A New Beginning: Design & Build from scratch... #1: My Journey Designing & Building from Scratch

For quite some time now I have wanted to build a piece of furniture from scratch. This is partly because I could not find any one plan that suited me and because there are SO MANY things I just don’t know. Many folks like to “Prototype” or build mock-up’s / models. I wanted something more and something quicker and less expensive. That is were my Sketchup journey began; I started by working through the tutorials, then asking a whole lot of questions. Several of the most vexing issues where answered right here on Lumberjocks. I.E. how to use that lovely tool called “Follow-Me”. As a side note: It is well worth your time to learn that one…

Last week I started spending a little more time each night trying to learn the basics and working through some of the issues. After the “Follow-Me” questions my biggest issue was pulling the whole piece together; I could not seem to get everything in the same plane no matter how hard I tried. To call it annoying would be a huge understatement! Then I watched a video on the Wood Whisperer's site and it suddenly clicked (Thanks Marc!) . Create the whole thing upside down! then flip it upright.

I was finally able to put down on paper what had been rattling around inside my head for so long. I wanted something with nice clean lines, you know, uncomplicated….

This first view is just the table in general to show the basic lines; this design was heavily influenced by several different pieces I have seen over the years and what lumber I have on hand.

Next, a shot that, I hope, shows off the reveals and shadow lines.

This is a view of the beveled table top; it is 3/4” with a 1/4” edge remaining.

I picked up a 1/4” beading bit on clearance @ Woodcraft and played with it a little; this is my attempt at reproducing that edge detail.

I really want to produce everything for this desk myself. So, I designed the drawer pull and inserted it in the drawer face. What do you think? By the way getting it properly referenced on the face was very tedious.. Anyone have pointers on that front?

After getting the pull in place I thought I was done. Apparently my brain didn’t think so! It just looked plain and incomplete (I literally stared at this drawing for an hour!). That’s when the idea to add the leg beading popped into my head. It is situated to where the bottom of the beading is just at the line where the leg taper stops.

My next installment may be a little while as I now have to actually work with the wood. I don’t own a power planer or jointer so this effort will be 70% Galoot style. Jointer Plane, Jack Plane, Smoother Planes coupled with my bandsaw, tablesaw & lathe. Should be fun!

The results to date just would not have been possible if not for the help all of you folks have provided so willingly. Thanks Everyone!

-- Chris