| Project by scottb | posted 865 days ago | 4498 views | 2 times favorited | 18 comments | ![]() |
This is my first real foray into the world of fine woodworking. I took a class this past winter at the Worcester Craft Center, where approx 10 of us designed and built our own tables. We each took our own rough lumber, plans and inspiration and 10 weeks later ended up with our own creations. Starting 1 step removed from a tree to… (hopefully) 1 step away from Fine Woodworking magazine.
Most of my classmates made end tables, or the equivalent. I was a little more ambitious (or perhaps a touch naive) with my large pub table.
I did all the sanding, finishing and assembly at home, only relying on the school’s equipment for dimensioning the lumber. (We all don’t have a 12” jointer and 25” planer in the basement, now do we?)
The table is hard maple, loosely shaker in style, 42” inches tall and 3’ square. It is finished with several coats of varnish, sanded to 2000 grit, and finished off with a coat of wax. This took about 30 hours of class time, and 15-20 hours for finish and assembly.
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
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18 comments so far
darryl
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990 posts in 867 days
posted 854 days ago
Scott,
with a first project being of this high quality, I look forward to seeing the progression of future projects!
-- ~ www.darrylmasterson.com ~ www.woodworkingdungeon.blogspot.com ~
scottb
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3064 posts in 867 days
posted 854 days ago
Thanks for the kudos Darryl!
I’m eager to see what you choose to enter in the competition. You’ve got an impressive backlog yourself.
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
Mark A. DeCou
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1365 posts in 946 days
posted 840 days ago
Way to go Scott: You didn’t take the easy way out, worked harder than your class mates, a sure sign of good things to come in your woodworking career. Glad you are starting so young, too many folks wait until well into their life to get serious about learning woodworking skills. Just like any skill based task, the more practice, the more hours, the more mistakes you make, the better and better you’ll become. Your finish on this piece looks really nice also, something that has taken me a lot of time and mistakes to have learned how to do. I haven’t ever taken the time to sand as smooth as 2000 grit, well, since I tried to wetsand a rough paint job on an old Corvette I had in a former life. I think the highest I usually go is 320, and that is rare, with 220 grit the usual stopping point for me. Thanks for posting your project, it is a joy to read your comments and ideas, you are very positive addition to this woodworking group.
Mark
-- Mark DeCou - Kansas Flint Hill's Artisan
scottb
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3064 posts in 867 days
posted 840 days ago
Thanks Mark! Thank you very much.
I really forced myself to take my time with this one, and not rush anything, or take any shortcuts. A challenge in itself. But with this under my belt, I feel good about tackling whatevers next.
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
Dick, & Barb Cain
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5399 posts in 840 days
posted 835 days ago
Excellent piece of art. I got my training in woodwork at Hibbing High School, back in the late 40s. We were fortunate to have such a well eqiupped shop. All of the equipment was of industrial grade. Our school was well endowed by revenue from iron ore taxes. Which is now a thing of the past. I took 3 years of woodwork, which has helped me an awful lot over the years
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Karson
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14327 posts in 941 days
posted 617 days ago
Scott nice looking table.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Obi
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2157 posts in 777 days
posted 617 days ago
I wasn’t even a Jock 247 days ago… but a beautiful table. Especially nice taper on the legs… or as Dennis would say “Nice legs Scottie.”
-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/
PanamaJack
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4452 posts in 618 days
posted 592 days ago
This is fantastic work scott, what a shine! Wow! Thanks for sharing with all.
-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,
David
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1833 posts in 679 days
posted 582 days ago
Scott -
Nice job! I like the wood and finish selection. I especially appreciate the clean lines and th edge detail on the top which makes it “lift” and appear light.
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
Chip
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1058 posts in 633 days
posted 582 days ago
Wow Scott. This is just beautiful. Went through your pieces a while back and missed this gem. Terrific craftsmanship for a first piece. Lordy. Thanks for posting this beaut.
-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.
scottb
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3064 posts in 867 days
posted 582 days ago
Thanks for the postive comments… It does look a lot lighter than it really is. Even though the top needs to be removed to get it out of the room (that, or lots of furniture needs to move so this can go though two legs at a time with a twist.)
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
scottb
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3064 posts in 867 days
posted 517 days ago
Wow! for a project that came in just above average in the first LJ contest, I’m surprised to see it is still way up there (one year later) as far as total views. (Is it wrong to find some satisfaction in that?) It was once – for a very short time the most viewed, and currently third only to the (award winning) entries into the same contest by Mark and Karson (which was published!).
I still can’t bring myself to eat at this table – I did a couple times at first, but I still (really, really) need to make stools for this one. Until then, It’s a great display spot for random turnings and other small projects.
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
oscorner
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4573 posts in 851 days
posted 517 days ago
Great looking table. I like the tapered legs and beveled table top.
-- Jesus is Lord!
Don
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2586 posts in 717 days
posted 517 days ago
Scott, real nice. Don’t believe I’ve seen this previously. Thanks for popping it to the top, Mark.
-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/
DAN
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3505 posts in 523 days
posted 489 days ago
very pretty table, really like the shaker style and choice of material
-- ..... art for lifes sake ... danwalters@lumberjocks.com
Dan M
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70 posts in 485 days
posted 484 days ago
Awesome choice of materials and design – the simplest and understated are often the most impactful
-- Dan M, SW Suburbs, Chicago IL -- http://www.djay-crafts.com
Andy
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305 posts in 448 days
posted 444 days ago
I really like the lines on your table. Very nice work too.
-- " Stubborn tenacity substitutes for natural ability" ANDY
Dusty56
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1413 posts in 228 days
posted 193 days ago
I can appreciate your sanding efforts as I am no stranger to 2000 grit !!! However my low priced source for that has dried up and I’m getting by with 220 – 320 now….hahahaa Keep up the great work ; )
-- Dusty56@comcast.net