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Cherry End Table

Project by Bob O'Brien posted 483 days ago 437 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


10 comments so far

View lew's profile

lew

4411 posts in 634 days


posted 483 days ago

Great looking table!

Lew

View Dusty56's profile

Dusty56

3401 posts in 566 days


posted 483 days ago

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

-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .

View tenontim's profile

tenontim

1319 posts in 623 days


posted 482 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://tmuli.com

View Greg Wurst's profile

Greg Wurst

713 posts in 711 days


posted 482 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

7466 posts in 1097 days


posted 482 days ago

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

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

View ND2ELK's profile

ND2ELK

6065 posts in 652 days


posted 482 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

7890 posts in 646 days


posted 482 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

338 posts in 754 days


posted 481 days ago

That is a nice design. Very clean.

-- MISSION FURNITURE-My mission is to build furniture

View DAN 's profile

DAN

6396 posts in 861 days


posted 426 days ago

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

Welcome to lumberjocks

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

View John Stegall's profile

John Stegall

207 posts in 395 days


posted 283 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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