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build log, a shop made rustic version of a " fine furniture coffee table"

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#1 ·
day 1

I am taking a break from the serving trays, to build a rustic version. of a fine furniture piece, in my parents living room.

It is a table that goes in front of a couch,

This turned out a little blurry but it is easy to see its a fine furniture piece.
Table Furniture Flooring Plant Rectangle


I'm making this all out of 2Ă—4's, so later I can distress it, with my grinder, and wire brushes, and all kinds of goodies to make it look like it was built from aged and worn out wood.

I started today buy purchasing a total of 4 boards, which came to a grand total of $11.96, so if I can sell this for at least $12.00 I'll break out even, any thoing above that will be my profit.

Here is the sequence of my work today,

I took the time the night before to take some quick measurements of the original, and did some CAD work and here are the printouts of this project, to get me started on the framework.

Handwriting Rectangle Font Material property Writing


Handwriting Rectangle Font Parallel Wood


Rectangle Wood Automotive design Parallel Font


I like to show the lumber before a project, as the before shot,

Wood Composite material Plank Wood stain Hardwood


and now take my cut list and begin cutting up lumber.

Plant Table Wood Outdoor furniture Grass


Wood Gas Road surface Composite material Flooring


I need to laminate 2 pieces together for each leg, however 2Ă—4's have the roundovers on there edges, so to get a tight glue joint, I need to surface one side of each piece.

Laser printing Table Office equipment Wood Computer hardware


here is the before surfaceing

Wood Flooring Floor Wood stain Hardwood


and the after surfacing

Wood Flooring Hardwood Office ruler Wood stain


and the lamination begins

Wood Rectangle Gas Wood stain Hardwood


Table Wood Creative arts Engineering Gas


while the leg blanks are cooking, I can turn my attention to cutting the bevels on the apron pieces.

Table Wood Handwriting Rectangle Desk


so this is the left and right ends of the apron just set in place to check for proper angle alinement

Rectangle Wood Flooring Hardwood Gas


now that the leg blanks are dried, I can cut them to final width and length.
and set them in place to check for there alinement with the apron ends.

Wood Rectangle Grass Gas Landscape


the long rails of the apron are cut to beveled length, and set in place, now everything can be set in place to check for alinement of the whole frame before the doweling begins.

Wood Rectangle Grass Hardwood Composite material


I noticed on the original that there was an offset of around 3/16" of the front middle end piece of the apron, with respect to its two surrounding neighbors, so here I'm making that offset mark to aline the other pieces too.

Wood Tool Bench Hardwood Hand tool


Wood Rectangle Flooring Floor Hardwood


Now I can do the joinery, this will be with 5/16" dia. dowels.

Wood Rectangle Hardwood Wood stain Plywood


Wood Rectangle Hardwood Plywood Auto part


I used the same offset for the leg blanks also, to give the legs an offset reveal with respect to the apron.

Wood Gas Wood stain Hardwood Plywood


the leg to apron reveal

Wood Rectangle Hardwood Grass Wood stain


here is where I'm left off at, everything dowelled and dryfitted together.

Outdoor bench Table Plant Tree Rectangle


Outdoor bench Plant Wood Outdoor furniture Table


Now I need to take it all apart, and begin working on the details on the apron, and compound scroll cut the leg blanks, and do detail work,

Probably now I'll work on making the cabriole legs.

I will post the progress as this continues.

have fun in the shop…
 

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#2 ·
day 1

I am taking a break from the serving trays, to build a rustic version. of a fine furniture piece, in my parents living room.

It is a table that goes in front of a couch,

This turned out a little blurry but it is easy to see its a fine furniture piece.
Table Furniture Flooring Plant Rectangle


I'm making this all out of 2Ă—4's, so later I can distress it, with my grinder, and wire brushes, and all kinds of goodies to make it look like it was built from aged and worn out wood.

I started today buy purchasing a total of 4 boards, which came to a grand total of $11.96, so if I can sell this for at least $12.00 I'll break out even, any thoing above that will be my profit.

Here is the sequence of my work today,

I took the time the night before to take some quick measurements of the original, and did some CAD work and here are the printouts of this project, to get me started on the framework.

Handwriting Rectangle Font Material property Writing


Handwriting Rectangle Font Parallel Wood


Rectangle Wood Automotive design Parallel Font


I like to show the lumber before a project, as the before shot,

Wood Composite material Plank Wood stain Hardwood


and now take my cut list and begin cutting up lumber.

Plant Table Wood Outdoor furniture Grass


Wood Gas Road surface Composite material Flooring


I need to laminate 2 pieces together for each leg, however 2Ă—4's have the roundovers on there edges, so to get a tight glue joint, I need to surface one side of each piece.

Laser printing Table Office equipment Wood Computer hardware


here is the before surfaceing

Wood Flooring Floor Wood stain Hardwood


and the after surfacing

Wood Flooring Hardwood Office ruler Wood stain


and the lamination begins

Wood Rectangle Gas Wood stain Hardwood


Table Wood Creative arts Engineering Gas


while the leg blanks are cooking, I can turn my attention to cutting the bevels on the apron pieces.

Table Wood Handwriting Rectangle Desk


so this is the left and right ends of the apron just set in place to check for proper angle alinement

Rectangle Wood Flooring Hardwood Gas


now that the leg blanks are dried, I can cut them to final width and length.
and set them in place to check for there alinement with the apron ends.

Wood Rectangle Grass Gas Landscape


the long rails of the apron are cut to beveled length, and set in place, now everything can be set in place to check for alinement of the whole frame before the doweling begins.

Wood Rectangle Grass Hardwood Composite material


I noticed on the original that there was an offset of around 3/16" of the front middle end piece of the apron, with respect to its two surrounding neighbors, so here I'm making that offset mark to aline the other pieces too.

Wood Tool Bench Hardwood Hand tool


Wood Rectangle Flooring Floor Hardwood


Now I can do the joinery, this will be with 5/16" dia. dowels.

Wood Rectangle Hardwood Wood stain Plywood


Wood Rectangle Hardwood Plywood Auto part


I used the same offset for the leg blanks also, to give the legs an offset reveal with respect to the apron.

Wood Gas Wood stain Hardwood Plywood


the leg to apron reveal

Wood Rectangle Hardwood Grass Wood stain


here is where I'm left off at, everything dowelled and dryfitted together.

Outdoor bench Table Plant Tree Rectangle


Outdoor bench Plant Wood Outdoor furniture Table


Now I need to take it all apart, and begin working on the details on the apron, and compound scroll cut the leg blanks, and do detail work,

Probably now I'll work on making the cabriole legs.

I will post the progress as this continues.

have fun in the shop…
Looks interesting so far. You've got a lot bulk to work with there, so I expect you will be able to come up with a very nice piece.
 

Attachments

#3 ·
cont. day 1, cabriole legs rough cutout

This evening, I got the legs roughed out,
I just drew up my own version of cabriole legs, free hand, until it looked right to me, then made the templates.

Wood Rectangle Floor Flooring Wood stain


Wood Office ruler Wood stain Floor Hardwood


and the blank roughed out.

Wood Line Composite material Flooring Hardwood


and the frame dryfitted with the roughed out legs detail.

Wood Gas Flooring Art Musical instrument


Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies Naval architecture Wood Composite material Vehicle


Wood Composite material Hardwood Naval architecture Plywood


Wood Naval architecture Composite material Hardwood Rectangle


that's all for tonight, have fun shoppin.
 

Attachments

#4 ·
cont. day 1, cabriole legs rough cutout

This evening, I got the legs roughed out,
I just drew up my own version of cabriole legs, free hand, until it looked right to me, then made the templates.

Wood Rectangle Floor Flooring Wood stain


Wood Office ruler Wood stain Floor Hardwood


and the blank roughed out.

Wood Line Composite material Flooring Hardwood


and the frame dryfitted with the roughed out legs detail.

Wood Gas Flooring Art Musical instrument


Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies Naval architecture Wood Composite material Vehicle


Wood Composite material Hardwood Naval architecture Plywood


Wood Naval architecture Composite material Hardwood Rectangle


that's all for tonight, have fun shoppin.
And so it begins to take shape.
 

Attachments

#5 ·
day 2's morning progress

Hi Mike,
One step at a time, and it is starting to take shape.

Since this is my work in progress build log, I'll post my progress as it continues, rather than waiting for the completion to do any posting.

This mornings progress, I started shaping the legs, I used my hand drill with a sanding drum, and started carving away at the leg blanks.

Since I'm going to rustic this table, I don't have to be very careful with the fine sanding of the contours, in fact the contours having some flat facets, help give it a hand hewn appearance.
the foot area was not yet done, they will be done after, with a smaller sanding drum.

the before and after ,shaping the top of the legs.

Tool Wood Hand tool Crosscut saw Axe


all four shaped

Wood Art Natural material Font Composite material


and another dry fitting

Outdoor bench Outdoor furniture Wood Plant Tree


Wood Outdoor furniture Grass Table Tree


Next up, I'm going to cut out the contours for the apron, I'm not going to duplicate the original, I want to make this an original piece, so I'll sketch out on cardboard some sort of contouring, then I'll need to bandsaw the entire apron pieces with a curvature, so that will be the next process in this build.

have fun shoppin…
 

Attachments

#6 ·
day 2's morning progress

Hi Mike,
One step at a time, and it is starting to take shape.

Since this is my work in progress build log, I'll post my progress as it continues, rather than waiting for the completion to do any posting.

This mornings progress, I started shaping the legs, I used my hand drill with a sanding drum, and started carving away at the leg blanks.

Since I'm going to rustic this table, I don't have to be very careful with the fine sanding of the contours, in fact the contours having some flat facets, help give it a hand hewn appearance.
the foot area was not yet done, they will be done after, with a smaller sanding drum.

the before and after ,shaping the top of the legs.

Tool Wood Hand tool Crosscut saw Axe


all four shaped

Wood Art Natural material Font Composite material


and another dry fitting

Outdoor bench Outdoor furniture Wood Plant Tree


Wood Outdoor furniture Grass Table Tree


Next up, I'm going to cut out the contours for the apron, I'm not going to duplicate the original, I want to make this an original piece, so I'll sketch out on cardboard some sort of contouring, then I'll need to bandsaw the entire apron pieces with a curvature, so that will be the next process in this build.

have fun shoppin…
A great project. I cut out a cabriole leg from a piece of pine on my bandsaw just for fun a few years ago and I shaped it with my spokeshaves. I just wanted to see how it would come out. Your project has taken this quite a bit further and so even more interesting to see what emerges at the end. The legs look good!
 

Attachments

#8 ·
one picture, to update day 2's progress

Hi mike,
Thanks for the complement,
I know what you mean about making a sample cabriole leg, to see how it would come out, I did that long time ago, after seeing it in a book, they showed how to do a compound scrolling on the bandsaw, and how to shape it with hand tools, and I thought, hmmm, so thats how all these fancy furniture legs are made. So I tried to make one. It took several tries to get one I was satisfied with.

Hi Buckethead,
Thanks for the complement, and thanks for taking an interest.
----------------------------------------

I didn't do too much today, after shaping the legs early this morning, I stopped for the best part of the afternoon, then this evening when it was a little cooler, I cut out the contours for the apron pieces, I was going to post this picture along in the next progress post, (probably monday) but since I left off this mornings post with square
apron pieces, I decided to post this picture with the legs and apron all contoured to shape.

Outdoor bench Table Tree Outdoor furniture Wood


Have a nice weekend.
 

Attachments

#9 ·
one picture, to update day 2's progress

Hi mike,
Thanks for the complement,
I know what you mean about making a sample cabriole leg, to see how it would come out, I did that long time ago, after seeing it in a book, they showed how to do a compound scrolling on the bandsaw, and how to shape it with hand tools, and I thought, hmmm, so thats how all these fancy furniture legs are made. So I tried to make one. It took several tries to get one I was satisfied with.

Hi Buckethead,
Thanks for the complement, and thanks for taking an interest.
----------------------------------------

I didn't do too much today, after shaping the legs early this morning, I stopped for the best part of the afternoon, then this evening when it was a little cooler, I cut out the contours for the apron pieces, I was going to post this picture along in the next progress post, (probably monday) but since I left off this mornings post with square
apron pieces, I decided to post this picture with the legs and apron all contoured to shape.

Outdoor bench Table Tree Outdoor furniture Wood


Have a nice weekend.
Looks great so far. I expect you will be using a pretty heavy top on this table judging from the the thick aprons. Have you decided what to use yet?
 

Attachments

#11 ·
day 3's progress rustic effect

Todays work was starting the rustic effect on the project pieces.
I didn't achieve any weathering aging or antiquing effect, so I'm sticking with the homemade rustic looks to it.

I started by marking out the contours to be cutout on the bandsaw.

Wood Automotive exterior Automotive design Gas Rectangle


then I did the round over routing on the apron pieces,

Wood Rectangle Automotive tire Road surface Flooring


and now cutout the last contours, I went too far in the cutting on the two pieces, where the dowel holes came through, but they will be filled,, if I was making this as a fine furniture piece, I would layout the dowel holes and contours with more precision, but because this is meant to be rustic, I can allow the mishaps with these dowel holes to be there.

Wood Gas Bumper Automotive exterior Composite material


Automotive tire Wood Building Wall Rectangle


now I took my sanding drum with a fine grit, and began to run wavey contours to the faces end edges of the apron pieces, below is a picture of this being done, the one last long apron piece was not yet wavey contoured, the top pieces were done.

Rectangle Wood Table Flooring Floor


Wood Grey Floor Flooring Road surface


Wood Rectangle Artifact Font Pattern


the same with the legs, the before on the left and the after, wavey contouring.

Wood Natural material Grass Hardwood Plywood


a quick dry fit

Table Outdoor table Outdoor bench Wood Outdoor furniture


Plant Outdoor furniture Tree Building Wood


and now I took the grinder to add more rustic waveyness

Outdoor bench Outdoor furniture Wood Tree Rectangle


Tree Plant Wood Grass Outdoor furniture


Plant Table Wood Sculpture Tree


Outdoor bench Pedestal Wood Table Outdoor furniture


Wood Table Tree Plant Natural material


and the inside will show as well.

Wood Plant Grass Recreation Composite material


first coat of stain is a light colored colonial maple, (thats what I have available)

Natural material Wood Staple food Metal Artifact


Outdoor bench Furniture Outdoor furniture Wood Wood stain


then I put on a dark color stain I wanted to try (red mahogany)
at this point everything is still only dryfitted, that's why the dowels show at the joints.

Plant Tree Wood Table Outdoor furniture


Plant Table Tree Outdoor furniture Wood


Every thing is still dryfitted, I will need to glue everything up soon,

that's all for todays progress, have fun in the shop.
 

Attachments

#12 ·
day 3's progress rustic effect

Todays work was starting the rustic effect on the project pieces.
I didn't achieve any weathering aging or antiquing effect, so I'm sticking with the homemade rustic looks to it.

I started by marking out the contours to be cutout on the bandsaw.

Wood Automotive exterior Automotive design Gas Rectangle


then I did the round over routing on the apron pieces,

Wood Rectangle Automotive tire Road surface Flooring


and now cutout the last contours, I went too far in the cutting on the two pieces, where the dowel holes came through, but they will be filled,, if I was making this as a fine furniture piece, I would layout the dowel holes and contours with more precision, but because this is meant to be rustic, I can allow the mishaps with these dowel holes to be there.

Wood Gas Bumper Automotive exterior Composite material


Automotive tire Wood Building Wall Rectangle


now I took my sanding drum with a fine grit, and began to run wavey contours to the faces end edges of the apron pieces, below is a picture of this being done, the one last long apron piece was not yet wavey contoured, the top pieces were done.

Rectangle Wood Table Flooring Floor


Wood Grey Floor Flooring Road surface


Wood Rectangle Artifact Font Pattern


the same with the legs, the before on the left and the after, wavey contouring.

Wood Natural material Grass Hardwood Plywood


a quick dry fit

Table Outdoor table Outdoor bench Wood Outdoor furniture


Plant Outdoor furniture Tree Building Wood


and now I took the grinder to add more rustic waveyness

Outdoor bench Outdoor furniture Wood Tree Rectangle


Tree Plant Wood Grass Outdoor furniture


Plant Table Wood Sculpture Tree


Outdoor bench Pedestal Wood Table Outdoor furniture


Wood Table Tree Plant Natural material


and the inside will show as well.

Wood Plant Grass Recreation Composite material


first coat of stain is a light colored colonial maple, (thats what I have available)

Natural material Wood Staple food Metal Artifact


Outdoor bench Furniture Outdoor furniture Wood Wood stain


then I put on a dark color stain I wanted to try (red mahogany)
at this point everything is still only dryfitted, that's why the dowels show at the joints.

Plant Tree Wood Table Outdoor furniture


Plant Table Tree Outdoor furniture Wood


Every thing is still dryfitted, I will need to glue everything up soon,

that's all for todays progress, have fun in the shop.
Looks great. I'm in suspense about the top.
 

Attachments

#13 ·
a couple pics starting working on the top today

Thanks Mike,
I started working on the top today.

I took whats left of the 1 full 2Ă—4 and the partial of the other one, to give me enough to make 6 pieces around 42-1/2" in length, x 5/8" thickness.

I resawed them on my table saw, to give me the required amount.

I then doweled and glued them together, to make a panel.

Rectangle Wood Flooring Floor Grass


Outdoor bench Wood Road surface Outdoor furniture Plant


Table Musical instrument Wood Plant Rectangle


Furniture Table Plant Pneumatic tool Wood


Table Wood Saw Wood stain Hardwood


To contiunue with the top I will need to get some scrap pieces to glue around the whole perimeter of the top blank, so as to give that thicker appearance.Then do some freeform scrolling to give it a sort of rustic natural edge effect.
 

Attachments

#14 ·
a couple pics starting working on the top today

Thanks Mike,
I started working on the top today.

I took whats left of the 1 full 2Ă—4 and the partial of the other one, to give me enough to make 6 pieces around 42-1/2" in length, x 5/8" thickness.

I resawed them on my table saw, to give me the required amount.

I then doweled and glued them together, to make a panel.

Rectangle Wood Flooring Floor Grass


Outdoor bench Wood Road surface Outdoor furniture Plant


Table Musical instrument Wood Plant Rectangle


Furniture Table Plant Pneumatic tool Wood


Table Wood Saw Wood stain Hardwood


To contiunue with the top I will need to get some scrap pieces to glue around the whole perimeter of the top blank, so as to give that thicker appearance.Then do some freeform scrolling to give it a sort of rustic natural edge effect.
I agree that the top will look better if it looks thicker. Your idea of a rustic version of fine furniture is not far out of the ball park. The French especially have a historic tradition of doing this. That is, copying fine furniture styles with less expensive woods and less refined styling. You might say that this type of furniture has a comfortable rustic country feel to it while still giving some design flair to it.
 

Attachments

#15 ·
cont. day 4's preparing the top for shaping

This evening I was able to get started on thickening up the perimeter of the top.

I resawed on my table saw the last bit of 2Ă—4 lumber, and I needed a little more material to fill in the ends, I was able to use up some more scrap pine board shelves, I put them on both sides of a 2Ă—4 block on the ends, to give a variance in coloration at the ends of the top.

Table Wood Rectangle Wood stain Plank


Table Wood Rectangle Grass Outdoor table


then I marked where the table frame will go on the bottom side of the top, so I know where to cut the pieces as well as putting in the brad nails..

Hand tool Axe Wood Tool Splitting maul


then I glued and brad nailed in these blocks as well as the side rails on the bottom side of the top.

Wood Rectangle Grass Flooring Wood stain


That uses up every bit of the four 2Ă—4's I purchased, and I made away to use up some more scrap lumber as well (the pine board shelves), so now the next process will be to scroll out (with a jig saw), some sort of freeform around the entire perimeter, of the top, then using my sanding drums and grinder, try to get a rustic natural edge on this top.

Have fun in the shop…

ps.

heres a quick fix for my table saw, blade guard, my table saw is a craftsman 10" handyman type saw, it came with a blade gaurd, that requires a wing type screw to install it on the saw, after awhile of taking the gaurd off and on so many times, the screw begins to get difficult to twist, I sometimes need to use pliers, so I made a one piece screw and knob out of 12L14 steel, wich makes it easier to grab and loosen and tighten.

Automotive tire Finger Gas Screw Rim


the gaurd bracket was very well designed for easy removal and placement, however the middle slot was completely close so you had to take the wing screw completely off every time you wanted to remove or install the guard, so while I was at it, I opened up the middle hole slot, so it can be removed without entire removal of the knobscrew.

Automotive tire Bumper Automotive exterior Motor vehicle Gas


Now it is a very convenient to remove or put on the gaurd as the ocasion arises.

Automotive tire Motor vehicle Bumper Automotive exterior Automotive lighting


have a nice day…
 

Attachments

#16 ·
cont. day 4's preparing the top for shaping

This evening I was able to get started on thickening up the perimeter of the top.

I resawed on my table saw the last bit of 2Ă—4 lumber, and I needed a little more material to fill in the ends, I was able to use up some more scrap pine board shelves, I put them on both sides of a 2Ă—4 block on the ends, to give a variance in coloration at the ends of the top.

Table Wood Rectangle Wood stain Plank


Table Wood Rectangle Grass Outdoor table


then I marked where the table frame will go on the bottom side of the top, so I know where to cut the pieces as well as putting in the brad nails..

Hand tool Axe Wood Tool Splitting maul


then I glued and brad nailed in these blocks as well as the side rails on the bottom side of the top.

Wood Rectangle Grass Flooring Wood stain


That uses up every bit of the four 2Ă—4's I purchased, and I made away to use up some more scrap lumber as well (the pine board shelves), so now the next process will be to scroll out (with a jig saw), some sort of freeform around the entire perimeter, of the top, then using my sanding drums and grinder, try to get a rustic natural edge on this top.

Have fun in the shop…

ps.

heres a quick fix for my table saw, blade guard, my table saw is a craftsman 10" handyman type saw, it came with a blade gaurd, that requires a wing type screw to install it on the saw, after awhile of taking the gaurd off and on so many times, the screw begins to get difficult to twist, I sometimes need to use pliers, so I made a one piece screw and knob out of 12L14 steel, wich makes it easier to grab and loosen and tighten.

Automotive tire Finger Gas Screw Rim


the gaurd bracket was very well designed for easy removal and placement, however the middle slot was completely close so you had to take the wing screw completely off every time you wanted to remove or install the guard, so while I was at it, I opened up the middle hole slot, so it can be removed without entire removal of the knobscrew.

Automotive tire Bumper Automotive exterior Motor vehicle Gas


Now it is a very convenient to remove or put on the gaurd as the ocasion arises.

Automotive tire Motor vehicle Bumper Automotive exterior Automotive lighting


have a nice day…
Now the top thickness looks about right. I'm glad to see someone experimenting with fir wood. It does have a lot of drawbacks, especially with those hard and numerous knots and very soft summer wood, but I think it's a fun challenge to make something with it. I am wondering where this work will lead you as a woodworker. This is a great way to learn a lot without spending a lot.

I have been making a lot of wall holders from construction fir the past couple of days for all my chisels, carving tools, screw drivers etc. It's horrible stuff to drill with all the breakout on the bottom, even with a panel under it on the drill press, but it's cheap and it looks ok and most importantly it does the job. I've had good luck hand planing it too, except for the large brick hard knots which I've been able to eliminate. I've been resawing 2X4s in the my bandsaw to get the materials I need. Almost free since they were short cutoffs from another project. One thing nice about it compared to pine is that you don't get all the sap on your tools.

I made two sofa frames from fir for my son's room when he was 15 and he still had them in his basement room at his house up until about 5 years ago when he was 40 and with 3 kids of his own. I put those frames together with dowels and they stayed rock solid even after being moved a few times during those 25 years!
 

Attachments

#17 ·
day 5's progress initial contouring the table top edges.

Hi Mike,

That 'is' rock solid construction on those sofa frames, doweling with the right kind of glue is just as strong as biscuits, in my opinion, I still find the best doweling jig for me is those dowel points centers, and a brad point bit, your right about the fir wood, I have to start my brad bit a little cautiously when I drill for a dowel hole, because if I go to fast the bit wants to grab some wood fibers and pull itself in another direction, but once I get a good pilot hole started with the brad point , and keep the drill steady the hole pretty much stays spot on, when I drill to dowel walnut boards, the bit stays pretty steady no bit wandering.

The 2Ă—4 lumber does hand plane very nicely, I think fir wood is a step above pine wood, in characteristics of machining.

When I was shaping those legs I was puting a lot of preasure on the sanding drum around the thin ankle part, and the wood there was as solid as needed, if that was pine boards glued up, I think it would have been close to fracturing, the fir wood seems to be stronger.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Well here is this mornings progress, I was able to get a couple hours in this morning before the sun came up over the trees to take away the shade I was working in.

I first put the table in position on the top, the way it will be in final assembly.
Then marked where I wanted to cut it on the perimeter.

Wood Sculpture Art Natural material Office ruler


I was going to draw some sort of natural edge like on a real slab, but instead, I seen that the outline of the table frame gave a nice freeform edge, so I decided to follow its shape for the top.

I took an over hang for the ends by gauging like this.

Hand Wood Finger Wood stain Art


and here is what it shows up as.

Wood Watercraft Rectangle Composite material Hardwood


Instead of a jigsawn keep to the line cut, I decided to use my roto tool to freeform the cutout.
Make it more rough like.

Wood Hardwood Wood stain Flooring Pneumatic tool


since the bit is not long enough I coped out the rest.

Wood Cup Drinkware Gas Wood stain


and the resulting cutout.

Wood Bench Rectangle Table Hardwood


Outdoor bench Street furniture Table Outdoor furniture Wood


Using the dark scrap pine boards on the outside underneath edges , gives a nice dark contrast, to the light fir wood in the table topslab itself.

I need to sweeten up the cuts with my sanding drum and grinder, I'll do that this afternoon when I can get back in the shade again.
 

Attachments

#18 ·
day 5's progress initial contouring the table top edges.

Hi Mike,

That 'is' rock solid construction on those sofa frames, doweling with the right kind of glue is just as strong as biscuits, in my opinion, I still find the best doweling jig for me is those dowel points centers, and a brad point bit, your right about the fir wood, I have to start my brad bit a little cautiously when I drill for a dowel hole, because if I go to fast the bit wants to grab some wood fibers and pull itself in another direction, but once I get a good pilot hole started with the brad point , and keep the drill steady the hole pretty much stays spot on, when I drill to dowel walnut boards, the bit stays pretty steady no bit wandering.

The 2Ă—4 lumber does hand plane very nicely, I think fir wood is a step above pine wood, in characteristics of machining.

When I was shaping those legs I was puting a lot of preasure on the sanding drum around the thin ankle part, and the wood there was as solid as needed, if that was pine boards glued up, I think it would have been close to fracturing, the fir wood seems to be stronger.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Well here is this mornings progress, I was able to get a couple hours in this morning before the sun came up over the trees to take away the shade I was working in.

I first put the table in position on the top, the way it will be in final assembly.
Then marked where I wanted to cut it on the perimeter.

Wood Sculpture Art Natural material Office ruler


I was going to draw some sort of natural edge like on a real slab, but instead, I seen that the outline of the table frame gave a nice freeform edge, so I decided to follow its shape for the top.

I took an over hang for the ends by gauging like this.

Hand Wood Finger Wood stain Art


and here is what it shows up as.

Wood Watercraft Rectangle Composite material Hardwood


Instead of a jigsawn keep to the line cut, I decided to use my roto tool to freeform the cutout.
Make it more rough like.

Wood Hardwood Wood stain Flooring Pneumatic tool


since the bit is not long enough I coped out the rest.

Wood Cup Drinkware Gas Wood stain


and the resulting cutout.

Wood Bench Rectangle Table Hardwood


Outdoor bench Street furniture Table Outdoor furniture Wood


Using the dark scrap pine boards on the outside underneath edges , gives a nice dark contrast, to the light fir wood in the table topslab itself.

I need to sweeten up the cuts with my sanding drum and grinder, I'll do that this afternoon when I can get back in the shade again.
Looks great. I like the shape you chose. It should be very nice after a little cleanup. I agree with you on the dowel points. I have bought a couple of doweling jigs in the past and made a few myself, but I always find the dowel points to be easier and more accurate. Yes, dowels are a lot stronger and better than many think. They are essentially a loose tenon. The only really big difference is that the mortise is a lot easier to drill than to chop. Talking about fir wood, back in 1971 when I moved to Norway, I could buy beautiful tight grained fir here up to about 1983 with no knots whatsoever and no grain showing either. I just wonder where it came from, it was beautiful wood. Maybe it was Sitka or something other than the Norwegian Spruce that is used for construction materials here.
 

Attachments

#19 ·
day 5's conclusion of table top shaping

This afternoon I was able to get a couple hours in, to start the shaping of the table top.

I started out by grinding the whole interior, to see how the grinding effect would work.

Wood Gas Toy Hardwood Wood stain


Wood Plant Rectangle Grass Gas


then I went with my sanding drum to do the primary shaping, and touched off with my grinder on the face side of the top edges.

Table Wood Outdoor furniture Outdoor table Rectangle


Furniture Table Wood Hardwood Flooring


Table Furniture Outdoor bench Rectangle Plant


Plant Table Tree Rectangle Wood


Plant Table Tree Shade House


then I applied the light color stain as a base coat, to the entire top including the edges.

Wood Rectangle Natural material Hardwood Wood stain


Natural material Wood Rectangle Trunk Hardwood


Table Furniture Outdoor table Plant Wood


then I went with the dark stain, first to the edges, put on with a brush and wiped it off, then I took this beat up old brush, that has its bristles mushroomed out, and dipped it in stain then blotted on the top especially at the glue joints, a little area at a time, then took a rag and dabbed it, to give the top a mottled effect, like a burl.

Table Plant Wood Rectangle Outdoor furniture


Table Plant Wood Natural material Outdoor furniture


Table Furniture Plant Food Wood


Cuisine Rectangle Dish Ingredient Grass


that's all for todays progress, next I'll permanently assemble it to its frame, I decided not to hinge the top, because I want to see how well this will sell on its own merits, without needing to add any extra features.

when I get it fully assembled and polyurethaned and buff the top, I'll post the picture in the next blog entry.

have fun in the shop…
 

Attachments

#20 ·
day 5's conclusion of table top shaping

This afternoon I was able to get a couple hours in, to start the shaping of the table top.

I started out by grinding the whole interior, to see how the grinding effect would work.

Wood Gas Toy Hardwood Wood stain


Wood Plant Rectangle Grass Gas


then I went with my sanding drum to do the primary shaping, and touched off with my grinder on the face side of the top edges.

Table Wood Outdoor furniture Outdoor table Rectangle


Furniture Table Wood Hardwood Flooring


Table Furniture Outdoor bench Rectangle Plant


Plant Table Tree Rectangle Wood


Plant Table Tree Shade House


then I applied the light color stain as a base coat, to the entire top including the edges.

Wood Rectangle Natural material Hardwood Wood stain


Natural material Wood Rectangle Trunk Hardwood


Table Furniture Outdoor table Plant Wood


then I went with the dark stain, first to the edges, put on with a brush and wiped it off, then I took this beat up old brush, that has its bristles mushroomed out, and dipped it in stain then blotted on the top especially at the glue joints, a little area at a time, then took a rag and dabbed it, to give the top a mottled effect, like a burl.

Table Plant Wood Rectangle Outdoor furniture


Table Plant Wood Natural material Outdoor furniture


Table Furniture Plant Food Wood


Cuisine Rectangle Dish Ingredient Grass


that's all for todays progress, next I'll permanently assemble it to its frame, I decided not to hinge the top, because I want to see how well this will sell on its own merits, without needing to add any extra features.

when I get it fully assembled and polyurethaned and buff the top, I'll post the picture in the next blog entry.

have fun in the shop…
I have been following this from the start and am blown away by your talent! This is turning out just beautiful. No one will ever believe it is all 2Ă—4 pine. GREAT JOB!
 

Attachments

#23 ·
day 6, completed project with pictures

Thankyou guys, for those nice complements you gave in that last post..
--------------------------------

Hello,

Yesterday evening I sprayed on a coat of polyurethane over the frame and top, then this morning I permanently screwed it together, into a completed project.

Plant Table Outdoor table Wood Outdoor furniture


Pedestal Wood Table Plant Natural material


Table Plant Tree Wood Tableware


Furniture Table Wood Rectangle Stool

---------------------------

Here is the

'BEFORE'

Wood Composite material Plank Wood stain Hardwood


and the

'AFTER'

Window Wood Hardwood Wood stain Varnish


Have a great day everyone…
 

Attachments

#24 ·
day 6, completed project with pictures

Thankyou guys, for those nice complements you gave in that last post..
--------------------------------

Hello,

Yesterday evening I sprayed on a coat of polyurethane over the frame and top, then this morning I permanently screwed it together, into a completed project.

Plant Table Outdoor table Wood Outdoor furniture


Pedestal Wood Table Plant Natural material


Table Plant Tree Wood Tableware


Furniture Table Wood Rectangle Stool

---------------------------

Here is the

'BEFORE'

Wood Composite material Plank Wood stain Hardwood


and the

'AFTER'

Window Wood Hardwood Wood stain Varnish


Have a great day everyone…
A total success. Great work!
 

Attachments

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