This was my first woodworking project. It was built in my uncle’s shop under his guidance. OK, reality is, he deserves all the credit. It was a great learning experience. The table is walnut, except for the sunken lazy susan in the middle which is veneered with an exotic burl. The table has eight leafs that expand it to seat eight (see second picture). There is a lot of story that goes with this table, which I will detail later. That is my mentor and uncle on the right in picture #3. Picture #4 shows the underlying mechanism that allow the skirt to slide out and act as supports for the outer leafs (only 1 pictured). The last two pictures detail more of the working mechanisms. Originally, the support under was plywood. However, it turned out (we think) to be a bad batch of plywood which resulted in the entire table cupping upward. So, “we” (code for Uncle Wayne) built a steel frame to replace the plywood.
32 comments so far
isetegija
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762 posts in 1687 days
#1 posted 1547 days ago
This table is very well done. You and You uncle deserves to be proud of it.
Thanks for sharing with us and welcome to Lumberjocks community.
-- Not my woodworking http://woodworkessence.com/
Sawdust2
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1467 posts in 2260 days
#2 posted 1547 days ago
Does this table top rotate by any chance?
Lee
-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.
FuzzyDove
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60 posts in 1547 days
#3 posted 1547 days ago
Lee – it does not rotate, except the lazy susan in the middle. There are expandable table designs out there that rotate as they expand. I forget the name of those, but they were originally an English design. I’ll post pictures later that detail how this one expands.
CharlieM1958
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14866 posts in 2391 days
#4 posted 1547 days ago
Looks like you have quite a teacher. That’s a complex and beautiful project.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Scott Bryan
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27262 posts in 1994 days
#5 posted 1547 days ago
This is a project even a seasoned pro would be proud to complete. The table is gorgeous. What type of finish did you put on it?
-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine
Chris Davis
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1251 posts in 2154 days
#6 posted 1547 days ago
WOW! Very impressive.
-- Watch live video from our shop. http://wwbeds.com/live.htm
FuzzyDove
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60 posts in 1547 days
#7 posted 1547 days ago
Scott – we used a catalyzed lacquer. Thanks for the kind words!
woodworm
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14104 posts in 1763 days
#8 posted 1547 days ago
Great project…
You started woodworking in 2006, the first project is so beautiful – I’m sure you are a fast learner!
....I moving to South Carolina soon…
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
David
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1970 posts in 2311 days
#9 posted 1547 days ago
Very nice! You are lucky to have such a great woodworking teacher! I am enjoying your projects.
David
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
Beginningwoodworker
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13225 posts in 1845 days
#10 posted 1547 days ago
Beautiful table, you have a great woodworking teacher.
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
Douglas Krueger
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396 posts in 1896 days
#11 posted 1547 days ago
FD,
You are fortunate to have such a talented uncle who is willing to take the time to teach. The table is gorgeous. Do you have any more info on how the mechanics function, would love to know. Thanks for sharing.
-- I can so I wood but why are my learning curves always circles
HallTree
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5662 posts in 1940 days
#12 posted 1547 days ago
That is a very nice looking table. Reminds me of the one I saw the other day. Check this one out: “http://www.metacafe.com/watch/340548/expanding_table/”
-- "Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life" Solomon
FuzzyDove
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60 posts in 1547 days
#13 posted 1547 days ago
For those interested, I just added two photos that show more of the working mechanisms. Thanks everyone for all of your kind words!
Rogue
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255 posts in 1642 days
#14 posted 1547 days ago
I came up with a very similar design as I was sitting around thinking about wood. Now that I see it can work so well I’ll probably build out too
-- Rogue
Grant Davis
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594 posts in 2081 days
#15 posted 1547 days ago
Very cool, this is definitely going into my favorites file.
-- Grant...."GO BUCKEYES"
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