I’ve been working on this pie crust table for a few months of and on . The techniques are from Charles Neils “The Magic of Routers” video, and Some of GaryK’s ideas plus a book called “Making a Piecrust Tea Table by Tom Heller & Ron Clarkson” This is a project that I’ve never done before and I’m most amazed how Charles and Gary are so innovative In coming up with there own but similar approach to making the tops with routers. An Tom Heller and Ron Clarkson’s book was a great step by step approach to making this table and very good details with a couple exceptions, I used their book for the making of the pedestal,legs and bird cage. Although a professional woodworker I have not ever built a tilt top table before or had I’d done any carving. Lastly I’m always in awe of the likes of Garyk,Larry, David and others fine explanation and photos of there Blogs. Since I’ve only done short blogs in the past please hang in there if I don’t have the polish That many of the others have. I’ll do the best I can but to see it in video Charles Neils Video is the way to go. Remember this is mostly his technique I’m using.
(I’m highlighting Ideas or choices I would do differently next time or where I have made mistakes
The first thing I had to do is select the type of wood I wanted to use
Given that this was a practice piece and that I wanted to try a new finishing technique I selected Poplar because It was inexpensive also. I feel this was a mistake because I had not carved before and poplar is very fuzzy when carved taking much more time to smooth out, also there has been a good amount of time on this project and a more suitable wood like mahogany would have made a better finished Project.
After ordering six quarter poplar for the pie crust table top and 16 quarter poplar for the Legs and center pedestal . But they sent ¾” material saying the sales man was wrong about having six quarter poplar being available. So now I get to get to resaw some six quarter.
After re sawing I glued three sections of 1 1/8 ” poplar together so that I had a panel that was approximately 40”x40” . Mistake I glued this up being careful to make sure it was set on calls so that I would not get in to cupping. problems This was a great idea and i had no problem until I kept moving it around my shop were it eventually ended up stored on edge on the concrete floor for 6 weeks or so. when I was ready to start after working on the legs an pedestal i had cupping issues were I had to saw it into sections and re glue it back together straight
The next installment covers making a jig to make a Jig(s)
Link to Charles Neil “The Magic of Routers
were I got this whole process from
http://charlesneilwoodworking.com/dvdplayer.php?id=61
Links to my pie crust table blogs
#1 http://lumberjocks.com/a1Jim/blog/10077
#2 http://lumberjocks.com/topics/9201#reply-94838
#3 http://lumberjocks.com/a1Jim/blog/10086
#4 http://lumberjocks.com/a1Jim/blog/10088
#5 http://lumberjocks.com/a1Jim/blog/10090
#6 http://lumberjocks.com/a1Jim/blog/10096
#7 http://lumberjocks.com/a1Jim/blog/10106
#8 http://lumberjocks.com/a1Jim/blog/10113
#9 http://lumberjocks.com/a1Jim/blog/10124
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
24 comments so far
patron
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2379 posts in 235 days
posted 130 days ago
great test and reach for you jim .
i’m looking forward to seeing the step by step ,
especialy how you used all of your routers
to accomplish the finished piece !
-- david ,new mexico ,allheart
Karson
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25792 posts in 1295 days
posted 130 days ago
Great start So keep it coming.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Don K.
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1095 posts in 221 days
posted 130 days ago
ditto….look forward to following along.
-- Don S.E. OK
Jim
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99 posts in 539 days
posted 130 days ago
Hi Jim, I don’t know what a pie crust table is so I’m looking forward to watching your progress and seeing the end results.
-- Jim Sollows --- Langley BC Canada --- www.sollows.ca
blackcherry
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730 posts in 717 days
posted 130 days ago
Nice start Jim , you’re lumber choice looks impressive, looking forward to seeing your progress thanks for posting …Blkcherry
gbvinc
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538 posts in 841 days
posted 130 days ago
Great start. It will be interesting to see this one come together!
PurpLev
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2746 posts in 543 days
posted 130 days ago
great beginning – sorry to hear about the panel sucking moisture from the floor… those things you don’t think about come and bite you in the a$$...
looking forward to seeing the jig of jigs.
-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
DAN
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6439 posts in 877 days
posted 130 days ago
we will be watching ! good start
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever
GaryK
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9521 posts in 882 days
posted 130 days ago
You could have used one of those small space heaters on the moist side. It would have straightened it out.
I have never seen Neils video, so It will be interesting for me to watch your progress.
For a cheap stable non-fuzzing wood, you could have gone with bass. Most places it’s cheaper than poplar.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
a1Jim
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16776 posts in 471 days
posted 130 days ago
Good suggestions Gary
I don’t have any local suppliers for bass(or much of anything) but it’s a good idea. I wanted to start that day ,it only took about 20 minutes to rip into 3 pieces ,joint and re-glue.
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
grizzman
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529 posts in 197 days
posted 130 days ago
looking forward to this project jim…have fun..always fun to learn new things….grizzman
-- The Grizzone
blockhead
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292 posts in 203 days
posted 130 days ago
Can’t wait for the next installlment. Keep’em coming Jim.
-- Brad, Oregon- Wood, it's what's for dinner.
cabinetmaster
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8533 posts in 452 days
posted 130 days ago
You got my interest too on this one Jim. I’ll be watching.
-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps
ellen35
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533 posts in 327 days
posted 130 days ago
Very interesting Jim!
This should be a great tutorial!
Thanks.
Ellen
-- Ellen on Cape Cod
Splinterman
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4826 posts in 255 days
posted 130 days ago
Hey Jim,
This will be a great building procedure and learning experience for us all…....well done so far.
-- I will just keep doing it till I get it right.
MattD
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131 posts in 838 days
posted 130 days ago
Jim – This will be a great project to follow. Appreciate the lessons learned also.
-- Matt - Syracuse, NY
degoose
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1994 posts in 249 days
posted 130 days ago
I am taking notes and pointers from you.
-- Drink once, cut twice. New website up.... lazylarrywoodworks.com.au
kiwi1969
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601 posts in 336 days
posted 130 days ago
It,s great to see you,re working jim. Looking forward to seeing you make more dust in that great shop of yours.
-- if the hand is not working it is not a pure hand
Kent Shepherd
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813 posts in 180 days
posted 130 days ago
Yo Jim, Thanks for the information. I can’t wait to see the rest.
I think you’re right about using Mahogany, but Poplar is quite a bit cheaper for a practice piece.
GaryK, I agree with basswood. I know it’s used extensivly for carving. I’ve done little carving, but I have used a lot of Basswood. It fuzzes quite a bit on shapers—-Does it on carving as well or is that just dull shaper cutters?
Jim, The pressure is on now, were’re all watching!
-- Kent Shepherd * The goal is-----More Tools!
Mark Shymanski
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1555 posts in 607 days
posted 100 days ago
Interesting, I like the approach where you comment on what you’d do differently.
-- ...it's rennovation time!!!
a1Jim
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16776 posts in 471 days
posted 100 days ago
Hey Mark
It only seems right to talk about what went wrong to help others from making the same mistakes.
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
Mark Shymanski
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1555 posts in 607 days
posted 99 days ago
If I were to make videos of my mistakes I’d burn a lot of DVD’s and never run out of material LOL!
Thanks for the very interesting series.
-- ...it's rennovation time!!!
a1Jim
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16776 posts in 471 days
posted 93 days ago
Hey Mark
I think we all feel that way
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
stefang
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1646 posts in 228 days
posted 91 days ago
I’m late in viewing the start of this project, but am looking forward to seeing the details. I agree with you that it is good to point out problems encountered underway so others can get the benefit of your experience. I don’t see that you need to improve the blog any, it’s a real interesting and well presented project start.
-- Mike, American in Norway