Contemporary Matched End Tables

Gary, these are terrific! I like the way you have made the top and the finish is beautiful. I can’t recall seeing drawer facings attached with dowels like this. Very nice work.

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/

Bravo Gary, Very well proportioned. I too like the finish and the way you put the facings on. The tapers on the legs look perfect. You have very good eye.
Later,
Doug in AZ.

-- Failure is not an option.

Outstanding. I love the dowels. Like Don it’s not something I’ve seen before. New idea or an old one rekindled? Beautiful job with the grain. I look forward to every post Gary.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

Gary, very nice work. The beeswing mahogany cas come up a treat. As others have commented on, the doweled drawers are very different, yet attractive.

-- Bob

Thanks for the comments. I adapted the doweled joints from a pin and cresent joint. I don’t know of any example of it done like I do it.

I use this when I have curved or oddly shaped drawer faces. Below is a picture of the drawers on the slant top desk I have uploaded to another project. I think that’s almost as strong as a dovetail joint.

The nice part about this joint is the speed in which you can do it. Just glue up your drawer side into the dado of the drawer face and wait for it to dry. Then drill and glue your dowels. Using a small paint brush you can apply stain to the endgrain of the dowels. It sucks it right up.

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

Your work is just awesome – (in the true sense of the word)

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Very nice work getting the different species of wood to match up using the dyes. You must have experience at resawing and a large band saw to make those large book matched tops . The dowel joinery is a touch any wood worker can appreciate, something I’ve never seen on drawers.

-- DocK, WV

Your project is giving me a few ideas. You should be very proud of work.

-- Charlie, Connecticut

Great job Gary, I just have to learn to veneer. I have some hickory and ash veneer I have’nt used yet. That set of tables are beautiful. jockmike

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

Beautiful work Gary. The detail on the drawers is really cool.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

As usual from you, Gary, great and imaginative stuff!

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

Gary, Since your first postings, I have been an admirer of your work. So how much sanding did you have to do and how many poly coats. The finishes on all your work is fantastic.

-- WaywardHoosier - Behind schedule and over budget, but who's counting?

fantastic. I wanted to make “matching” tables—the one for my daughter’s birthday and a matching one for her husband’s birthday.
not going to happen.
I’m going back to boxes without legs lol

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Thanks again for all the comments.

WaywardHoosier – One thing about woodworking that I absolutely hate doing is finishing. The only reason I do it is because I have to. If I didn’t have to apply finishes I would build a lot more things.

I tend to use a random orbit sander for almost everything. Hook and loop disks are a must have for me. To answer your question I put two coats on the body, and as many as I need on the top surface. The top surface is a lot easier to finish because it’s nice and flat. I wouldn’t mind puting 20 coats on that since it’s so easy.

I think I put about 8 coats with sanding at 500 grit between coats.

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

GaryK, I too am in awe of you tables and really like the doweled drawers. It’s enough to make me give up dovetailing, especially after my first couple of tries. LOL.

-- Jesus is Lord!

Gary,

Thank you for the information.

-- WaywardHoosier - Behind schedule and over budget, but who's counting?

I really love those dowels. Very unique.

I know what you mean about finishing Gary. If only I had a trained monkey or something…..a finish monkey.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

Gary, I just stumbled across these tables while browsing, and having just finished an end table, they caught my eye. The style/look is absolutely beautiful. I love how you’ve used dowels for the drawer joints. My most recent table has a fake drawer, partly because of holiday time constraints, and partly because I’ve been practicing cutting dovetails by hand and am not ready for prime time, yet.
I think I might just adapt (steal) that idea for the matching table I plan to build.
I really need to browse around here more. There are so many great ideas just floating around, it’s just great.
Happy new year! -SST

-- Accuracy is not in your power tool, it's in you

I am glad this one came around again. A great looking set of tables. Well done.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

great idea with the dowels there, I’ve been thinking of buying a doweling jig, never thought of just doing this, nice and within reach of my meager tool/skill collection. Very nice looking dresser too.

-- Perth, Australia

All I can say is Wow! Nicely done, nicely finished. The doweled drawers are a great touch.

-- Maplewood, MN

i love the design .if you dont mind me asking , what is your method of making dowels,and what tools might you use.

-- eric post, tallahassee FL

They are just store bought dowels.

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

exellent work gary , i bet they are even much nicer in person . mohogany is so reflective and almost 3 d like .
great job

I love the box jointery! I’ve never thought to drive dowels as a replacement to dovetails…..Brillant. It’s reasons like this that i’m glad I found this site.

-- Steve, Beaverton, OR sgriffin44@yahoo.com

Beeswing grain, yes!! This is what my cd chest is made from. I love these tables, Gary!! I like the serpentine chest also!! I want to make a serpentine chest one day.

-- Matt, Houston Texas

Gary, I really like the doweling… that’s a very unique way of doing it.

That’s why I love this site, there is always something to learn… Thanks Gary!

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)