William Fretwell
04-24-2020, 7:38 PM
Got to keep my sharpening table, no space in the commercial job for it.
Lots of poplar at the shop so that’s what I’ve used.
431348
To compensate for the wood, the legs are large. The mortices and tenons are large and numerous. Each was drilled out then chopped with timber frame chisels. The tail vise makes holding the wood very easy, nothing in your way.
431349
The shoulder vise works well to pound out the tenon after test fitting.
431350
Getting near assembly, still have to make two cuts in each tenon for the 36 hand cut black walnut wedges!
431351
One side assembled, hook the leg over the shoulder vise, clamp on the cross member then plane the tenon ends.
431352
Progress, lots of pounding, glue, wedges, then clamps, tea time!
Now supporting the granite top presents a challenge, to stop it wobbling and keep it flat as possible I wanted three supports, spaced to provide the most balanced support. I used the method of circles to come up with the support points:
431353
Each circle grabs as much granite in a balanced way as possible. I wanted the small circle at the front to provide push down stability. I measured the centre’s positions to transfer to the table.
431354
The support pieces have a 1&1/2” groove, they just sit in place. Three small pads sit atop the supports. Now I could try the granite, both on the three supports and on the four legs. I measured with a straight edge and feeler gauges for both methods.
431355
The granite dips 8 thou right in the middle across the long dimension and 10 thou across the short dimension when on the 3 circle derived support points. On the four legs, with a spacer under one leg it dips 2 thou more in each direction. Clearly with 3 support points there is no wobble.
Thought I should try it out, my biggest revelation, the height at 38 & 1/2” is wonderful, I can see what I’m doing, no back strain, no wobble, rock solid. The wood may be second rate but the large dimensions make up for it.
Now I just need to add a drawer, a shelf, some stain and 4 coats of varnish to loose some of the utility look. The walnut wedges help dress it up. Yes a bit of luxury!
Lots of poplar at the shop so that’s what I’ve used.
431348
To compensate for the wood, the legs are large. The mortices and tenons are large and numerous. Each was drilled out then chopped with timber frame chisels. The tail vise makes holding the wood very easy, nothing in your way.
431349
The shoulder vise works well to pound out the tenon after test fitting.
431350
Getting near assembly, still have to make two cuts in each tenon for the 36 hand cut black walnut wedges!
431351
One side assembled, hook the leg over the shoulder vise, clamp on the cross member then plane the tenon ends.
431352
Progress, lots of pounding, glue, wedges, then clamps, tea time!
Now supporting the granite top presents a challenge, to stop it wobbling and keep it flat as possible I wanted three supports, spaced to provide the most balanced support. I used the method of circles to come up with the support points:
431353
Each circle grabs as much granite in a balanced way as possible. I wanted the small circle at the front to provide push down stability. I measured the centre’s positions to transfer to the table.
431354
The support pieces have a 1&1/2” groove, they just sit in place. Three small pads sit atop the supports. Now I could try the granite, both on the three supports and on the four legs. I measured with a straight edge and feeler gauges for both methods.
431355
The granite dips 8 thou right in the middle across the long dimension and 10 thou across the short dimension when on the 3 circle derived support points. On the four legs, with a spacer under one leg it dips 2 thou more in each direction. Clearly with 3 support points there is no wobble.
Thought I should try it out, my biggest revelation, the height at 38 & 1/2” is wonderful, I can see what I’m doing, no back strain, no wobble, rock solid. The wood may be second rate but the large dimensions make up for it.
Now I just need to add a drawer, a shelf, some stain and 4 coats of varnish to loose some of the utility look. The walnut wedges help dress it up. Yes a bit of luxury!