Looked Better in My Imagination (Updated)

hey Russel
We all have the item we make versus the one we imagine some times it works others don’t ultimately we just have to please ourselves.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

I think it looks cool

-- There is no such thing as a mistake. Its called a design modification Rick Kruse, Grand Rapids, MI

Looks like you have to lower the top to a point it is the most stable. Then see if it still looks good and you can find a place for it. I think it would look good way low. Looks like you have to widen the stance the higher the top to proportion.

-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.

Russ, it is called “one of a kind”!!
I like it! You should look at it as a piece of “modern art”!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss!

Thanks Jack, it does have a pretty high center of gravity, so lowering it should stabilze it. So, what think you about making the spread of the feet wider than the top?

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

Thank you Eklectic, it certainly is one of something. ;-) The Mrs. said it had a “modern art” look about it.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

Spread the feet looks like a good solution.

-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.

The other way to go is to take off the 2 extended legs and make a heavy (8/4” or more to offset the cantilever) round, square or hexagonal shaped base that the vertical leg would go into. I would suggest the base also have a diameter about 1/3 of the length of the top. That should do it.
My other suggestion was going to be to add 4 more legs and some antennae to the top to make a cool looking insect… ;o)

-- jack -- measure once, curse twice!

I vote for keeping the table the way it is. Now all you have to do is rip up the carpet and put in a nice hardwood floor. Seriously, I agree that is a nice piece of wood, but as for a suggestion on rebuilding the base, for carpet I would say go with something with a footprint very close to the dimensions of the top as I’m sure you’ve already figured out. If you would like to try and keep what you have, then I suggest removing a little off the bottom of the single leg and making a crosspiece attached to the bottom of it with two feet, close to the same style as the other two feet but maybe from one piece of wood for strength. If you notch out the single leg and the crosspiece a little so they set into each other, it might look okay.

-- Dale Manning, Carthage, NY

Hey Jack1, the Mrs. don’t care for insects, so while I appreciate the effort, I think I’ll pass on the extra legs and such. ;-) A single piece base is a possible idea.

Dale, adding a cross piece to the post seems like the least “instrusive” and might add a little extra visual interest.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

I made a very quick very rough pic just to see how it might look from the end. It’s worth a try rather than scrapping the whole thing.

-- Dale Manning, Carthage, NY

That’s pretty much what I thought you were suggesting, and kinda the way I’m leaning at the moment.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

I think its really neat looking. I would lower it to balance it out and make the same feet but at more of an outward angle to help it stable out.

-- Hold on! Let me get the board stretcher!

What if you drilled a hole from the bottom of the legs and weighted them by pouring lead into the hole.

I like the idea of a flat base – and you can slide the base under the sofa and put your chips and beer for the game.

-- Where did all this sawdust come from?

Drill a hole for your coffee cup or your beer mug on the little outset.
Widen the legs and add a third leg in the middle. Make it sort of like an eagle claw.

Just my $.03. What do I know?

Lee

-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.

add wide shoes to the legs

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

Russell: Here’s a link (right here on lumberjocks.com) to something you might get some ideas from: http://lumberjocks.com/projects/16600

Except for the little balance thing, though, great job!

You can always use it for an ironing board! :-)

I have made my share if things that didn’t quite turn out as I had planned.

Actually it look like it would be perfect for a plant stand.

It is a nice chunk of wood!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

I was about to say, as many others did, widen the stance of the legs – your ‘footprint’ is way too narrow.

-- Derek, Bremerton WA --

In order to find how “imbalanced” the piece is, you can start adding some weight on the junction of the central leg and cantilever posts/foots.

In order to lower the gravity center, you could drill a (relatively big) hole in the center foot of your table, fill it with the small lead (?) balls you can find in the fitness weight that you wear on ankles/wrists and close it with a dowel/round piece of your leg wood.

-- 100 fois sur le metier remettez votre ouvrage

It is so refreshing to read a post that is actually written well. Too many times a beautiful piece is described less than articulately and, for me at least, it really detracts from the project.

As far as the design is concerned I think others have already given the only advice I could offer, other than keep writing intelligible descriptions and many Lumberjocks will appreciate it that much more.

-- "That Government is Best that Governs The Least."-Jefferson

Thanks for the all the input. Good stuff here. I would have never thought of adding weight, though that got my attention. And Gary, I’m not sure about the ironing board thing. Somehow I think going to the Mrs saying, “Hey I made you an ironing board” might not endear her to the project much. ;-)

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

Ok so here is my $.02. I was trying to figure out a way to add the required support while not having to scrap or undo what you have to date. So what I think would work well is a cross support at the bottom of the vertical leg. I would shorten the leg by a couple of inches and put a dado (hand cut) through the bottom that is perpindicular to the table length (side to side). Then cut a board to have feet at either end and slide it up into the dado. I think that will balance the piece aesthetically too. If you need a sketch, let me know.

Tim

Thanks Tim. Adding width to the bottom of the post seems to be where I’m leaning at the moment.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

I’m thinking more spread of the feet is the key here. I really like the concept, though.

Aesthetically, to add to the sleek, modern look this piece conveys to me, I would suggest an even glossier finish…. maybe even a pour-on epoxy.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

A glossier finish, eh? hmmmmmm. I’m going to have to get some education on pour-on epoxy because I can’t say I’m even vaguely familiar with it.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

First I would like to say that I like the design and think it looks just fine, but my first reaction was as others have already said that the feet were too close together for stability. Personally I think it would look too heavy with 4 feet and take away from the look. I respect that you are willing stick your neck out and show us things that you aren’t entirely satisfied with. It makes for interesting discussions and we all learn something from the various comments. Thanks.

-- Mike, American in Norway

Mike, that’s the great thing about this site. People are more than willing to share. I’ve gotten new ideas and confirmation on things I’ve considered. Can’t beat LumberJocks.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.