| Project by Alan | posted 338 days ago | 1759 views | 18 times favorited | 28 comments |  |
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This is a piece I just finished for a client who wanted a folding table to play cards on. He wanted something compact that would open up when in use. It’s built of quilted and quartersawn maple veneer, solid maple, and wenge. It’s 39” square and 30” high.
This design is a contemporary take on an old style of table. The back legs fold in on hinged side aprons so that when the table is not in use, it looks like a console or hall table. To use it as a card table, the back legs swing open on a double hinge and are held in place with a support frame that’s screwed into the sides in 4 places. That stiffens the leg and aprons so the table doesn’t wobble due to all the hinges. There is also a center leg that bolts on to support the table and take stress off the hinges.
Once the legs are opened up and locked in place, the top swings open and rests on the back legs. I used Soss hinges for the top because they don’t show when it’s closed and leaves a very small gap when open. They’re a little involved to install because of the mortises needed and very close tolerences, but you never see them except from the back.
The trickiest part was the veneer. I had to make sure the corner seams lined up with the wenge edges at the corners on both sides of the same piece. I made the top as one piece originally. After I glued the oversized veneer to one side, I drilled tiny holes through the top just beyond where the edge pieces would be. I then used the holes on the other side to line up the veneer. Very scary. Off just a little and the lines wouldn’t line up. Fortunately it came out pretty well, but I had a restless night waiting for the glue to dry. Once the top was veneered on both sides, cut to size, and the edges glued on, I cut it in half- another nerve wracking operation.
The other big challenge was getting the folding side aprons cut to the right length so the back legs could fold in, line up with the front side apron properly and not hit anything. Originally , it was just going to open up and then have top flip over, but it was too wobbly that way, so I built the back support framework to lock the legs and apron in place. That was necessary since the flipped over part of the top couldn’t be fastened down anywhere because each side is visible at some time.
I could probably spend an hour describing the construction challenges and how I addressed them, but hopefully you get the idea. It was a very interesting project that really pushed my skill levels and was a lot of fun, despite the almost constant spector of flop sweat and disaster hanging over me.
-- Alan Carter, www.alancarterstudio.com
28 comments so far
Kerux
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512 posts in 778 days
posted 338 days ago
Oh, I want one really bad. That is awesome!
-- http://inhisgrip1.blogspot.com/
Alan
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44 posts in 811 days
posted 338 days ago
How’d you do that? I posted this like 2 minutes ago.
-- Alan Carter, www.alancarterstudio.com
Kerux
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512 posts in 778 days
posted 338 days ago
I am a parent… I know things when they happen… LOL
-- http://inhisgrip1.blogspot.com/
jockmike2
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7302 posts in 1140 days
posted 338 days ago
Beautiful table Alan. Love the wood.
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
Douglas Bordner
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3421 posts in 958 days
posted 338 days ago
That’s gorgeous! Flop sweat is a much nicer way to express the concept of pucker factor 10. I’m pleased it all came out so well.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
isetegija
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611 posts in 409 days
posted 338 days ago
This is really elegant table.
Thanks for sharing with us.
-- My woodwork blog : http://www.isetehtud.pri.ee/blog/
Topapilot
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123 posts in 734 days
posted 338 days ago
Alan,
Thats really nice. Can you post some more pictures of the leg mechanism? I’d really like to better understand how you made that work.
Robb
jft68
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18 posts in 484 days
posted 338 days ago
Really gorgeous !
Mays I ask you to post a bigger image of for the second one to see the details better.
Thanks
-- Jean-Franco
Daren Nelson
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533 posts in 799 days
posted 337 days ago
That is beyond cool !
-- Urban logger, http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/
toyguy
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717 posts in 731 days
posted 337 days ago
looks great, functional, quality built….. What more could someone ask for.
-- Brian's Table Top Toys http://home.mountaincable.net/~bgraham/
Thos. Angle
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4013 posts in 856 days
posted 337 days ago
Really great work. It was worth all the flop and disaster sweat. Impressive veneer work.
-- Thos. Angle
CharlieM1958
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7623 posts in 1112 days
posted 337 days ago
Not only a great piece of woodworking, but a feat of engineering as well!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
wwnovice
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77 posts in 1080 days
posted 337 days ago
Beautiful table. Outstanding work!
-- John
Dennis Zongker
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1014 posts in 486 days
posted 337 days ago
Very elegant!!! It has a nice style and richness. Great job.
-- Dennis Zongker
dustygirl
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767 posts in 622 days
posted 337 days ago
What a great folding table.I love it.
-- Dustygirl..Hastings,Ontario.. How much wood can 1 gal chuck if 1 gal can't cut wood?
jim1953
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1601 posts in 736 days
posted 337 days ago
Nice Job looks great
-- Jim, Kentucky
Douglas Krueger
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379 posts in 617 days
posted 337 days ago
Have found that furniture that is not only crafted but also engineered adds another dimension to the challenge. Have to say that you have mastered the technique. Beautiful wood combination highlighted by the technical feat getting everything to line up. Hope the price reflects the thought and energy that went into this piece.
-- I can so I wood but why are my learning curves always circles
kewald
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122 posts in 475 days
posted 337 days ago
Vunderbar! Great design and workmanship.
-- Always do the Right Thing the Right Way the First Time - if you can figure out what that is! Ken, Spring Branch, TX
Les Hastings
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953 posts in 667 days
posted 337 days ago
Awesome looking table Alan!
-- Les, Wichita, Ks. (I'd rather be covered in saw dust!)
Alan
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44 posts in 811 days
posted 337 days ago
You like me; you really like me!! I’ll post some other photos in a few days, probably after Christmas.
Thanks to all for your kind words. I just hope my client feels the same way.
-- Alan Carter, www.alancarterstudio.com
douglbe
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191 posts in 855 days
posted 337 days ago
Just awesome!
-- Doug, Cass City, Michigan
Napaman
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3486 posts in 971 days
posted 337 days ago
that is amazing…
-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...
ND2ELK
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6176 posts in 668 days
posted 337 days ago
Exqusisite detail and design. Beautiful looking piece. Thanks for posting.
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
cobbler
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242 posts in 684 days
posted 336 days ago
Great design. I love it.
Nice wood choice.
-- ''Carry on my wayward son''
bfd
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419 posts in 701 days
posted 336 days ago
Alan, another awesome project…I am in serious awe of your talents.
-- Brian, Folsom, CA http://www.brianfullerdesigns.com
lightweightladyleftie
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413 posts in 606 days
posted 334 days ago
Alan,
Stunning! I would love to have watched you make it. You probably spent nights dreaming about all that engineering!
-- "But godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Timothy 6:6
Jeff
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20 posts in 978 days
posted 331 days ago
Very nice, hope you were paid well!
-- Jeff, West Linn, OR, http://www.dogwood-design.com
gbear
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103 posts in 993 days
posted 258 days ago
I’ve been viewing various table projects to get some ideas…this one is gorgeous and perfect.
-- gbear, Carmichael, CA