My first project ever - coffee table

That is outstanding work. You should be very proud of yourself. You show great artistic talent, and I hope you continue to make it a part of your wood work. There is a lot to be said for great joints and construction, but artistic expression is the hall mark of great wood working. Thanks for sharing this with all of us. Nils

-- Nils, So. Central MI. Wood is honest.Take the effort to understand what it has to tell you before you try to change it.

Not bad for a first project, wish mine was that nice. Can’t wait to see what you do with some time under your belt.

-- David in Damascus, MD

Whoa! That is a very nice first project. I’d like to see what you make after a year of so!!
Thanks for sharing and Welcome to Lumberjocks. ............Jim

-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!!

That would be a great 100th project. Love the legs!

-- Vicki on the Eastern Shore of MD

that is outstanding ! i love it and a first project none the less i guess what they say is true go big or go home !

Sigh , I’m jealous . That is a really nice job regardless of being first or tenth . I’m sure you can see all the faults , but I can’t . How did you lay out the top pattern ?

-- Anybody can break something it takes skill to make or repair stuff .

Hi Ray,
It was a quite simple process that I invented/rediscovered on the spot.
I drilled chain holes along the pattern then used a small chisel and some gouges to make it into an even groove all along (even in width, depth did not matter).
Then I cut strips of leather and glued them in the grooves. I cut my grooves so that their width corresponded to the leather’s thickness.
Finally, I trimmed with a knife the leather that was proud of the surface and went on with finishing the table top.

As I said, I don’t know whether inlaying leather in wood is something that is commonly done or not but I found it simple, enjoyable and I like the results.

-- Fabrice - "On est bien bête mais on sent bien quand on se fait mal" - my grandfather

First project!? Amazing, I love the carving.

-- Mauricio - Woodstock, GA - "Confusion is the Womb of Learning, with utter conviction being it's Tomb" Prof. T.O. Nitsch