| Project by Mark A. DeCou | posted 421 days ago | 1050 views | 1 time favorited | 14 comments | ![]() |
This customer wanted something “different” for their beautiful Kansas Flinthill’s Limestone Prairie home. We selected Burr Oak for the wood, finishing it without stain. My goal was to use the natural edge on the outside, and find boards that had as much character and as many knots, as I could find.
The “Burr Oak” log that I bought for the table top was wide enough at it’s center for two slabs cut out splitting it down the middle. I bookmatched them up the center of the table, and added 3 walnut dovetail butterfly keys along the length of the glue joint.
I used a hanched-tenon joint with walnut pegs to hold the bread board ends on the end of the table.
Here is the matching China Hutch: http://lumberjocks.com/projects/30
Here is the matching Chair Posting: http://lumberjocks.com/projects/2316
thanks for looking,
Mark DeCou
www.decoustudio.com
-- Mark DeCou - Kansas Flint Hill's Artisan
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14 comments so far
Aubster
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108 posts in 510 days
posted 421 days ago
Very nice table. I hope to do a natural edge table someday and would enjoy seeing a blog on how you did this.
Thanks for sharing
-- A man who moves mountains starts one stone at a time.
TomFran
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2360 posts in 476 days
posted 421 days ago
Mark,
Beautiful furniture!!! It’s always a pleasure to view your projects and read your detailed description of how you accomplished your good result. It was nice that you could go over and see your project, and that you will be able to “fix” some of the problems that are related to wood movement.
I have heard of people who moved to places like Arizona, where it is so dry, who had a lot of damage to their furniture because of the change in humidity. We are always learning about this unique material we use called “wood.”
Thanks for sharing these pictures and for reminding us of some of the very real problems that are associated with wood movement.
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
Dadoo
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1536 posts in 472 days
posted 421 days ago
I’ve been “dithering” lately myself over what to build for a dinette that I’ve recently installed in our motorhome. This table of yours with it’s “natural rustic edge” is the idea that I’m looking for. A rustic table in a camper? Perfect! Thanx Mark!
By the way…excellent table! Love the hutch too! Very beautiful and artistic work Mark.
-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!
MattD
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66 posts in 426 days
posted 421 days ago
Mark -
Your many examples of work on here have been an excellent study for me just over the past week since I’ve become addicted to this site. This table is another fantastic example. After reading one of your articles a few days ago, I ordered Nakashima’s “Soul of a tree” and hope to be able to reflect some of this style in my future projects at least half as well as you have. This is just great stuff.
-- Matt - Syracuse, NY
Dick, & Barb Cain
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5047 posts in 781 days
posted 420 days ago
Mark,
As usual from you, this is a remarkable piece of craftsmanship. Someday people will be wanting furniture with the DeCou look, if not already.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
scottb
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2940 posts in 809 days
posted 420 days ago
Love it. I need to start reading Nakashima!
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
WayneC
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5685 posts in 579 days
posted 420 days ago
Speaking of reading, I just picked up Krenov off of ebay. It is my next read. Perhaps some day I can aspire to create something you would admire as much as I admire your work.
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
oscorner
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4573 posts in 793 days
posted 420 days ago
Exceptional work, Mark. Wish I could afford one of those. Beautiful table and chairs.
-- Jesus is Lord!
Sawdust
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56 posts in 889 days
posted 412 days ago
Mark—
That set is quite a project. Breadboard ends wit natural edges. Wish I had your creative vision.
Sawdust
dennis mitchell
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2933 posts in 796 days
posted 408 days ago
I knew this table from your WDC photos. I’m glad to hear the rest of the story.
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
Karson
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12889 posts in 882 days
posted 408 days ago
Mark: I appreciate your tour of this table and your customers for being willing to bring a carload of people into their home.
The table is even more impressive in person, than you see in pictures. It’s a great job and a learning process. It’s nice that your customers are so willing to live with wood movement and say when it gets all acclaimated then you can come back and touch it up.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
Andy
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297 posts in 390 days
posted 270 days ago
Beautiful set Mark!
Your workmanship is outstanding.Your love for people,wood and design show in your work.
Thanks for sharing.
Andy
-- " Stubborn tenacity substitutes for natural ability" ANDY
GaryK
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8482 posts in 470 days
posted 270 days ago
I missed this one before. Excellent set! I gotta make myself one.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
trifern
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3987 posts in 249 days
posted 114 days ago
Awesome Mark. You are a true craftsman and artist.
-- Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit.