Stickley library table

[Bill Carey]

Finally got back to the table build, after being over whelmed with honey-dos, hand surgery and consulting with my Danish friends on their new software. Found some nice 10/4 rough sawn QSWO from a local mill for the table ends and squared it and planed it to size and glued up the blanks. Why does my glue up of anything large, despite planning, walking thru the steps and other prep work, always turn into a 3 alarm fire drill?? :eek: Oh well, it worked out. So one end is mostly ready for sanding etc, and the mortises for the stretchers.
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Cutting the 3 holes was a bit of a struggle. Tried to lay it out so I could cut them before assembly but it didn't work out. Started cutting them with a jig saw but that was a pain so I made the side cuts with my 7 1/4" saw. plunge cutting. Kind of nerve wracking but I've been using that saw for so long I wasn't really worried - just focused. Then to the router table and the flush bit, with the pattern attached. Easy peasy. Now I get to start over on this one.
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And a special shout out to Dave Richards for his help with the Sketchup drawing. Very generous with his time and much appreciated.
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[Julie Moriarty]

Looks really nice, Bill. Great job on the cut outs! And that figure in the WO is really interesting.

[David Utterback]

Looking real good! I am looking forward watching your project progress.

[William Chain]

Looks fantastic, nice materials. Those cuts are impressive, it can't be easy to make those so nicely on 10/4 material.

[Bill Carey]

it was a bit dicey.... Hopefully back at it this afternoon.
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[William Chain]

Whoa...

Did the saw bog down or cut ok? What blade is that?


it was a bit dicey.... Hopefully back at it this afternoon.
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[Bill Carey]

No, the saw handled it well. Been using it for about 10 years or so, and it's a great tool. The blade is a Hitachi VRR Fast Framing blade. Contrary to it's name, it cuts really clean, and fast. And that blade is has been in there for a year. Plunge cutting like that is kind of dangerous, and I don't recommend it. But sometimes it's the only way to get it done. If you do try it, 2 tips: watch the ass end of the blade. People watch the lead edge to make sure it's on line but the back end can wander as well. And also will cut past your base line if you're not careful. The other tip: hold on tight! :eek:

[William Chain]

I did a plunge cut like that once in 3/4 in material. I loosened my grip for a second and that saw hopped out and scared the $@&@&& out of me. I’ll take a look at that particular blade. Your results speak for themselves.


No, the saw handled it well. Been using it for about 10 years or so, and it's a great tool. The blade is a Hitachi VRR Fast Framing blade. Contrary to it's name, it cuts really clean, and fast. And that blade is has been in there for a year. Plunge cutting like that is kind of dangerous, and I don't recommend it. But sometimes it's the only way to get it done. If you do try it, 2 tips: watch the ass end of the blade. People watch the lead edge to make sure it's on line but the back end can wander as well. And also will cut past your base line if you're not careful. The other tip: hold on tight! :eek:

[Bill Carey]

So I got the second leg done, but not without an exciting mishap. After drilling some holes and finishing the plunge cuts with the jig saw, it was on to the router table. I had the pattern stuck to the leg and was making the long cut with a flush bit when the template slipped. I never pin a template because I don't like the hole, small as they are. The bit chewed into the side about an 1/8" inside the line. Very disappointing but maybe I should have known. These are big thick pieces on the router table, so maybe I should have pinned it. Anyway, since this is for my office above my workshop, not for someone else, I moved the template a skosh and yes, pinned the template (hindsight is SO clear) and finished the end. As you can see from the pics, everything except the 1 edge is very nicely lined up. Next will be the bottom, flat stretcher and it's corresponding thru tenons and mortises.
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[William Chain]

It still looks stellar. Looking forward to more progress!


So I got the second leg done, but not without an exciting mishap. After drilling some holes and finishing the plunge cuts with the jig saw, it was on to the router table. I had the pattern stuck to the leg and was making the long cut with a flush bit when the template slipped. I never pin a template because I don't like the hole, small as they are. The bit chewed into the side about an 1/8" inside the line. Very disappointing but maybe I should have known. These are big thick pieces on the router table, so maybe I should have pinned it. Anyway, since this is for my office above my workshop, not for someone else, I moved the template a skosh and yes, pinned the template (hindsight is SO clear) and finished the end. As you can see from the pics, everything except the 1 edge is very nicely lined up. Next will be the bottom, flat stretcher and it's corresponding thru tenons and mortises.
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[Bill Carey]

Got the bottom stretcher finished. Again, used the PC circular saw to rough out the tenons, the cleaned them up with chisels.
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I have some concern about the wedges blowing out the end of the tenons. Anyone ever reinforce the bottom of the tenons? I was thinking of mortising in a pair of corner brackets to the under side.

[Bill Carey]

Finished the thru mortises at one end and have the other end roughed out. Hands got to hurting so called it a nite.
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[Bill Carey]

Almost ready to start sanding. Ends are done. Pins are in place for the bottom and the top stretchers. And the 2 halves of the top are glued up. This is going to be a heavy one. The tenons for the stretchers are loose so that I can knock it down easily, but when assembled it's rock solid. Going to screw the braces to the tops of the legs and the middle of the top stretcher. Wish I could figure out a way to avoid fasteners altogether, but all I can come up with is to make the braces in pairs, mortise them offset a bit and use pins. I don't mind screwing the braces to the tops of the legs because the top stretcher will still come out easily when the pin is knocked out. And the center one could be screwed, thru slots, to the top. And not having a joiner presented a challenge. I used my 6' level with a block screwed to the end to run the boards for the top thru the table saw. A couple of the boards had to be put thru a couple of times but it worked ok eventually.
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[Bill Carey]

Finally finished! Now I can move on to a new project. The last pic is a "thing" I made so I wouldn't have to clamp the monitor arms, mic and lamp to the new table.
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[Jim Becker]

Beautiful work, Bill! A project well done!

[David Utterback]

Excellent results! Thanks for letting us follow your progress.

[Nick Mazzino]

Gorgeous!! What finish did you use for the table? I love the color.

[Bill Carey]

Thanks Nick: Varathane Dark Walnut gel stain, then sanded to 320; 2 coats of Amber Zinnser Shellac, scuffed between coast with purple 3M pad, 2 coats of 1lb dewaxed blonde shellac (Wellermart), scuffed, then about 12 coats of wipe on poly sanded to 320 between coats. Everything was put on with pads - no brushes. I was pretty insecure about the finish and experimented for a month with different combos, but in the end I'm pleased with the way it came out. And I discovered that micro fiber cloths do as good a job on sanding dust as tack cloths. IMHO.

[Bill Carey]

and I should add that the pics are a bit more red than the real deal. Not a lot, but some. Probably;y the most accurate pic is this one.
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[Ken Fitzgerald]

Bill, absolutely beautiful! Well done Sir!

Also, I am in the beginning stages of a pair of oak end tables for my wife. I think I will have to steal part of, if not all, your finishing regimen! Again, nice work Sir!

[Bill Carey]

thanks Ken - wasn't just my regimen. I had a ton of help from fellow creekers. And it took a month of futzing around to find what I liked. But all those coats of wipe on paid off - smooth as glass.

[Mark Rainey]

Beautiful table Bill. I love the knock down feature - it makes things so much easier on the back to move.

[John TenEyck]

Beautiful, Bill. And the finish you finally settled on prove all those specimens were worth it.


John

[Malcolm McLeod]

Structure looks a bit ... um, delicate. You're sure you can't up the legs to 12/4? I just HATE a shaky table. ;)

Nicely done, sir! And I too have some oak in my future, so will tag this for your finish.

[Joe A Faulkner]

Nice job Bill. The table looks great. Very well done.

[David Eisenhauer]

Thanks for sharing Bill. I definitely like that style and hope to do something similar for our house one day. Outstanding work and your hand work with the circ saw reminded me of my many-days-long-past of working as a bridge carpenter (pre OSHA days). What do you recon the table weighs?

[William Chain]

It turned out fabulous, nice work. You got hold of some really good QSWO.

[Bill Carey]

Thanks for sharing Bill. I definitely like that style and hope to do something similar for our house one day. Outstanding work and your hand work with the circ saw reminded me of my many-days-long-past of working as a bridge carpenter (pre OSHA days). What do you recon the table weighs?

Probably a couple hundred pounds. I needed the kid across the street to help carry the top up to my office. My son in law is a carpenter building bridges, and he and I spent a couple of hours this summer, on a lark, sharing skil saw tricks we've learned in our combined 50 years of carpentry. Not stuff you want to try at home kids. And I have made some nice things from the lagging he gets for me. Even got a 3x8x8' piece of cherry once.

[David Eisenhauer]

Thanks Bill. My Skil saw use has shrunken over the years and I sold my framing/remodeling equipment package that included my many-years-old worm drive saw about three years ago. My maybe one-twice a year circ saw use is now limited to a newer Makita saw that weighs considerably less.

[Kris Cook]

Just saw this. Nice job on the table. I also like your office. I am currently building a shop with a second story office. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Bill Carey]

Thanks Kris - but the best part of the office is my 9' AMF table with 2" slate. Had to put a microlam down stairs at the ceiling to carry the weight. When I get tired of talking to clients I just get up and shoot pool for a while.
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[David Utterback]

Well now, I am really jealous!!! Love to play also:)