Curly Walnut/ Curly Maple Kitchen Table Complete!

[Matt Roth]

After seeing some of the finished projects on here, I still have PLENTY to learn. Here's my first major project, an oval, pedestal, kitchen table. Thanks to everyone on SMC that shares their info; I couldn't have finished this without your help! Not the best pics here, but it's a curly walnut top with a curly maple base. Tough to see in the pics, but the sapwood in the middle of the table matches the dark parts of the curl in the maple. Just thought I'd share my first big project!

[Don Bullock]

Outstanding! That's a beautiful table. I live the contrast in wood and that curly walnut table top is fantastic.

[glenn bradley]

Oooh, me likey. That is a very nice piece and a great looking field of walnut.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Absolutely beautiful table Matt! You should be proud!

[matt swiderski]

Looks great. I'm getting ready to make my first kitchen table and hope it looks as good. Two questions. What finish did you use? And what method did you use to cut the top? And would you use that method again?

Matt

[John Keeton]

Beautiful wood! Nice job on getting that top nice and flat - what method did you use to flatten the top?

You just have to love maple and walnut together!

[Jacob Griffith]

Excellent work...its always dangerous calling the wife into look at something, but I did for your table...LOL

[Jim W. White]

That really looks GREAT!!! ...nice work!

Jim in Idaho

[Matt Roth]

Looks great. I'm getting ready to make my first kitchen table and hope it looks as good. Two questions. What finish did you use? And what method did you use to cut the top? And would you use that method again?

Matt

Here's a thread I started to figure out how to cut the top. Yes, I would use it again, it worked great! I used the suggestions in the thread to make a jig:

http://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=112763

Here's a pic of my version:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/3576097457_c9bac31201_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3326/3576097795_181ec18b1e_o.jpg

For the finish, I used several coats of Danish Oil, with a couple coats of paste wax on top. It looks great, but I'm questioning the durability and may change that. Here's the thread for more detail:
http://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=118157

[Matt Roth]

Beautiful wood! Nice job on getting that top nice and flat - what method did you use to flatten the top?

You just have to love maple and walnut together!


Thanks all for the kind words! Getting the top flat was painstaking; I underestimated work it would take. I used several steps to connect the 4 15" boards. After jointing all the edges, I glued up the two outside boards using long pipe clamps alternating on the top and bottom, biscuits to help with alignment, and caul boards. Once those set, I took them to the lumberyard and ran them through a 36" widebelt sander. I then took them back to my shop and glued the two halves, once again using alternating pipe clamps, biscuits, and caul boards. For both steps, I used a long straightedge and had to adjust the clamp tension until the top was flat. I used my ROS to smooth the final seam in the center.

[John Thompson]

Excellent work and end results, Matt. If this is your first we have a lot to look forward too as it only gets better as your confidence builds and your eye for detail increases.

Well done.. indeedy!