Q: Frech style table

the table i am sitting at looks almost the same, the edge is just simulated by a half round cove routed at a certain distance from the edge.
probably made using templates and a copying ring on the router.

Here’s my guess.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=32679&cat=1,41182

-- Andy -- I don't mind going to work. It's the 8 hour wait to go home that I don't much care for.

Complicated to do it with a router and a little easy to mess up unless you want
to make an elaborate jig. If you had a overarm router it would be easy, but
you probably don’t.

Traditionally it’s done with a very simple hand-held tool called a scratch
beader or scratch stock. The tool is really easy to make yourself but
you can get versions through Veritas:
http://www.veritastools.com/products/Page.aspx?p=199

... and Lee Nielsen makes one too.

-- http://lawoodworking.com

Or maybe this:

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=62030&cat=1,41182

The only hard bit is the point right in the middle of the long rail. You might have to carefully chisel that bit and blend it in with a bit of sandpaper.

-- Andy -- I don't mind going to work. It's the 8 hour wait to go home that I don't much care for.

Nice work Loren and Brit on your explanation on this detail. Maraziukas the Lee Valley Veritas web site is a great source of information along with all the specialty tool for all kinds of woodworking situation. If I were you I’d bookmark it for future use. Good luck on your table….BC

Thanks a lot guys for yours suggestions. I didn’t know that there were such amazing tools. There’s one more problem, where to find this tool in Europe for a reasonable price :)

And one more question: does this tool cut well in hardwood, such as oak?

-- Maraziukas, Lithuania, http://www.facebook.com/MMwoodwoking

I’ve put together a collection of links for you which I hope you’ll find useful. This first collection of links is about making and using a scratch stock:

To answer your question as to whether it will work well in hardwood such as oak. The answer is yes, you can use a scratch stock in hardwood, infact it works better than softwood. Oak isn’t the easiest wood to scratch, but it can certainly be done. If the wood has a high moisture content then that will help too as it kind of lubricates the blade when cutting. Practice on an offcut first to get a feel for the right angle and amount of pressure. Here is a link to Peter Follansbee’s blog where he talks about making and using a scratch stock and he works mainly in oak:

And if all of that doesn’t inspire you to make your own :-), here’s a review of the Veritas beading tool:

... and you can purchase both of the Veritas beading tools from these two companies based in England. Here’s the links:

Please note: you need to scroll down the page on the second link to see the beading tool.*

http://www.axminster.co.uk/veritas-veritas-beading-tool-prod22859/
http://www.classichandtools.com/acatalog/Special-Purpose-Planes-by-Veritas.html

-- Andy -- I don't mind going to work. It's the 8 hour wait to go home that I don't much care for.

A lot of interesting information here! Thanks Brit for all the links.

-- "Checking for square? What madness is this! The cabinet is square because I will it to be so!" Jeremy Greiner LJ Topic#20953 2011 Feb 2

Wow, that’s kind of a big job all this set of suggestions! Thanks a lot! I’m definitely going to make my own, at least I will try to :) And the links are really very useful, I feel like I should learn more about googling :)) I really appreciate your help! Good luck to you!

-- Maraziukas, Lithuania, http://www.facebook.com/MMwoodwoking