Coffee table #1: On your mark, get sketchup, go...

Well I guess Jenn has realized that I now have enough toy..ools and can start building some furniture so we’re starting small with a coffee table. We went to the local Windsor Plywood store (the only real lumber store here in Brandon they actually sell ‘exotic’ wood like maple and not just the dimensioned construction lumber like HD or Rona do) to scope out what wood they have available. I wanted Jenn to pick out the wood for the table and I was amazed at the reaction she had to the various exotics they had. After I talked her out of a lacewood coffee table we settled (maybe) on the fine grain and rich colour of mahogany. I had read about lyptus so called a buddy of mine in Winnipeg and asked him if he could get me a line on some. It is a bit less expensive than the mahogany so it is interesting. Wil (my buddy) also mentioned jatoba but warned me it is very hard and difficult to work with, so I passed on that.

I guess I am somewhat concerned about starting with mahogany as I don’t know too much about it (other that that microscopic veneer they put on doors). Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

I found a plan on the Popular Woodworking site for a table Jenn really likes, but don’t really like the instructions and the use of biscuits to hold it together (never tried biscuits, I just don’t think I can swing buying yet another tool with out actually generating a real project). So I am going to try to create it in SU and then develop a cutlist and plan from that.

We have (or will have eventually as the reno progresses) throughout the main floor (except where we intend to put tile) white oak hardwood so Jenn doesn’t want the living room furniture to be oak as well.

I’ll post and illustrate as things develop. I’m looking forward to starting this!

-- ....next big purchase is wood for the next project, Mark