| Blog series by cheller | updated 2206 days ago | 7 parts | 3756 reads | 34 comments total |
Part 1: Getting Started
After much deliberation I’ve decided to take on the challenge. I’ve got the wood in hand, and tonight will start making sticks. There are some challenges ahead, not the least of which is time. I am usually not a very speedy woodworker – too many other pulls on my time, and I’ve got at least one other project that has to be completed before the table. Wish me luck, and thanks for the push, both the unintentional peer pressure and the overt “do it”.
Part 2: Early progress
I’ve got a nice pile of sticks, now. Legs, stretchers, shelf, top, breadboards are ready for mortises (legs, stretchers and breadboards) and glue up (shelf and top). The stock for the aprons is cut to width. I’ll need to cut those to size next. Probably won’t be much progress until next Thursday other than glue-up cause I want to make the mortises with the mortiser I have access to in class. And I need to work out techniques for some of the details I’m adding, w...
Part 3: Parts
As I mentioned last night, I’ve got most of the parts roughed out for my version of the Thorsen table. I’m using cherry and walnut for the table. The cherry parts – stretchers, breadboard ends (there’s an extra one pictured), legs and aprons (still need to be cut to length). The walnut parts - the table top and the shelf. The shelf has been glued and is drying now. The parts for the top - walnut field with cherry breadboards.
Part 4: Down to the Wire
I am going to cut it very close on this. If I didn’t have to work tomorrow I’d be fine, but I do have to work. I expect it’ll be 9 or 10pm before I get pictures posted – and it’s possible the finish will still be wet! This project has pushed me and has brought out the perfectionist in me. I cut the legs twice – because I wasn’t happy with the mortises on the first set. And given the opportunity I might recut a couple of the other parts as well....
Part 5: Another tease
Obi wanted to see the cherry so here it is. I got very little sleep last night not because I was working on the table but simply insomnia. I’ve got a work project that isn’t going well which was part of the reason I think. Anyway because of that I called in (well actually emailed in) that I’d be working from home today. As a result I was able to take some time mid-day and get the first coat of finish on the table. I chose amber shellac to give a little richness ...
Part 6: Drawer Construction
I’m catching up on blogging the construction of my Thorsen House side table. The Saturday before the project was due I decided to start the day with the construction of the drawer box. Several years ago I bought a dovetail jig at Rockler, which I’ve never used. I decided that this was the perfect chance to give it a try. I’d pulled it out of the box, affixed it to a clamping board and familiarized myself with it’s part the night before so I was all set to go. ...
Part 7: Final Assembly
With the drawer problem solved it was time to attach the drawer runners to the side aprons, a stop to the back (to keep the drawer from recessing too far into the table), and get the table glued up. A shallow dado on the drawer rides along maple runners attached to the aprons. You can see the dado in this shot of the drawer box. With the assembly dry fit and turned upside down on the bench I placed the runners into the dadoes and lower the drawer between the aprons. To raise the drawe...
