| Project by David White | posted 528 days ago | 2059 views | 8 times favorited | 12 comments |  |
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So this is my first ‘real’ furniture project and the first one that I have felt worthy of a posting on Lumberjocks.
It is a Craftsman / Arts and Crafts style library table in American white oak. The plans call for it to be quarter sawn timber, but that turns out to be very difficult to get in New Zealand so this is flat sawn. The drawer sides are Radiata pine.
I made this table from plans in issue 73 of Australian Woodsmith magazine, but I have also seen them on the Plans Now website.
I made the top about 75mm (3”) longer than the plans stated in order that it better fit in this alcove in our hall way. Now it’s in place I think that was a mistake and I plan to take the top off and cut it down to the proper size.
The finish is 3 coats of BLO followed by 3 coats of wax. I realise that this is not the most durable finish that there ever was.
Frankly I bit off more than I could chew with this project as it’s really a tad too complex for a beginner like me. Although I am happy with the way it turned out, there are definitely a few things that I could do better if I were to do it again.
Probably the main lessons learned are as follows:
Firstly, if your shop time is limited, pick smaller projects. This one took me a year to complete and frankly I was getting bored with it by the end of that period. It took a couple of months just to hand cut all the mortises.
Secondly, when you are milling the timber, if you see you have one piece that is a really different colour to the rest, put it on one side and use it for another project. Also, buy more timber than you think you will need.
Finally, stick to the plans. Every time I deviated from the plans I ended up making more work for myself.
-- Get into the shop and build something!
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12 comments so far
planeBill
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300 posts in 578 days
#1 posted 528 days ago
Well David I think you did just fine, first time or not. I hardly ever use plans. I’ll get ideas from plans most of the time but rarely adhere to them in the strictest sense.
-- I was born at a very young age, as I grew up, I got older.
pintodeluxe
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1750 posts in 983 days
#2 posted 528 days ago
Nice job on the table. I like the corbels and hardware choices. The table is well proportioned as well. Great job!
-- Willie, Washington "If You Choose Not To Decide, You Still Have Made a Choice" - Rush
tenontim
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2129 posts in 1914 days
#3 posted 528 days ago
Very nice, David. I think the flat sawn white oak and the natural finish give the piece a more modern look. The Craftsman details make this design a good looking desk, no matter what type lumber you use. Looks like you have one happy customer there anyway. Thanks for the post.
-- Tim-- http://www.tmuli.com
workerinwood
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2490 posts in 1237 days
#4 posted 528 days ago
Very nice , great job!!
-- Jack, Albuquerque
ed220
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584 posts in 1563 days
#5 posted 528 days ago
very nice table. Good job.
woodworm
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14104 posts in 1760 days
#6 posted 528 days ago
Very nicely built, I like it.
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
Bob Cox Jr
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3 posts in 528 days
#7 posted 527 days ago
Nicely done. My eyes went directly to the drawer handles—where did you get them?
-- Hoot Owl Creek Woodworking, Hoot Owl Creek, Indiana
David White
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87 posts in 1450 days
#8 posted 527 days ago
Thanks for the kind words everyone.
Bob – the handles came from a local company called Knobs ‘n Knockers. Their website is at www.knobsnknockers.co.nz, although I can’t see these specific handles on the online catalogue.
If you really want some, PM me and I’ll pop in and get the product code for you.
-- Get into the shop and build something!
dpow
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374 posts in 1013 days
#9 posted 527 days ago
Nice looking table David. After completing a great project like this, you can’t call yourself a beginner any longer. You will find out that you learn something new in every project you do – thats the fun of it. Thanks for sharing.
-- Doug
Ken Fitzpatrick
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365 posts in 2193 days
#10 posted 526 days ago
Very nice!! Beautiful table. You should be proud. I guess it really wasn’t too complex because you completed it very well.
-- • "I have noticed that nothing I have never said ever did me any harm."....... Calvin Coolidge
a1Jim
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87188 posts in 1747 days
#11 posted 526 days ago
This came out great.
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
andyboy
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398 posts in 1443 days
#12 posted 147 days ago
And a very nice first project. Fantastic mate, love it!!
-- Andy Halewoodworker. You can't finish if you don't finish. So finish it, because finish is everything.
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