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A heavy elm table

Project by YorkshireStewart posted 346 days ago 433 views 2 times favorited 22 comments Add to Favorites
A heavy elm table A heavy elm table A heavy elm table Click the pictures to enlarge them

I made this dining table for my step-son and his wife. It’s all in elm, from a tree that was felled locally, planked and kept in a garage until the owner’s wife insisted he get rid of it. I was first to answer his ad in the local paper. I fabricated the legs from two 2” thicknesses, biscuited together and then routed a vee down the joint. The top is framed with two floating panels. The second picture shows, what now looks like, an over-thick panel maybe. But why plane away all that beautiful and cost£ly wood? I finished the table with Danish oil and finally wax.

I didn’t make the chairs.

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.


22 comments so far

View mrtrim's profile

mrtrim

1548 posts in 418 days


posted 346 days ago

another masterpiece from stewart ! i really like the design of the top . happy holidays to you and yours, verne

View Betsy's profile

Betsy

1886 posts in 433 days


posted 346 days ago

that looks lovely. The grain really came out nice with the oil finish. How did you attach the legs/apron to the top? I’m getting ready to make a few small living room tables and am considering how to attach the tops.

-- Betsy - GO BUCKS!

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

8574 posts in 412 days


posted 346 days ago

Massive! There is some sweet grain patterns there.

-- Maplewood, MN

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

653 posts in 439 days


posted 346 days ago

Thanks all. And a Happy Christmas to you and yours too

Betsy – The apron is mortise and tenon jointed into the legs. There are two elm pegs driven through each of the joints.

To allow for movement of the top,. I attached it with elm buttons like so:
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-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.

View IowaWoodcrafter's profile

IowaWoodcrafter

249 posts in 614 days


posted 346 days ago

Very nice table. I like the contrasts in the color of the wood. Very interesting technique for creating the buttons. I learned something new!

-- Owen Johnson - aka IowaWoodcrafter

View Betsy's profile

Betsy

1886 posts in 433 days


posted 346 days ago

thanks – I’m considering buttons for my end tables your method of making them gives me some ideas to work with.

-- Betsy - GO BUCKS!

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

4589 posts in 756 days


posted 346 days ago

Another piece for the ages, Stewart. Wonderful!

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

View Karson's profile

Karson

13640 posts in 938 days


posted 346 days ago

Stewart. A fantastic table. Your family should be proud of this fine creation.

How much of the wood did you get.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

653 posts in 439 days


posted 346 days ago

Thanks folks. Now, Karson - I expect you’re looking for an answer in ‘Board Feet’ – a measure I’ve seen lots of times on LJ. I have to say, I needed to Google the expression and now I can answer!

From memory, I got around 100 board feet. There’s still some in the stack. I’ve since added some burr/burl elm (that the vendor – a life long carpenter who was retiring – insisted was bird’s eye maple!

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.

View relic's profile

relic

315 posts in 474 days


posted 346 days ago

Thats one fine looking table Stewart.

-- Andy Stark

View Dadoo's profile

Dadoo

1557 posts in 528 days


posted 346 days ago

It would make a nice door too Stewart. Maybe they would like one?

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

View miles125's profile

miles125

992 posts in 543 days


posted 346 days ago

Man that Elm is some kind of beautiful. Such an inviting looking table.

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

View TreeBones's profile

TreeBones

1456 posts in 561 days


posted 346 days ago

Very nice. I should spend as much time on my tables.

-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3

View DAN's profile

DAN

3501 posts in 520 days


posted 345 days ago

Beautiful work. Elm has beautiful interlocking grain.

-- ..... art for lifes sake ... danwalters@lumberjocks.com

View cajunpen's profile

cajunpen

5345 posts in 603 days


posted 345 days ago

Stewart that is a beautiful table. I like the way you used the elm buttons for securing the top.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

View Thos. Angle's profile

Thos. Angle

3430 posts in 500 days


posted 345 days ago

Another great design, Stewart. I need a new table and have been considering several inovative methods of top construction. You’ve just added another very well thought out one. This just might be my answer. Excelllent work.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

View Douglas Bordner's profile

Douglas Bordner

2735 posts in 601 days


posted 345 days ago

I don’t see much elm here in the states. Beautiful wood, and a fine solid table. Good show, Stewart.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

View snowdog's profile

snowdog

688 posts in 520 days


posted 345 days ago

I stand (well sit actually) in awe of your skills.

My tag line says it all :) Merry Christmas!

-- "so much to learn and so little time"..

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

653 posts in 439 days


posted 345 days ago

Thanks again fellow craftsmen for your interest and comments. And as I approach my 100th day as a Lumberjock, thank you too for the spirit that makes the community such a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

653 posts in 439 days


posted 345 days ago

Oh, and Douglas – elm has become pretty rare over here too following the ravages of Dutch Elm disease. So many beautiful stands of elm trees were destroyed from , I think, the late 60s onwards. A couple of young elms just along the lane from me seemed to be picking up but are again looking sickly this year. Very sad.

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.

View ToddE's profile

ToddE

60 posts in 472 days


posted 340 days ago

Stewart, that is a very nice table. I love the functional look about it. Was the elm hard on your saws? I have heard that elm is a very hard wood and it loves to eat blades and bits. Nice job. Todd

-- Todd

View mot's profile

mot

4859 posts in 574 days


posted 340 days ago

Stewart! Absolutely beautiful!

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

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