Dining Room Table

Hi Damian;

Good job. I don’t know what your referring to saying there getting worse. It looks good to me.

I like the color you chose. What kind of finish did you put on it?

Lee

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

I agree Lee. Looks good to me. Be happy to have it in my home.

As to heirloom quality I disagree Damian. Mark started a thread on the definition of heirloom. I think the term is overused in marketing schlock. An heirloom is something that is treasured by a family. It may have no intrinsic value. I think your table does and will grow in intrinsic value, and your son’s son will believe it an heirloom. Thing’s like scars created by Dad when he was a kid is what creates heirlooms. The testament to the quality comes by the fact that the table will still be around to tell the story.

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

Nice work, Damian Penney!

When I look at a project like this it makes me realize just how small my projects have been. My largest was this one, but other than that most have been small. I guess it primarily reflects the fact that I have a very small workshop.

I like your selection of wood, design and finish. What is the finish, by the way?

I recently re-finished an old Oak veneered desk I’ve owned for about thirty-five years. I used a Wipe-On Poly finish and was really pleased the the end result. Unfortunately, I recently removed an old AA battery from a flashlight and lay it down on the desk. It must have been there for a few days and been rolled along the top as I shuffled papers. Well, you should see the mess this made of my finish. The battery acid did short work of the top which I will now have to refinish.

Feel my pain!

BEWARE of BATTERIES! LOL

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

Well thanks for the kind words guys. The finish was a number of coats of garnet shellac, I forget the cut, and then wipe on poly over that for better protection. I think the issue I have with this piece is that with hindsight I would have liked some additional heft, perhaps making the top 1 1/2 thick with a 2” border instead on 3/4” with a 1” edge, it just feels a bit light. The other thing I’m not too happy with is the finish, I would have preferred a glossier/smoother finish, still feels a little grainy to the touch. It had been a long time coming and I feel as though I rushed the finishing in order to get to use it. I do agree that it’s the memories that make a piece special but I think we all have those shoulda woulda coulda projects and seeing as I use this thing every day I’m continually reminded of the things I could have done better (not that anyone else would ever really notice)

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

The table looks good to me! Nice work.

-- Jesus is Lord!

I hear what you’re saying about the heft, but that aside – for a second piece of furniture, this is really good. You picked a really pretty sheet of quartersawn WHITE oak ply (could’ve been red!) and you chose to use mortise and tenon joinery (on the not-so-visible red oak)! I’d say you made some really wise decisions early on there!!!

Oh – how did you cut the mortise and tenons on this? Mortiser, drill and bench chisel, mortise chisel…? It’s always amazing how many different ways there are to do things!

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

Every project I’ve ever done I’ve wished I’d done something different. I think it’s our urge to be perfectionists. Practice being satisfied with what you’ve accomplished. It’s a very nice table, sure you could have done some things different but you did’nt. So what. Next time do it differently. Your friend, jockmike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

That’s a nice looking table Damian. A dining room table is something that I would like to make someday. Did you make the chairs as well?

-- www.darrylmasterson.com ~ www.darrylmasterson.etsy.com

I agree with everyone else, Damian…. it looks really nice. Please tell us about cutting the mortise and tenon joints. That is one step in my woodworking learning process I have avoided like the plague. :-)

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

”It’s a bit rough and ready but does the trick, and with my 16 month old banging away at it every night it would be a shame if it was heirloom quality :) ” – Damian

I like that mindset. If it was a “beautiful and amazing” piece, you wouldn’t want to use it (or you could be a nervous wreck whenever you used it). We must gauge our quality according to it’s function.

It is a beautiful table. Someday when the kids are all grown up, make the “amazing” table that you’ve always wanted to build. (but then watch those grandchildren ;^D )

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Just awesome, Damian. Taking on a project like this where people sit at it for hours. It takes a special type of woodworker to make a table that people eat at. This one is really nice!

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

The mortise and tenons were done by using a router and edge guide for the mortises and I think I did the tenons with my miter saw and a stop block. The m/t’s weren’t difficult at all so I wouldn’t be afraid of tackling them.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

I like this table. The woulda, shoulda, coulda’s made me a better woodworker. It’s part of the process.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

That is really a very beautiful table Damian.Tables are one of the most sastifying projects ,in my opinion.I love many designs and the fact that they are the most used furniture.Nice work!

-- " If I can make it,so can you" Andy in Oregon

Nice table!! I too enjoy building them!! Keep up the good work!!

-- Matt, Houston Texas