| Project by zombeerose | posted 691 days ago | 576 views | 2 times favorited | 5 comments |  |
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This was my second major piece of furniture for which I learned a great deal about the expansion/contraction properties of wood. While I have grown to understand the reasonings behind using veneer, I have a tremendous preference towards solid wood.
Therefore, in order to allow for full movement, I designed this piece accordingly. I chose not to use the standard approach of breadboard ends because A) I don’t like visible end-grain, and B) I wanted to try a new approach. With that in mind, the two sides that run parallel to the grain of the walnut section are cut at about 60 degrees to form a wedge with the wider portion on top. The spalted border was cut with matching angles. The concept, or hope, was essentially that as the piece expands, it will protrude slightly above the spalted border without stressing the splined miters. This has proven to work out quite well over the year+ it has been in use. The only drawback was that if pressure was applied to one side of the wedge, the walnut center would pivot out of the frame. I had to install a set up supports under the corners to minimize this.
This coffee table is constructed primarily of black walnut, spalted pecan, and maple for the internal supports. Ebony has been used for the drawer handles while a thin strip of walnut was ebonized for highlighting between the pecan and walnut top. The 2 drawer faces were carefully cut out of the apron with a scroll saw to provide grain continuation across both sides. The piece was finished with about 6 coats Waterlox original and paste wax.
Completed 11-05
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5 comments so far
Don
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2586 posts in 715 days
posted 690 days ago
Zee, this is a lovely looking table. I admire your design flair.
However, I must confess to being a little curious about your approach to wood movement due to humidity variations.
Your explanation sounds to me like you are devising your own methodology to address this issue. I’m not suggesting this is wrong, particularly if you do come up with new previously untried approaches. I guess my curiosity is that I wonder why you aren’t using traditional methodology to address this issue.
Have I read your description incorrectly? Would you elaborate in more detail on this?
-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/
zombeerose
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29 posts in 693 days
posted 636 days ago
While I understand the opportunities that veneer can afford a design, I am at a point that I am focused on using solid wood for nearly everything. Therefore, the design had to be a little different in order to allow a solid center.
Thx Don :)
-- Maximize - Your Time, Your Experiencies, Your Life, Yourself!
MsDebbieP
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12282 posts in 698 days
posted 636 days ago
I remember seeing this before. I must have been in a hurry, as I didn’t comment then.
1. To me, this has a combination look of rustic and elegance. Love it !!
2. The drawer surprised me and definitely takes this piece to a new level.
Have you made matching end tables as well?
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
zombeerose
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29 posts in 693 days
posted 636 days ago
Thanks Debbie. While I don’t have plans for end tables because our living room really doesn’t have the space, I do intend on making a matching kitchen table some day. I’m not sure whether I will stick with the same “floating wedge” design however. I’ve seen and thought of a few other interesting approaches since I made this piece.
-- Maximize - Your Time, Your Experiencies, Your Life, Yourself!
Bill
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2524 posts in 699 days
posted 636 days ago
I like the look of the table, and the drawers are a nice touch as well.
Very creative on your design to handle wood movement. Nice to hear it has held up so far.
-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com