Bill Brush
04-25-2012, 1:13 AM
Way back in high school I built a small table for my parents. After <censored> years I finally have time, materials, and a basic tool set to think about making something bigger than a small box and nicer than the rough-and-ready kid furniture made out of construction lumber.
So I'm making a walnut coffee table.
I scored some very wide (13") walnut planks, but they had a nasty cup, so they weren't suitable for use when I got them. They were also from a wild grown tree, not a farm, so they have some imperfections. On the plus side they're about 40 years old, and they were air-dried so they have some stunning grain patterns.
The center of the table is the best of the planks, which I ripped down the center to relieve the cup, and planed it so they are true for gluing back together.
So I have some procedural questions, and some technique questions.
When I glue up the table top, is there any problem if I glue up in stages? I have a limited number of clamps, so I want to minimize the chance that I'm going to have a big problem due to a lack of clamps. So I have 4 pieces, and I thought I'd glue 2 and then the other 2, and finally the 2 previous assemblies.
I'm a little bit at a loss on the edge joints for the top. Should I make them "sprung" with a gap in the center so they have more pressure on the ends to prevent failure due to movement or is it not necessary since I will be using a film finish which will minimize seasonal movement? Should I spline them? Shiplap? Tongue and groove? I'll be using just regular yellow wood glue. (I think I've settled on Waterlox high-gloss for the finish).
There is one small knot in the top that concerns me. It is tight (now) but I can see daylight through it. Should I route it out and inlay other wood? Fill it? Leave it and fill the gap with clear epoxy for character?
For the legs I have 2 pieces from the same tree. They are about 2 1/4" thick and about 5" wide. One is 28" long, and the other is about 46" long. They have some defects in them so I may not be able to get more than just the legs out of them, although I hope to. I'm planning on using mortise and tenon to attach the aprons to the legs. Since I started planning this project I've acquired a fairly basic spindle lathe, but that opens up the possibility of turning the legs. Would I be crazy to try turning the legs without any kind of duplicator? (Full disclosure I have never tried to turn 2 things identical, let alone 4.) Or maybe glue up the 4 legs into one turning blank, and have each leg be a 1/4" of the total (guaranteeing they are identical).
I'm planning on having a single basic drawer in the table. Would poplar be a suitable material for that? I have a small 3/4" thick poplar board that I can't think of a good use for.
Anyway, thanks for any input, I really want this to turn out since it's a present for my wife.
So I'm making a walnut coffee table.
I scored some very wide (13") walnut planks, but they had a nasty cup, so they weren't suitable for use when I got them. They were also from a wild grown tree, not a farm, so they have some imperfections. On the plus side they're about 40 years old, and they were air-dried so they have some stunning grain patterns.
The center of the table is the best of the planks, which I ripped down the center to relieve the cup, and planed it so they are true for gluing back together.
So I have some procedural questions, and some technique questions.
When I glue up the table top, is there any problem if I glue up in stages? I have a limited number of clamps, so I want to minimize the chance that I'm going to have a big problem due to a lack of clamps. So I have 4 pieces, and I thought I'd glue 2 and then the other 2, and finally the 2 previous assemblies.
I'm a little bit at a loss on the edge joints for the top. Should I make them "sprung" with a gap in the center so they have more pressure on the ends to prevent failure due to movement or is it not necessary since I will be using a film finish which will minimize seasonal movement? Should I spline them? Shiplap? Tongue and groove? I'll be using just regular yellow wood glue. (I think I've settled on Waterlox high-gloss for the finish).
There is one small knot in the top that concerns me. It is tight (now) but I can see daylight through it. Should I route it out and inlay other wood? Fill it? Leave it and fill the gap with clear epoxy for character?
For the legs I have 2 pieces from the same tree. They are about 2 1/4" thick and about 5" wide. One is 28" long, and the other is about 46" long. They have some defects in them so I may not be able to get more than just the legs out of them, although I hope to. I'm planning on using mortise and tenon to attach the aprons to the legs. Since I started planning this project I've acquired a fairly basic spindle lathe, but that opens up the possibility of turning the legs. Would I be crazy to try turning the legs without any kind of duplicator? (Full disclosure I have never tried to turn 2 things identical, let alone 4.) Or maybe glue up the 4 legs into one turning blank, and have each leg be a 1/4" of the total (guaranteeing they are identical).
I'm planning on having a single basic drawer in the table. Would poplar be a suitable material for that? I have a small 3/4" thick poplar board that I can't think of a good use for.
Anyway, thanks for any input, I really want this to turn out since it's a present for my wife.