Another tabletop

Very nice looking top. Great design,

NEVER be afraid to admit mistakes. That is how we all learn. We just try to keep them to a minimum and move on from there.

When I look at ALL of my projects I see a mistake in EVERY one. Usually not the same mistake twice. I do learn sometimes. haha

Thanks for the post. Keep it up.

Scrappy

-- Scrap Wood's the best...the projects are smaller, and so is the mess!

Hi Randy;

I noticed in a couple of (this one included), your projects, you built tops that look like they may have been done with veneer, but are actually solid wood.

They are beautiful, but they are at risk of self destructing. The very reason that veneer is used for these types of designs is they are much less likely to expand and contract, due both to the thickness of the material, and the rigid adhesive used to glue them to the substrate.

You have no such advantage over movement when working with solid woods, and relying on your finish to do it, will probably let you down.

That being said, I hope they work, since they are beautiful, and the workmanship is excellent.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

That is a beautiful table top. Nicely done. Thanks for sharing

I LOVE the design. It looks very Scandinavian, which I really like. Almost like a Merri Mekko print. It’s a shame that the solid wood doesn’t behave like veneer does. I’d much rather have a solid wood table than a veneered one. Is it possible to anchor the wood some with butterflys? One or two along each board? Small ones on the inner area and larger ones on the outer area. It will alter the design some but maybe a subtle colored wood won’t be so distracting.

I learned that a mistake was made in laying out the boards for a dining room table made of Fiddleback/Tiger Maple when a master woodworker pointed out that boards that cup in grain should be alternately laid, up/down so that they will lay flat as opposed to down/down or up/up next to each other. Oh well, it was a first attempt and it’s a “rustic” modern look with a live edge and pits, as I didn’t want to worry about scratches, dents, etc. for a table that is used daily.

-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe

I’m having the same problem with the legs on a bench. I may have to drill some lag bolts down through the top of the seat. dang! Your piece is very beautiful.

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

I think the design looks really cool as well. However, one thing that I think would improve it slightly is if you had the cathedrals on the right hand side pointing in the same direction. On the bottom piece, it points inward. On the top piece, it points outward. I think it would add a bit more to the symmetry of the piece if you had them all pointing the same way.

Ian

I agree with Lee, veneer on these type projects for sure….

JC

-- Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. -Carl Sagan

RB Love your table top designs. I had the same problem with a commission designed by the customer and was able to over come the problem with dutch men aka butterflies, but I used a forstner bit to drill a bunch of holes on the bottom of the table and made round biscuits out of Ipe to fit the forstner holes and made sure the grain of the biscuits ran 90 degrees to the wood I was joining. It had been ten year when I last checked on the table and the customer said all was well.

Jim

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture ,maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com

thanks for everyone’s input..I agree with Lee 100%.. why I have never used veneerrs on these types of project? I have no idea, and I should.. Lee.. since I have never used veneers to do this.. can I lean on you for guidance on how to do veneers? I have millions of designs and would love to do them right, but have very little if any experience on working with veneers.. I need the basics..lol that goes for anyone else willing to share their knowledge on how to do it.. thanks again.. oh.. I also wanted to “Band” the outside edge with 1” either maple or walnut..

-- Randall Child