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Cherry End Table

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Project by Bob O'Brien posted 1802 days ago 990 views 1 time favorited 10 comments Add to Favorites Watch

This is the first serious project to come out of my shop after spending months just setting it up and building things like storage carts. I designed the table in SketchUp (see image with transparency turned on), which allowed me to work out the joinery in detail. As an architect, I have been a SketchUp user for years, so this was a failrly easy transition.

The table has 1-1/2-inch two-sided tapered legs, a 3/4-inch top with pegged, mortise-and-tenon breadboard ends, and 3/4-inch aprons. To add detail to the aprons, I wanted to place three 3/4-inch square holes at the midpoint of each side. I first considered cutting these out with mortise chisels, but then decided instead to avoid the end grain in the holes by building up the rails with the 3/4-inch strip surrounding the holes made of cherry with the grain running vertically. The holes were not cut, but assembled using a jig. To reinforce the end-grain glue joint that was inevitable in this assembly, I screwed the pieces together from the top. The strength of the rails is not really compromised because, like any beam, the stress is greatest at the top and bottom and least at the center. I think the grain reversal gives an interesting visual texture that would have been missing if I had cut the holes in a single board.

The fabrication was accomplished with a combination of power and hand tools. I cut the mortises with a router and chisels; cut the tenons and tapered the legs on the table saw, fine tuning with hand planes; and did all of the sanding with a Festool Rotex orbital sander. For the finish I used Minwax Clear Satin Wipe-On Poly, which after 4 coats produced a tough, smooth finish.

I plan to continue to develop this design with other tables, perhaps working next on a coffee table version.

-- Bob




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10 comments so far

View lew's profile

lew

9036 posts in 1953 days


#1 posted 1802 days ago

Great looking table!

Lew

-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

View Dusty56's profile

Dusty56

10727 posts in 1885 days


#2 posted 1802 days ago

nice table …how about a close up of the holes that aren’t holes , please ?

-- When did quiet and quite become the same word ? I'm guessing about the same time as your and you're did.

View tenontim's profile

tenontim

2130 posts in 1942 days


#3 posted 1802 days ago

Very clean design, Bob, nice lines to it. Look forward to seeing the rest of the series of this design. Thanks for the post.

-- Tim-- http://www.tmuli.com

View Greg Wurst's profile

Greg Wurst

769 posts in 2030 days


#4 posted 1801 days ago

Great job! That’s a very nice table.

-- You're a unique and special person, just like everyone else.

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

14937 posts in 2416 days


#5 posted 1801 days ago

Very elegant and detail-rich table, Bob. Great work!

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

View ND2ELK's profile

ND2ELK

13495 posts in 1971 days


#6 posted 1801 days ago

Hi Bob

Exquisite detail and design. You did a beautiful job on this table. Thanks for posting.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

View trifern's profile

trifern

8131 posts in 1965 days


#7 posted 1801 days ago

Very nice end table. Thank you for sharing.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

View daveintexas's profile

daveintexas

365 posts in 2073 days


#8 posted 1800 days ago

That is a nice design. Very clean.

View Dan'um Style's profile

Dan'um Style

10964 posts in 2180 days


#9 posted 1745 days ago

Good work Bob ! Looking forward to your next project posting. Very crisp design.

Welcome to lumberjocks

-- keeping myself entertained

View John Stegall's profile

John Stegall

355 posts in 1714 days


#10 posted 1602 days ago

Dusty56:
I wanted to look at a closeup of the holes too, so I selected the picture in zoom mode, copied it and pasted it in Word. Then I clicked on the picture and use my mouse to drag a corner which allowed me to greatly increase the magnification. Not perfect, but it did allow me a closer look at a great looking table.
I often use this technique to “expand” my look at projects.
Hope this helps.

-- jstegall

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