| Project by Don Kondra | posted 241 days ago | 548 views | 9 times favorited | 18 comments | ![]() |
This was an interesting process, kinda :)
A gallery I deal with asked if I could make two side tables in highly figured cherry, the design to be based on the shape of the leg of my entrance bench. They suggested a size and that’s all, no contact with the clients.
Normally I get to grill potential clients until I’m sure I know they understand all aspects of having a piece handmade. And I can get a feel for their budget and whether it’s worth my time to spend a day or so drawing, etc.
Anywho, went ahead and came up with a full scale drawing of what I would like to do, took a picture and e-mailed it to the gallery. And they accepted….
A friend offered to sell me a beautiful 8’ – 2” x 12” board for the tops and rails, I had a 8’ – 2” x 6” in stock for the legs..
The construction was fairly straight forward, the resawed and book matched tops have a slight arc (15 degrees) on the edges, the leg to rail is a loose spline joint. I cut the mortices in the legs while they were still square and I used a router jig to cut the mortices in the side rails.
All the curved parts were copy shaped with jigs on a shaper with straight bit and bearing…
Finish is Watco oil and sprayed lacquer.
I’ve been getting away without lights for taking pictures for “normal” work but this highly figured wood really should have had more light, sigh….
Cheers, Don
-- Don Kondra - Furniture Designer/Maker
Your Online Shop - Your Support Is Greatly Appreciated - Your Woodworking Showcase - 3 Ways To Help, Financially - Your Woodworking Community

























18 comments so far
Karson
home | projects | blog
11555 posts in 791 days
posted 241 days ago
Don a great pair of tale. The design and grain is beautiful.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
bryano
home | projects | blog
526 posts in 324 days
posted 241 days ago
very nice, Great grain pattern
-- bryano
Todd A. Clippinger
home | projects | blog
2450 posts in 490 days
posted 241 days ago
Truly beautiful. YOU are an American Craftsman.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
Todd A. Clippinger
home | projects | blog
2450 posts in 490 days
posted 241 days ago
OK – just went to your website and bookmarked it. Correction- YOU are a Canadian Craftsman. Gotta go back over to your site and spend some time. I like your style.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
DAN
home | projects | blog
2584 posts in 374 days
posted 241 days ago
super stuff ! you are an awesome North American Craftsman
-- a legend in my own mind ...
Dick Cain
home | projects | blog
4298 posts in 690 days
posted 240 days ago
A great design, & craftsmanship!!
-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Mark Mazzo
home | projects | blog
281 posts in 303 days
posted 240 days ago
Don,
Beautiful design and spectacular wood!
-- Mark, Webster New York, Visit my website at http://thecraftsmanspath.com
CharlieM1958
home | projects | blog
3538 posts in 609 days
posted 240 days ago
Ditto what Mark said!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Thos. Angle
home | projects | blog
3246 posts in 353 days
posted 240 days ago
Don, I don’t give a hoot if you are from Antartica, you are a craftsman! That is some beautiful wood. I really like this style of table when done correctly, you did correctly. Exceptional.
-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon
cajunpen
home | projects | blog
5256 posts in 457 days
posted 239 days ago
Beautiful craftsmanship – no matter which side of the border you live. I like the lines and beauty of the wood. Outstanding workmanship and design.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
jockmike2
home | projects | blog
3830 posts in 637 days
posted 239 days ago
Beautiful pair of tables. Great art. mike
-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com
Don Kondra
home | projects | blog
44 posts in 277 days
posted 238 days ago
Thanks for all the comments…
And thanks to Jojo who offered to photoshop my images to better show the figure of the wood.
Cheers, Don from the soon to be frozen Great White North :)
-- Don Kondra - Furniture Designer/Maker
Dorje
home | projects | blog
1695 posts in 388 days
posted 238 days ago
Wow – amazing wood and design work!
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
dalec
home | projects | blog
442 posts in 279 days
posted 238 days ago
Beautiful! Furniture Designer/Maker – describes you and your work perfectly.
Dalec
mot
home | projects | blog
4831 posts in 427 days
posted 237 days ago
Beautiful work, Don.
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
Dekker
home | projects | blog
139 posts in 271 days
posted 235 days ago
Love the tables, Don. They have an interresting asian appearance
-- Dekker - http://www.WoodworkDetails.com/
jeanmarc
home | projects | blog
503 posts in 107 days
posted 93 days ago
beautiful work
-- jeanmarc manosque france
Scott Bryan
home | projects | blog
7806 posts in 213 days
posted 92 days ago
Hi Don,
These are beautiful tables. The design is gorgeous. And I love the grain pattern of the cherry. This is a beautiful wood you chose to use on these pieces.
Thanks for the post.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.