Building Federal Style Table Part 6/Done – Tabletop Veneering and Finishing

[Mike Allen1010]

This is the last part of a federal table build. I’m posting this as a separate thread because I didn’t want people who have been following along to have to scroll through all the previous steps to get to the latest update. If you’re interested, you can find the earlier steps here on SMC.

This is my first attempt at veneering a tabletop. I’m going for a “radial” design using mahogany crotch veneers and some other inlay. Here is the layout on the MDF tabletop. Trying to get this uniform/symmetrical involved more geometry than I’m comfortable with. My general approach is “what I can see I might be able to execute”, hence the tracing paper template for section of the radial veneer.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/1_zpsqtb5vxxu.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/1_zpsqtb5vxxu.jpg.html)

After the adjoining pieces of veneer are cut, I used a couple of straight boards to “shoot” the edges.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/2_zpss2nzle4g.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/2_zpss2nzle4g.jpg.html)

Here are the first two pieces – blue tape on the back, veneer tape on the show surface. I used a straight edge and veneer saw, overlapping the adjacent pieces of veneer to try and get a good match.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/3_zpsbb1xhhc1.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/3_zpsbb1xhhc1.jpg.html)

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/4_zpsloblskem.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/4_zpsloblskem.jpg.html)


Here’s a picture of the joint on the show surface. I ran a white chalk line down the center of the figured section of the crotch veneer to try to orient that feature in a symmetrical, radial pattern.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/6_zpswiy6u5dz.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/6_zpswiy6u5dz.jpg.html)


Here are all the surface veneers taped up.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/7_zpsibqmxfqm.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/7_zpsibqmxfqm.jpg.html)

Gluing the veneer to the tabletop.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/9_zpsgjtdppp3.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/9_zpsgjtdppp3.jpg.html)
I

[Mike Allen1010]

I inlaid Holly stringing to highlight each radial section. I used a Dremel and straight edge to try and plow the groove on top of the joint.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/13_zpsjqtuih62.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/13_zpsjqtuih62.jpg.html)



Next step was more holy stringing to highlight the central border. Somewhere along the way the inlay pattern turned out not to be a perfect circle so required some “Kentucky windage” in layout to try and make things look uniform. I wasn’t confident about inlaying a narrow string of Holly and then trying to match the next layer of veneer so I used a wider piece of Holly that I would later cut back to “stringing” width in the next step. Here are some pictures of the process:

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/14_zps9fmps8ao.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/14_zps9fmps8ao.jpg.html)


http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/15_zpslztrrfoi.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/15_zpslztrrfoi.jpg.html)


http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/16_zpshdue005y.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/16_zpshdue005y.jpg.html)


http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/17.5_zpspyrwl0cr.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/17.5_zpspyrwl0cr.jpg.html)


I used a template to route arcs along the perimeter of the tabletop for more holy stringing.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/18.5_zpsundn6fh9.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/18.5_zpsundn6fh9.jpg.html)


http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/18_zpslshpevwi.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/18_zpslshpevwi.jpg.html)

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/20_zpsenvbfhx1.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/20_zpsenvbfhx1.jpg.html)




With the Holly glued in for the stringing to highlight the central disc, used tracing paper to layout the next layer of cocobolo which I taped up in a radial pattern.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/21_zpsc34e99cf.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/21_zpsc34e99cf.jpg.html)


The moment of truth when we see if it’s going to fit.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/22_zpsyfsx3azg.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/22_zpsyfsx3azg.jpg.html)

[Mike Allen1010]

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/24_zpsblptiy0o.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/24_zpsblptiy0o.jpg.html)




I used a router with inlay cutter’s to cut the groove for a strip of banding along the outside edge of the table. I foolishly neglected to check that the width of the groove matched the width of the banding so the groove ended up too wide (I hate when that happens!). To cover my mistake I had to add a 1/32” wide strip up satinwood veneer. Trying to cut a strip of veneer this narrow was almost impossible. I ended up with short lengths I just pressed in where I could. A classic example of a ton of corrective work I could’ve avoided if I would’ve just made a trial groove in the beginning to make sure the banding fit.


http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/26_zpsvom8qgqo.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/26_zpsvom8qgqo.jpg.html)

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/27_zpsx9ytyo5t.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/27_zpsx9ytyo5t.jpg.html)

To get the banding to fit the radius of the curve, I use an X-Acto to cut a series of small wedges on the inside diameter.


http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/28_zpskg5s6z95.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/28_zpskg5s6z95.jpg.html)

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/29_zpsb6kexcqz.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/29_zpsb6kexcqz.jpg.html)


Here’s a picture of the floral marquetry pattern I did for the central part of the tabletop. I used paduk, satinwood, left over mahogany and colored veneers for the various sections. To try and make the thin commercial veneers less fragile, I glued another layer of veneer cross grained to the back.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/30_zpsg6x4vx4x.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/30_zpsg6x4vx4x.jpg.html)


http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/32_zpsdutt9vgs.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/32_zpsdutt9vgs.jpg.html)


I

[Mike Allen1010]

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/34_zpsplqmqnja.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/34_zpsplqmqnja.jpg.html)


It took me about a 1.5 days to finish the marquetry. I’ve definitely gotten faster with practice. Earlier build thread describes how to do the marquetry in more detail.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/35_zpsmftnfrs6.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/35_zpsmftnfrs6.jpg.html)

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/37_zpsp05c3njf.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/37_zpsp05c3njf.jpg.html)



Initially the marquetry looked good, until I glued it to the tabletop and scraped it level with the surface. In the process I scraped through some of the inlay pieces. I’ve made this mistake a couple times before, which is why I prefer to use thicker, shop sawn veneers when possible. Nothing worse than spending a ton of time on something and then having to do it over again. Here’s the repair and the tabletop with veneering/inlay complete.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/38%202_zpsf7zchmwg.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/38%202_zpsf7zchmwg.jpg.html)

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/38_zpshzlmnqa1.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/38_zpshzlmnqa1.jpg.html)


http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/39_zpslbi9e00k.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/39_zpslbi9e00k.jpg.html)


http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/41_zpscli1xnhn.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/41_zpscli1xnhn.jpg.html)



Since the tabletop is MDF, I needed a piece of solid mahogany to cover the edge. I used a plow plane and scrapers to create a profile on the edge.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/43_zpsirvleqmi.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/43_zpsirvleqmi.jpg.html)


http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/44_zpsdadaqidp.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/44_zpsdadaqidp.jpg.html)

[Mike Allen1010]

I was very proud of myself until when I tried to glue it to the curved tabletop and it broke in 2 or 3 places. I like the idea of incorporating curves into my woodworking, but as a practical matter curves are always a PITA for me.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/45_zpsi3nkxs7i.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/45_zpsi3nkxs7i.jpg.html)



I use shellac to finish the tabletop. Once I had a solid base established, I used rotten stone and water as a lubricant to flatten the finish. I should’ve done this with the first coat of shellac and it would have filled the grain/cracks in the veneer much better – par for the course for me, I usually screw up some element of finishing with pretty much every project.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/46_zpsjetoytza.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/46_zpsjetoytza.jpg.html)


http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/47_zpsmlnqatec.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/47_zpsmlnqatec.jpg.html)


Here are some pictures of the finished table.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/48_zpsl3hzramd.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/48_zpsl3hzramd.jpg.html)


http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/49.5_zpsmjaxudci.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/49.5_zpsmjaxudci.jpg.html)


http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/49_zpsucgxcgqh.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/49_zpsucgxcgqh.jpg.html)


http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/federal%20table-%20last/50_zpspgqynbst.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/federal%20table-%20last/50_zpspgqynbst.jpg.html)


Thanks for looking,
Mike

[Andrew Hughes]

That's super nice work Mike.
The top with mahogany veneer and inlay is the star if the show.
I also have trouble clamping curved work.

[Brian Holcombe]

Beautifully done Mike! Very fine work!

[Phil Mueller]

Hats off to you, Mike! What an adventure in new skills and the patience to work through it. Really beautiful table.

[Stewie Simpson]

Very nice work Mike.

[Walter Plummer]

Absolutely beautiful and inspirational. Thank you for taking the time to post your work.

[Bryce Adams]

That's a spectacular piece of work. Thanks for showing it to us.

[Christopher Charles]

Looks fantastic Mike, thanks for sharing the journey. Inspiring, especially the inlay and marquetry. The crotch veneer looks great as well.

C

[Dave Anderson NH]

Beautifully done Mike. I'd love to do a Federal piece but unfortunately my wife doesn't like Federal and anything I did would be relegated to either an obscure corner of the house or the loft of the barn. Sigh!!

[Marty Schlosser]

This has turned out so beautifully, Mark. I'm a novice veneerer in comparison to you, but am getting ready to do some marquetry - based largely on your inspirational work.

Thanks for sharing!

[joe maday]

I agree with everyone, this table turned out very nice. Whats next on the project list? More federal style pieces?

[Pat Barry]

I really love the tabletop. Gorgeous! The marquetry is a nice feature.

[Mel Fulks]

Seen lots of tables of that type but this is a spectacularly splashy specimen !

[Patrick McCarthy]

Michael, sir

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. I am extremely impressed and, unfortunately for me, humbled. Very, very impressive.

Much like Brian, it is very generous of you to share the process with us. Very nice; you deserve to be very proud of this.

Patrick, a mere mortal

[Robert LaPlaca]

Mike, excellent work. The crotch Mahogany you used, was the Mahogany South American, if so, where did you find the veneer?

[Mike Allen1010]

Thanks all for your very kind comments – you are too generous by far!


Marty, I I'm thrilled to hear you're gonna try some veneer/marquetry! My primary reason for posting is to encourage folks to give a new skill a try. I'm always intimidated by the fantastic work I see in magazines etc. and it's hard for me to understand/follow intricate step-by-step written instructions - 'm much more of a visual learner, As a consequence, when I was younger I often shied away from trying new skills because I just thought they were over my head. .


This table was my first attempt at significant veneering and marquetry and it definitely got a lot easier with a little practice. After a few tries actually working with the tools and materials (as compared to reading about them); it was a lot easier to get the general idea of what I was trying to do. That said, I still made plenty of mistakes – you guys might be not be able to see them in the pics but there definitely there!


The biggest learning for me was that commercially available veneer is so thin that it leaves little margin for error in final surfacing/smoothing. There are several places in the table where I sanded/scraped through the show veneer trying to get a nice flat, shiny surface. After working so hard to get the veneer down in the first place, it was super disheartening to blow it during the final step!


The best advice I can offer from my own limited experience is use 16" thick shop sawn veneer whenever possible – it's less likely to fracture when sawing sharp points and gives you more margin to play with in surfacing. The challenges is highly figured woods (like the crotch mahogany on the tabletop) are only available commercially, at least for me. Gluing a 2nd sheet of plane veneer to the bottom of the show veneer at a 90° angle to the grain, makes it easier to saw out the small details, but you're still with the left with the challenge of sanding through.


If you're like me and one of your favorite things in woodworking is using a sharp plane to get a beautiful final surface, the temptation for "just one more stroke", is something I have to learn to resist when it comes to inlay/marquetry/veneer etc.


Robert, I bought the veneer online from Constantine's (http://www.constantines.com), mostly because I seen it referenced in reading etc. They seem to have a large selection/inventory of all things related to veneering etc. if your project requires veneer of a specific dimensions, I would encourage you to give them a call. For example, I couldn't figure out how much of the crotch veneer I needed to accommodate the radial pattern of the tabletop. The guy spoke to on the phone was super helpful – I told him what I was trying to do and he picked out 6 pieces of crotch veneer specifically to fit this design. Fair warning, I was surprised at how pricey the figured veneers were, but I don't have much experience with that. The stuff I got was just labeled "mahogany crotch veneer", so I don't know what species it is. Frankly, my locally lumber yards seem to have so many different kinds of woods that are loosely described as "mahogany", it's hard for me to know what's what.


Hey Joe, this project pretty much used up my patience for some of the tedious veneer/inlay work common to the federal style, so it will be an a while before I try another one. For my next project I'm thinking about a small "Bombe" style chest with some small cabriolet shaped ball and claw feet. Instead of drawers, I'm thinking of leaving the front of the carcass open and in using it to hold hi-fi equipment. I have enough thick mahogany leftover to make the feet, but there's no way I would ever waste away all that 12/4 mahogany to get the curved carcass pieces. Even if I didn't mind the cost, to me it seems like a criminal waste of beautiful wood. I'm thinking of using pine or poplar (in Southern California there's not a lot of choice when you're looking for 12/4 material), and veneering the curved carcass elements.


As I have no idea how I'm going to layout all the curves for a project like this – I appreciate any advice or suggestions!


All the best, Mike

[paul cottingham]

You continue to inspire, Mike. Very nicely done.

[Jeff Bartley]

Mike,
Your work is outstanding! I'd love to learn more about your elevated marquetry 'bench'.....it looks clever and no doubt helps the process.
Thank you for taking the time to share your work. Build threads continue to be my favorites!

[Will Boulware]

Amazing work! Thanks for taking us along for the ride!

[Mike Allen1010]

[
QUOTE=Jeff Bartley;2623664]Mike,
Your work is outstanding! I'd love to learn more about your elevated marquetry 'bench'.....it looks clever and no doubt helps the process.
Thank you for taking the time to share your work. Build threads continue to be my favorites![/QUOTE]




Hi Jeff,


Thanks a lot for your kind comments!


The "marquetry bench" I think you might be referring to is commonly called a "bird's mouth". It is simply an elevated work surface (about eye level when I'm sitting down) with a V-shaped cut out that lets you support the thin veneers at the tip of the V, while you're sawing them out.


I think I might have given some details about the birds mouth is a earlier "step one – 2, etc." posts on this subject. I got the design from a book on veneering – sorry title/author's escape me right now but I'm fairly sure details are in an earlier post. If for some reason you can't find that, let me know and I'll dig up the references etc.


All the best, Mike

[Robert LaPlaca]

Mike, thanks for the tip on where you sourced Mahogany Crotch... Constantines is a name from the past, I actually have bought veneer from them in when they were located in the Bronx in NYC..

[Allen Jordan]

That table is incredible, well done. I'm terrible at working with veneer.

[paul goldberg]

Absolutely stunning. Working with multiple pieces of veneer to create patterns has always seemed like a dark art to me but this write up was most informative.