Mission Oak table with slate inlay

As well you should be. Very nice. Thanks for posting it.

-- A thing of beauty is a joy forever... - Keats

Wow, that’s an awesome first project. I would like to do a tiled inlay like that some day on a dinner table. is there anything in particular you need to look out for? I’m wondering specifically about the substrate for the tiles and if there is a special grout to account for wood movement.

-- Disappointment is an empty box full of expectation.

That’s great for a first timer. The top is nice!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

jsheaney, I debated about this for quite sometime. Doing hardwood flooring I know all to well how much wood can move. I took precautions as follows. I finished all the wood prior to doing anything with the tile. I thought about putting in some type of metal flashing between the grout and the wood but I figured that finishing the wood that would be touching the grout would be good enough. I have to note that on this project I used 2 coats of a 2 part commercial waterbased poly floor finish. On the headboard I made I used Watco Danish oil and wax, I don’t know how the watco and wax finish would protect from the moisture in the grout. I think if I do this again I will use wood as the “grout” lines and either just let the tiles sit in the top or possibly glue them in place but not grout them. I don’t feel right about giving hardcore advice on this since I’m so green but it seemed to work good doing it the way that I did it. If you look on page 6? of the projects somebody did a dining table that has tile he may be able to give some better advice. Thanks for the compliments

-- "Nature provides us with the most beautiful things in this world"

Beautiful! Man, if you do work like this when you are “green”, there will be some amazing postings in our future from your projects.
I don’t think you will have much trouble with the wood moving.

-- Terry Roswell, L.A. (Lower Alabama) "Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans."

You have every right to be proud of yourself. This is a beautiful table. You did a good job on the construction and tile inlay.

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.

Wow, that is impressive for a “beginner”!

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

Very nice. I’d say the same if you were not a beginner, too. Love the tiles.

-- Maplewood, MN