walnut and tiger maple coffee table

This coffee table marks the beginning of my efforts to become a professional woodworker. IT was the showcase piece at my first art show to advertise my presence in the community. I wanted to design a piece using contrasting woods to breakaway from the mainstream furniture market. I knew I wanted a maple top framed with walnut. But I couldn’t stop there, the piece wouldn’t balance correctly and it was going to look awkward. I had to incorporate more maple with out over loading it. So I added the arches on the front, back, and sides. There was still something missing in the middle. I framed the drawer fronts with 1/8” strips of maple. And of course I didn’t want those miters to open up and ruin my top so I used maple splines to reenforce the miters. In the end I accomplished my goal of a balanced two-toned piece of furniture.

Part of a set, this coffee table has a book-matched laminated tiger maple top framed with walnut and splined corners. The pulls are shop made (modified design from a recent FWW article) mounted to the drawer fronts with 3/8” brass pins. Figuring out the angle of the mortise and tennons on the arcs was a bitch and a half but worked out well. Finish is 8 coats of medium rub spray on lacquer. My first time using a HVLP spray gun, it was a bit intimidating but I am pleased with the result.

-- You can't stand apart unless you're prepared to stand alone. Alex, Cleveland