| Project by Kerry | posted 77 days ago | 220 views | 1 time favorited | 20 comments |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
I wanted to start this last fall, but had trouble getting hold of some 12/4 cherry for the legs. I’ve always wanted to build something with cabriole legs (a bonnet top highboy is my dream project), so when my wife gave me the go ahead to build a couple of much needed tables for our TV room I thought this would be a good opportunity to try my hand at them. In January I finally acquired a 12/4 cherry board and I was off and running (at my usual snails pace).
I couldn’t find any pictures of a table that I really wanted so I doodled around and came up with this design in Sketchup:
It’s not terribly detailed but it sure did help me decide on some of the features such as the bowed sides:
The large oval top presented a challenge for the drawer – luckily I remembered seeing an article for wooden extension slides. This is also the first dished top I’ve ever tried – it didn’t turn out quite as well as I would have liked, but it’s ok. Lots and lots of scraping to get it smooth. I very nearly ruined it when I forgot that I had turned the plunge depth stop on my router and plunged a 1” hole about 3/16 deep in the middle! I couldn’t figure out why it kept going down, and down, and down…. No sailor could have outdone my vocabulary at that point. So, as if there weren’t enough challenges I got to try my hand at a patch.
The finish is one treatment of Danish oil followed by 5 (or 6?) coats of amber shellac which was rubbed out with wax and steel wool. I was originally thinking I’d give it a topcoat of poly, at least on the top, but I couldn’t decide for sure. I thought I’d see how the shellac survives for a while. If it starts to look abused after some everyday use I’ll dewax with some mineral spirits or naptha and then sand it and give it a coat of poly.
All in all, it turned out ok and I learned a lot. The second one will be quite a bit faster to build; partly because I have the templates ready, and partly from what I’ve learned. I’m thinking I’ll use a lipped drawer front for the second one and see which looks best. I think I may try putting together a blog for this project, because I have lots of pictures and because I hope some of you more experienced folks might see places where I could do things differently/better for the second table.
Sorry about the cat’s tail in one of the photos. I tried to get him to sit still in one pic but no go.
Thanks for looking, and I welcome any constructive criticisms anyone may have.
Cheers,
Kerry
-- Alberta, Canada
Your Online Shop - Your Support Is Greatly Appreciated - Your Woodworking Showcase - 3 Ways To Help, Financially - Your Woodworking Community
20 comments so far
GaryK
home | projects | blog
8250 posts in 390 days
posted 77 days ago
Great looking table. I really like the lip around the top. It’s a nice touch.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
ND2ELK
home | projects | blog
1914 posts in 176 days
posted 76 days ago
Very nice looking table. You did a beautiful job on it. Thanks for posting.
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
DaveConry
home | projects | blog
36 posts in 99 days
posted 76 days ago
Kerry…that is a beautiful table. I also like the dished top. Very nice!
-- Evil can only thrive when good men do nothing.......E. Burke
Scott Bryan
home | projects | blog
7968 posts in 224 days
posted 76 days ago
Kerry,
This is a beautiful table. You did a good job on the construction and finish.
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.
Mark Mazzo
home | projects | blog
286 posts in 314 days
posted 76 days ago
Kerry,
Very nicely done. I too like the beaded edge around the top and along the bottom of the aprons. Did you laminate the side aprons to curve them?
-- Mark, Webster New York, Visit my website at http://thecraftsmanspath.com
trifern
home | projects | blog
2193 posts in 169 days
posted 76 days ago
Great table and design.
-- Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit.
DocK16
home | projects | blog
394 posts in 489 days
posted 76 days ago
If that’s your first go’ round with Queen Ann legs you did a great job. The whole table turned out beautiful. Your finish technique topped it off nicely.
-- DocK, WV
jjohn
home | projects | blog
396 posts in 115 days
posted 76 days ago
very well done. From the custom design to the finished product.
-- JJohn
CharlieM1958
home | projects | blog
3649 posts in 620 days
posted 76 days ago
Fantastic! I’d love to see a blog on it.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
DeWaltMan
home | projects | blog
1 post in 77 days
posted 76 days ago
Kerry beautiful table I love the dish top turned out great and the finish looks like glass.
-- DeWaltMan
Dusty56
home | projects | blog
607 posts in 90 days
posted 76 days ago
incredible table and the finish really makes all of your craftsmanship stand out even more !!! Can’t wait to see the next one !
-- Dusty56@comcast.net
stanley_clifton
home | projects | blog
44 posts in 105 days
posted 76 days ago
Cats – don’t you love them.
The finish looks great – I’d try and avoid using the poly.
Echoing above, those legs look great especially as it’s a first go. You have made a unique looking table on a traditional template.
-- Stanley generally struggling
Bob A in NJ
home | projects | blog
291 posts in 401 days
posted 76 days ago
Wow Kerry, you are one heck of a woodworker. On the legs, did you turn the feet on a lathe or do them by hand? The table is gorgeous!
-- Bob A in NJ
Kerry
home | projects | blog
92 posts in 192 days
posted 75 days ago
Thank you Bob. I had to do the feet by hand – my lathe is a tiny one for pens etc. Someday….
Cheers and thanks again,
Kerry
-- Alberta, Canada
john
home | projects | blog
663 posts in 783 days
posted 75 days ago
Beautiful work Kerry !!! . I really love the style
-- John in Cranbrook http://www.extremebirdhouse.com ....http://community.webshots.com/user/cranbrook2
Billp
home | projects | blog
195 posts in 602 days
posted 75 days ago
Wow You did a great job, thats one fine looking table.
-- Billp
Grumpy
home | projects | blog
4025 posts in 253 days
posted 75 days ago
Excellent job Kerry & great design.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
Woodhacker
home | projects | blog
366 posts in 125 days
posted 73 days ago
That’s a beautiful piece Kerry! The finish looks great.
Thanks for posting.
-- Martin, Kansas
Beginningwoodworker
home | projects | blog
261 posts in 75 days
posted 71 days ago
Very nice Table.
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
Kerry
home | projects | blog
92 posts in 192 days
posted 71 days ago
Thanks again folks, I appreciate the kind words. I started a blog here: Queen Anne Tea Table
Cheers,
Kerry
-- Alberta, Canada