembly table in order to cut these bevels.
Wood Rectangle Wood stain Hardwood Plank


I ran out of time today, but I will be back tomorrow to hand plane the side bevels that are now 45 degrees to approximately 64 degrees. That works out to be 1 9 1/16 of an inch from the edge of the table's sides.
Table Furniture Wood Desk Rectangle
Hey Happy what is going on here buddy?...... the edges are supposed to be rounded
Your gunna be dead meat if the grandkids run into that edge!
 

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#68 ·
Hand Planed Table Top's Side Bevels

Yesterday I cut bevels on my trestle table top panel with circular saw jigs. The ends I cut at 30 degrees of bevel. the sides I had cut at 45 degrees. Today I have been using my #6 bench plane to take these 45 degree bevels on the sides to about 62 degrees. The closer I get to the finish beveled angle the thinner I adjust the blade for a shaving cut. I am getting a nice sheen smooth surface.
Furniture Table Wood Flooring Floor


Wood Flooring Floor Rectangle Wood stain


This plane work is being done all edges, but the ends remain at 30 degrees and the sides will finish its bevel at about 62 degrees.
Wood Table Flooring Wood stain Hardwood


Table Wood Flooring Wood stain Hardwood
 

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#69 ·
Hand Planed Table Top's Side Bevels

Yesterday I cut bevels on my trestle table top panel with circular saw jigs. The ends I cut at 30 degrees of bevel. the sides I had cut at 45 degrees. Today I have been using my #6 bench plane to take these 45 degree bevels on the sides to about 62 degrees. The closer I get to the finish beveled angle the thinner I adjust the blade for a shaving cut. I am getting a nice sheen smooth surface.
Furniture Table Wood Flooring Floor


Wood Flooring Floor Rectangle Wood stain


This plane work is being done all edges, but the ends remain at 30 degrees and the sides will finish its bevel at about 62 degrees.
Wood Table Flooring Wood stain Hardwood


Table Wood Flooring Wood stain Hardwood
Hi Jim, as far as following a plan I did purchase two Taunton Store paper plans that were based on two Fine Woodworking Magazine articles. The first was Gary Rogowski's trestle table plan in October 2010, issue #214. The second was Daniel Chaffin's trestle table. I followed his plan the bevels and curves I cut on my table top. Fine Woodworking Magazine ran a cover article on Daniel Chaffin's trestle table in issue #235, October 2013.

I followed both plans as closed as I could. I do not own a Festool track saw so I built two circular saw guides to make my beveled cuts on the ends and the sides. Since the sides needed further beveling I used my #6 jack plane to bevel it further to approximately 62 degrees. To cut the curves on the sides I made a bendy stick, anchored it with squeezy clamps, pencil marked the line and then cut close to the line with my Bosch jig saw. From there I used my low angle block plane to smooth the curve and also my pinnacle spokeshave to get the curves right up to the lines. This was enjoyable, a fun part of this project.

You can read my blog for this table. I went over-board in documenting my processes each day. If you have questions, go ahead and send them to me. I will do my best to get you answers.

My Annie wants me to replace our round kitchen table with the Daniel Chaffin Contemporary Trestle Table. It will be larger than this one I built for my granddaughter. I will also build the benches that Daniel Chaffin shows in the magazine.

Good luck.
 

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#70 ·
Cut Table Top's Curve with Jigsaw

I had a very busy day today outside of my workshop. After coming back home from important family business, I decided to purchase some new jigsaw blades. I had run test cuts on some scrap pieces of wood. I determined that I needed at least two types of blades and these were dedicated for cutting hardwoods. I bought two different sets of blades from my local big box store. When I got them home I performed another test in order to verify its results
Table Furniture Wood Workbench Creative arts


I selected the Bosch T101BF blade labeled as clean for hardwood to use on my table top. I darkened my curved pencil line by using my thin bending board strip by placing the thin strip between two squeezy clamps and using my carpenter's pencil to redraw the curve.
Furniture Table Wood Rectangle Wood stain


From this I clamped down the table top to my assembly table and then carefully cut the curve with my Bosch jigsaw.
Table Wood Desk Wood stain Rectangle


I got a decent curved cut.
Table Wood Rectangle Wood stain Plank


Tomorrow I will use my low angle block plane to smooth out the curved cut. I can do this by pressing down its toe on the convex curve. Using this method I can get a good curved plane cut.
 

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#71 ·
Curved Beveled Table Sides

Today I used my low angle block plane to smooth the curves I had cut with my jigsaw yesterday. These curves were marked in pencil by following a thin strip of hardwood bent between the ends indented 1 7/16 inches inside the corners and pulled out to the middle of the sides. My Bosch jigsaw fitted with a hardwood blade made a nice tear free cut.
Plant Wood Triangle Cone Font


I was not sure how I was going to clamp the table top. The way it ended up was by accident. It was clear that I needed to soften the top's corner on a hardwood block instead of my garage floor.
Wood Hardwood Composite material Flooring Wood stain


I planed the sides by starting at the top's midpoint and planing down grain to the ends. I kept planing beyond being smooth in order to meet my pencil line.
Table Wood Floor Flooring Wood stain


After examining the table top laying on my assembly table, I can see that the 62 degree bevel needs to be worked on more towards one of my table corners.
Wood Table Floor Rectangle Flooring


I will do that later on with my #6 bench plane. For now I will sharpen all of my plane blades so I can work on the ends of this table top in order to have the end grain planed very well, shaved very finely.
Table Wood Rectangle Flooring Floor
 

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#72 ·
I'm Not Sure How to Fix This Top

Wood Floor Flooring Composite material Rectangle


I have used my #6 and then my #4 smoother to get this point. I am not certain if I continue it will get better. Can you see the valleys?

Tomorrow I will resharpen my blades and continue with planing this top's surface, but I am wondering if I should use my card scraper or go to sanding.

Any suggestions?
 

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#73 ·
Completed Planing Table Top

I resharpened my bench planes and then resumed planing the cherry table top. having sharp blades helped me achieve a great surface for this top. I competed the work today by taking a damp towel and wiping both surfaces; especially where I had two dents or rough spots in the wood. Tomorrow I will replane the raised grain or use a card scraper or even a sanding black to knock down the raised grain.

Wood Rectangle Creative arts Picture frame Hardwood


Rectangle Wood Yellow Creative arts Composite material


Table Wood Wood stain Rectangle Hardwood
 

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#74 ·
Prepared Battens and Dowels

I went back into my shop after dinner this evening so I could drill pre-drill holes in the three battens that will fasten down on the underside of my table top. They will be there to hold the board panels that I glued and clamped together so the table remains flat. I also ripped a cherry 3/4" by 3/4" piece that I bought at Home Depot last night. I plan to make my own 1/4" cherry dowels with it. I have some red oak 1/4" dowels as backup in case my handmade dowels do not turn out well. The factory made dowels are slightly less than the hole my 1/4" drill bit makes. I experimented with other drill bits I own. The 15/64 inch drill bit works if I pound in the factory made 1/4" dowels with a wooden mallet. I will go with that If I mess up the cherry homemade ones.
Table Wood Wood stain Flooring Engineering


I put the blue tape on this table top so I could remind this old man that I measured and performed this layout of the leg assembly and the three battens on the wrong side of the table top. I guess I did all this for rehearsal. Tomorrow I will turn the top over and redo the measurement and layout.
Table Furniture Writing desk Wood Desk


These square pieces I ripped tonight so tomorrow I can make then into 1/4 inch cherry dowels. How do I make these into dowels, you ask? From here I will use my low angle block plane to chamfer its corners. Then pound them into a round hole that I will drill into the leg assembly where the tenons are fitted into hidden mortises…
Wood Hardwood Wood stain Tints and shades Plank


This image shows the beveled curves that I liked from the Daniel Chaffin trestle table build.
Table Furniture Wood Wood stain Flooring


Tomorrow I should complete the build of this table. Then I can start applying the oil finish.
 

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#75 ·
Dowels and Buttons

I did not get this table completed today.

I took my Annie to see Arrival this morning. Aliens came to Earth to ask humans for help. I'm not sure what they needed from us. I will need to watch it again with closed captions, or download the written script… You cannot understand what aliens are saying… These aliens look like octopuses. They also write like octopuses would by spraying ink in a pool of water.. Somehow ink spots are suppose to more intelligent than letters in our alphabet. They have magic typewriters. Their ink spots look like psychological tests. Looks like a basketball hoop, or a wedding ring with a diamond. Also I believe the actors need to speak up. I swear they were whispering to themselves instead of using the microphone so they could be heard. Oh, well. I think we survived their visit; at least for the next 3,000 years. Oh my, that is enough time for humans to forget that aliens ever came to see us. Montana. They came to see Glacier National Park. They must have needed some ice for their frig or drinks. Oh, well.

Back to my Trestle Table Build…

I had hope to make my own cherry 1/4 inch diameter dowels today. I discovered that simply using my low angle block plane on a square piece of cherry just over 1/4 inches was not an easy thing to do. I worked on one of my square pieces for while. Hand holding the 3 foot long square piece in one hand and the block plane in the other was not an easy, nor a fast task. I then decided to setup my router table. I do not own a 1/4 inch or even a 3/8 inch roundover bit, but I do have a 1/8 inch radius beading bit. After running two of my square pieces through it, I learned that was not going to work at all. Silly me. I should have known ahead of time that a beading bit was not going to give me a dowel.

I decided to use the red oak dowels I had bought at Home Depot the night before. I discovered that the red oak dowels were not undersized like the poplar dowels I already had tested. For the poplar dowels a 15/64" diameter drill bit worked great. However, for this red oak dowel I had to go with a 1/4 inch diameter drill bit. I drilled six 1/4 inch holes; two into each foot and one in each cap in each leg assembly. Then I placed glue on the dowels and hammered them into place. I will let the glue dry and I will cut the ends off tomorrow.

The buttons I made from the 3/4" by 3/4" cherry board I bought at Home Depot when I also got the red oak dowels. I bought this board for making my own dowels. I did not think about using it for this table's buttons, but they were made just right for it.

first laid out each button in pencil on the three foot long cherry piece. After laying them out, I first pre-drilled for screws that included countersinks for the flathead screws.

Next I cut each of the rabbets on my table saw using simply my combination blade and making multiple passes to cuts the waste out for the rabbet. After this I simply cut off each button from the board.
Wood Carpenter Tradesman Wood stain Floor


Even though I set the height of my blade to cut a 3/8 inch depth rabbet, I discovered that I really had not gotten the depth I needed. I should have used my wheel marking gauge to set the 3/8 inch depth for the rabbets and set the depth of my blade more carefully.

So I needed to cut more waste in each of these buttons. I grabbed my wheel marking gauge, set it to 3/8 inches, then marked the depth on the three surfaces on each button.

I clamped each button individually in my workbench vise and used a 1 inch hand chisel to chop away the remaining waste. Generally, I got the depth needed with two to three cuts in order to reach the marked cut line. It worked well and I got a good result.
Wood Tool Hardwood Varnish Metal


I then clamped my sandpaper block in my vise so it was being held horizontally. Taking each button in my fingers, I sanded all of their sides so any pencil marks were erased, sanded away and all of the surfaces are smooth for use.
Table Wood Wood stain Flooring Floor


I made sixteen buttons. I only need six. I have extras. My buttons like great.
 

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#76 ·
Layout Prior to Sanding and Finish

Today I routed the mortises that will the slots that the buttons will fit in order to hold or fasten the table top to the leg assemblies.
Wood Rectangle Wooden block Flooring Floor


I used my brass bars to set the depth of my upcut router bit for the button slots I was about to route.
Automotive tire Hood Wood Motor vehicle Automotive design


My buttons will fit into these routed slots. They hold my table top to the leg assemblies. The buttons with the slots will allow for expansion and contraction with changes in humidity of the seasons.+
Table Wood Desk Creative arts Wood stain


I laid out the battens and the legs on the table top's underside. Then I took my marking knife to cut lines where these parts will be fastened to the top.
Wood Art Wood stain Composite material Hardwood


I wondered about using my smoothing plane to clean and smooth the surfaces prior to applying the finish.

I have decided to use my orbit sander and go through the several grits 80, 120, 150, 180 and 220 with 320 on the end grain edges only. Then I will apply finish coats.
 

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#77 ·
Sanded then Cleaned with Mineral Spirits

I started working in my shop thinking that I would apply my first coat of finish on this trestle table today, but I did not get that far. I decided to sand this table top instead of hand planing it further. I went through the several grits starting at 80, then the following in this order 120, 150, 180 and then 220.
Table Wood Automotive design Engineering Window


To remove the dust from each part I used mineral spirits with a paper towel. These pictures were taken following cleaning with that wet paper towel.
Table Wood Wood stain Hardwood Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies


Table Furniture Wood Wood stain Floor


I am still undecided whether I will apply dewaxed Shellac sealing coats and then Shellac coats or I will apply Danish Oil coats and then furniture wax on this project. I will do some further study tonight on this subject.
Wood Table Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies Wood stain Plank


A close up of my red oak dowels.
Table Wood Hardwood Wood stain Rectangle


Table Furniture Wood Wood stain Flooring
 

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#78 ·
Selected a Finish and Applied First Coat

I decided to test a few finishes in order to determine which I will apply to this trestle table. I gathered some small cherry sample. I made a trip to my local big box store for a can of Boiled Linseed Oil (BLO) as well as a gallon can of denatured alcohol and an additional can of natural Watco Danish Oil. These new additions go along with my Zinsser Shellac Seal Coat sanding sealer.
Product Liquid Fluid Wood Wood stain


My Annie picked the BLO for use on this table. She liked the darker finish as well as how it highlighted the grain in this cherry.

I setup my assembly table for ragging on the first coat. The images below show its affect . Cherry naturally darkens as it ages and is exposed to UV sunlight. The other furniture items I have in my home have all done so although they were finished with Danish Oil.

I had a knot on the underside of this table top. I decided to apply some amber Shellac. After I did that I decided to continue to apply the amber Shellac to entire underside. I won't do that again with a brush. I will use my HVLP sprayer any time I want to apply Shellac. It was another learning moment. Although Shellac dries quickly I decided to remove the Shellac I just applied by using clean cloths with denatured alcohol. The small amounts of Shellac that remained was the correct amount I wanted on the surface. Later I covered this same surface with a coat of BLO.
Table Wood Flooring Floor Wood stain


The image below shows the top surface of the table top before applying any finish.
Wood Flooring Floor Hardwood Wood stain


With the amber Shellac removed or thinned and a coat of BLO applied and wiped is what you see in the next image.
Table Wood Floor Hardwood Wood stain


This last image shows the top surface of the table top with one coat of BLO with the parts also covered, then wiped with a clean cloth.
Furniture Table Wood Wood stain Floor


I will now wait 48 hours for this coat of BLO to dry before lightly sanding and applying a second coat of BLO.
 

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#79 ·
BLO 3rd Coat

I am getting close to completing this project. This morning I applied my third coat of Boiled Linseed Oil (BLO). I made sure I soaked the end grain parts. In 48 hours I will give this project a thorough inspection in order to determine if any further coats needs to be applied. If three is enough, then I will fasten the battens to the table top's underside with #6 - 1 inch long square drive flat head screws. I will hand screw these in.
Wood Flooring Wood stain Floor Plank


The table top for sure is gain a nice dark hue from the BLO applications. The cherry will only get better with time as it darkens naturally to the UV rays from the Sun.
Wood Table Wood stain Hardwood Varnish


Wood Wood stain Table Hardwood Flooring


Wood Table Wood stain Plank Hardwood
 

Attachments

#80 ·
BLO 3rd Coat

I am getting close to completing this project. This morning I applied my third coat of Boiled Linseed Oil (BLO). I made sure I soaked the end grain parts. In 48 hours I will give this project a thorough inspection in order to determine if any further coats needs to be applied. If three is enough, then I will fasten the battens to the table top's underside with #6 - 1 inch long square drive flat head screws. I will hand screw these in.
Wood Flooring Wood stain Floor Plank


The table top for sure is gain a nice dark hue from the BLO applications. The cherry will only get better with time as it darkens naturally to the UV rays from the Sun.
Wood Table Wood stain Hardwood Varnish


Wood Wood stain Table Hardwood Flooring


Wood Table Wood stain Plank Hardwood
Classic looking table. Can't wait to see it all together.
 

Attachments

#82 ·
Battens Fastened

I wiped each part. I then fastened the battens by aligning them to the knife marks I had made before applying the BLO finish. Three #6 - 1 inch flathead screws for each batten.
Wood Rectangle Wood stain Flooring Plank


I also decided to add another thin coat of BLO. I may wait another 48 hours before assembling the table.
Table Wood Wood stain Floor Flooring


Wood Table Rectangle Flooring Wood stain
 

Attachments

#83 ·
Battens Fastened

I wiped each part. I then fastened the battens by aligning them to the knife marks I had made before applying the BLO finish. Three #6 - 1 inch flathead screws for each batten.
Wood Rectangle Wood stain Flooring Plank


I also decided to add another thin coat of BLO. I may wait another 48 hours before assembling the table.
Table Wood Wood stain Floor Flooring


Wood Table Rectangle Flooring Wood stain
 

Attachments

#85 ·
Brought the Table Inside to Aid Drying of Oil Finish

Simply the weather is turning colder and its rainy. In order to enhance the dry time, I brought the trestle table in doors to an empty bedroom. I will store it here so the oil finish will dry quicker than it would in the woodshop.
Table Furniture Wood Desk Rectangle


I will give this table a few weeks to dry before I start to apply paste wax and buff it.
 

Attachments

#86 ·
Brought the Table Inside to Aid Drying of Oil Finish

Simply the weather is turning colder and its rainy. In order to enhance the dry time, I brought the trestle table in doors to an empty bedroom. I will store it here so the oil finish will dry quicker than it would in the woodshop.
Table Furniture Wood Desk Rectangle


I will give this table a few weeks to dry before I start to apply paste wax and buff it.
 

Attachments

#88 ·
How Should I Finish This Table Top?

If I was to start over with selecting the finish coats for this table, I would not use Boiled Linseed Oil (BLO). I do believe that it has gone on okay. I am satisfied that the BLO has done what it can. However, the blotchiness on the table top does bother me. I believe as the cherry ages that the blotchiness will dissipate, if not disappear in time. However, I know there is not a guarantee about that result.

My options from here are (1) continue to apply more BLO, (2) spray some Shellac and build it up, (3) switch to Danish Oil that I believe is a varnish based in linseed oil, or (4) spray some other top coat.

I am not sure what would be best. I know that Charles Neil would probably say "Well, I told you so: Don't use BLO for your finish, ever". This does it. I am ordering Charles Neil's finishing book and DVD today.

Several years ago I read a Fine Woodworking Magazines article by Charles Shackleton. It was a cover story. He made a beautiful bed from cherry. It was that article and visiting his website that sparked my interest in becoming a woodworker. Woodworking seemed easy. I was or am naive. It was Charles Shackleton that made me use BLO on this table. He has several articles on finishing in that magazine. He says he always uses BLO and then fine furniture wax on his projects. He says his customers come into his gallery so they can "feel" his furniture. He seems to be able to make BLO and wax work well for him. Well I do not have his skill level, for sure.

Maybe I should have applied a Shellac dewaxed sealing coat first and then gone with a varnish.

From this point in time, I am leaning towards option #3 above: switching to the can of natural Watco Danish Oil that I have in my shop.

I won't do anything today. I will think and ponder on it for the remainder of the day before deciding a definite course.

Maybe some member on Lumberjocks will give me a good suggestion.

Table Furniture Wood Desk Rectangle
 

Attachments

#89 ·
How Should I Finish This Table Top?

If I was to start over with selecting the finish coats for this table, I would not use Boiled Linseed Oil (BLO). I do believe that it has gone on okay. I am satisfied that the BLO has done what it can. However, the blotchiness on the table top does bother me. I believe as the cherry ages that the blotchiness will dissipate, if not disappear in time. However, I know there is not a guarantee about that result.

My options from here are (1) continue to apply more BLO, (2) spray some Shellac and build it up, (3) switch to Danish Oil that I believe is a varnish based in linseed oil, or (4) spray some other top coat.

I am not sure what would be best. I know that Charles Neil would probably say "Well, I told you so: Don't use BLO for your finish, ever". This does it. I am ordering Charles Neil's finishing book and DVD today.

Several years ago I read a Fine Woodworking Magazines article by Charles Shackleton. It was a cover story. He made a beautiful bed from cherry. It was that article and visiting his website that sparked my interest in becoming a woodworker. Woodworking seemed easy. I was or am naive. It was Charles Shackleton that made me use BLO on this table. He has several articles on finishing in that magazine. He says he always uses BLO and then fine furniture wax on his projects. He says his customers come into his gallery so they can "feel" his furniture. He seems to be able to make BLO and wax work well for him. Well I do not have his skill level, for sure.

Maybe I should have applied a Shellac dewaxed sealing coat first and then gone with a varnish.

From this point in time, I am leaning towards option #3 above: switching to the can of natural Watco Danish Oil that I have in my shop.

I won't do anything today. I will think and ponder on it for the remainder of the day before deciding a definite course.

Maybe some member on Lumberjocks will give me a good suggestion.

Table Furniture Wood Desk Rectangle
I had that same issue when I used pure tung oil on a cherry piece a while back. I left it in the Arizona sun for a while to accelerate the darkening and drying, but the tung oil remained dull and blotchy. I ultimately sprayed it with some satin lacquer, cut to 50% with lacquer thinner and acetone (50% lacquer, 25% lacquer thinner and 25% acetone). The result was gorgeous. You have to let the oil dry for three or four weeks before doing this. BLO may take a little less time.

I would suggest that whatever you decide on as a finish coat, that you spray it. Brushing or wiping will tend to lift the finish that's on there now, and may make the situation worse.

Fantastic workmanship on the table BTW. I've been following your progress and really like the lines you chose.
 

Attachments

#95 ·
Added Second Coat of Danish Oil

I like how the cherry hardwood is reacting to the coats of Danish Oil I have applied on top of the three coats of Boiled Linseed Oil (BLO). I will check tomorrow if this table needs a fourth coat of Danish Oil. So far what I have applied looks great. If anything else is required it will be a good buffing of Briwax furniture wax.

Wood Table Wood stain Flooring Hardwood
 

Attachments

#96 ·
Added Second Coat of Danish Oil

I like how the cherry hardwood is reacting to the coats of Danish Oil I have applied on top of the three coats of Boiled Linseed Oil (BLO). I will check tomorrow if this table needs a fourth coat of Danish Oil. So far what I have applied looks great. If anything else is required it will be a good buffing of Briwax furniture wax.

Wood Table Wood stain Flooring Hardwood
That looks great.
 

Attachments

#101 ·
Waxed Surfaces of Table Parts

I applied and buff some of my dark brown past wax on the trestle table.

Wood Wood stain Floor Flooring Hardwood
Amazing work, I hope one day I have the patience and skill for hand flattening a table. I had one question on the battens, are the outer screw holes slots? I was just wondering about expansion and contraction. thanks for going through the whole process, great job of documenting it.
 

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