My recent veneering extravaganza, PIX

[John Fry]

This is my first time posting a project on the creek, and I appologize if you have already seen this, either because you know me, or have already seen this on my website. But, this project is probably my favorite from the last couple of years and I wanted to put it up as my first one here. I completed this set of tables about eight months ago.

I welcome any comments and critiques, thats how I learn.

This crazy project is a veneered, inlaid, banded, and beaded set of tables that was a non commissioned project. It began as a “dare” by an interior decorator friend that I don’t really do any work for. I decided to do this set of tables not only as a challenge to myself, but also with the thought that maybe, I might pick up more work from a different design company (only time will tell). For almost nine months, I have worked on this project a few days at a time, in between paying jobs.

The set consists of two end tables and a coffee table. The visible woods are curly maple, boire, Peruvian walnut, anigre, figured anigre, and wenge. The secondary woods are mahogany and poplar.

Yes! It is wild, it is artsy to the extreme, and it is definitely NOT for those people who dislike multiple woods. I hope they at least enjoy the process.

This has been an exercise in insanity. Check this out,

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/Single.jpg

The end tables are 23” tall and the tops are just under 26” X 26”. All three tables are finished with five coats of an oil/varnish blend.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/elev%20single.jpg

This elevated shot shows the anigre veneered drawer bottom and the detail in the top.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/pair.jpg

Here is the pair of end tables together. This photo is to prove to you that I really did build two of 'em. Each table has over 500 pieces of wood.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/coffee%20table.jpg

And of course, the matching coffee table.


http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/Veneers.jpg

I started by prepping and resawing all the necessary maple and boire veneers, this is a bunch of stickered and clamped boire.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/Solid%20blocks.jpg

All the patterned veneers for the raised panels were sliced from glued up solid blocks of boire and curly maple.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/Panel%20veneers.jpg

Just like the larger shop sawn veneers, these were sliced and sanded to 1/16”. I cut several extra, just in case.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/Raised%20panels.jpg

The MDF substrates for the raised panels in all the aprons were beveled at 12 degrees and the beveled edges were veneered with commercial figured anigre veneers, that I had in stock.

CONTINUED.........

[John Fry]

My recent veneering extravaganza, PIX Continued

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/Cock%20bead1.jpg

I glued the patterned veneers to the panels using yellow glue and a fixture to hold the veneer centered on the face of the panel while it was clamped. Then I made another template as a router guide that the panel slid into firmly, and I routed the 1/8” grooves to hold the 1/8” bullnosed cockbeading. After mitering these tiny moldings by hand, I glued them into their grooves.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/Panel%20frames.jpg

The framework for the panels is “cross-banded” boire and a rounded over 5/16” bead of wenge. I made this by edge gluing large sheets of the boire to the substrate and then sliced the strips across the grain of the boire veneer. Then the strips of wenge were made by first using a roundover bit on both edges of a piece of solid wenge at the router table, and then ripping off the 5/16” strips. They were then glued to the veneered boire strips. Finally, on the table saw, I cut a 1/16” rabbet on the wenge so the roundover portion actually overlapped the delicate edge of the commercial veneer on the panel’s edge.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/P%20frames%20clamped.jpg

I set up stop blocks on my 45 degree miter sled and cut all the apron panel frame pieces. I used a band clamp to “set” the glued framework and then placed additional clamps to insure good contact all around.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/leg%20resaw.jpg

The anigre leg stock was purchased as 8/4 lumber and my attempt to resaw this stock down to the desired 4/4 thickness on my bandsaw resulted in two, very dull, $200.00 carbide resaw blades in one 20“ long cut! This is what they call high silica content. Wow! I wound up using my nasty looking 18T flat top ripping blade and got through it OK.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/leg%20bevel.jpg

I beveled all the leg parts (using the same blade) and taped them for the glue up.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/leg%20glueup.jpg

I glued the edges, rolled them up, and used band clamps and cauls for good pressure.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/leg%20cove.jpg

These legs will get four sided tapers, so I did as much milling as possible before doing the tapers. Here you see the cove being cut on the router table, the dadoes for the moldings on the bottom and just above the cove, have all been cut. All the mortises for the aprons have been completed at this time also.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/Panel%20recess.jpg

The bottoms of all 12 legs have been plugged with anigre blocks, the outer two faces of all the legs have been routed in the upper portion for the inlaid mini raised panels. Oh, and I have been working on the drawers too.

CONTINUED..........

[John Fry]

My recent veneering extravaganza, PIX Continued

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/Drawers.jpg

The drawer fronts were made just like the apron panels except the veneers were laid up on sold mahogany. The halfblind dovetails are inlaid with Peruvian walnut, and the sides are white poplar. I veneered the drawer bottoms with figured anigre.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/Taper%20sled.jpg

Next, I built a sled to taper the legs on the big planer with the Byrd Shelix head. To accommodate both lengths of legs and a four sided taper, I made it to be able to add blocks to change the taper angle, and a screw clamp so it would be held against stop blocks.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/tapered%20recess.jpg

After the tapers were cut, I made this router template to cut the recesses for the angled herringbone boire inlays. These had to be cut on all four surfaces of all twelve legs.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/Hbone%20veneers.jpg

To make the herringbone inlays, I edge glued strips of boire cut at about 35 degree angles. They were tapered and trimmed to fit, on the tables saw.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/legs%20wveneers.jpg

All twelve legs are inlaid and ready for the mini-panels to be glued into the upper recesses. Every recessed border will be finished off with ¼”, by ¼ round, wenge molding.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/mini%20panels.jpg

The mini panels were made exactly like the larger panels. They have beveled edges and are veneered with anigre, they had one solid center piece of boire, and it is bordered by a tiny, 1/16” bullnosed cockbead, set in a 1/16” groove. Here the finished panels are being glued into the recesses.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/wenge%20moldings.jpg

After making all the quarter round wenge molding, I mitered everything to fit on the table saw using clamps and stop blocks. The 45 degree cuts on the upper moldings were pretty easy, but because of the tapered legs, the moldings for the bottom inlays were a much different set of angles.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/wenge%20moldings2.jpg

I used a bunch of mini spring clamps to glue the moldings in place.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/C%20table%20aprons.jpg

The coffee table aprons were end glued together and then these three panel assemblies, as well as all the single panel aprons, were glued to a ½ “ Baltic birch plywood backer. Mortises were then cut in the ends with a router for the mortise and loose tenon construction.

CONTINUED.............

[John Fry]

My recent veneering extravaganza, PIX Continued

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/Banding%20blank.jpg

The top has a ½” wide wenge-maple-wenge banding. I made this by milling a flat piece of wenge at the ½” thickness and then ripped a 1/8” kerf in both edges. I glued a 1/8” thick slice of maple veneer in both kerfs.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/Banding%20resaw.jpg

Then I sliced off the banding at 1/16” thick and sanded smooth.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/top%20veneers.jpg

I taped and edge glued all the 1/16” thick shop sawn veneers together for the tops.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/top%20pressed.jpg

I used mahogany backer veneers on the undersides of the tops. This end table top is right out of the vacuum press.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/molding%20glue.jpg

The table tops were bordered and profiled with Peruvian walnut. Then I milled the profiles for all the moldings and the inlaid beading out of Peruvian walnut, and then fit, mitered, and glued them into place.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/miter%20detail.jpg

Here are a couple of detail shots. This one is of the table top's mitered corners. The outer veneer between the Peruvian walnut border and the wenge banding, is shop sawn, figured anigre that I cut from a beautiful piece of 4/4 stock. I did my best to bookmatch as many of the corners a possible.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/corner%20and%20leg.jpg

And finally, this one shows the corner block and leg in detail.


It was probably a good thing that this project had no deadline. I think being able to put it “on the shelf” for extended periods of time, prevented me from throwing it up against the wall on several occasions.

Many times I had to tell myself, "Put down the veneer and step away from the bench, NOW".

As usual, I apologize for being long winded.

I'm sorry for the "continued" segments. This ten picture size limit puts a cramp on my style,:o

Moderators, please let me know if this "continued reply" is an accepted "work around" or not.


Thanks for looking!

[Mark Rios]

All I can say is something that would get edited but.....WOW.



AMAZING and FANTASTIC.

[Brian Buckley]

Thanks John, your work is at the top. Please post more of it.

Brian

[Matt Warfield]

John,

Truly awesome workmanship!! I love the top. The sides....well, crazy is a safe description.:) I have a feeling they would be much less crazy photographed in a furnished setting to balance out the angular detail.

Like I said, awesome work!!

Matt

[Randy Long]

WOW!
Great design, very snazy

[Jack Ferrell]

I appreciate your taking the time to photograph and post this for us. Makes me want to step it up quite a few notches. That is a fantastic set of furniture. I really like it.

[Bob Marino]

John,

Welcome to the Creek. Simply incredible - thanks for sharing.

Bob

[Al Willits]

As a newbie, I'm not sure if I'm very impressed or very depressed....WOW!

Pretty nice stuff, thanks for posting.

Al.....who thinks he'll take up brain surgery now....it'll be easier...:)

[Paul Held]

That is amazing.... Paul

[Mitchell Andrus]

I am humbled by your results.

Mitch

[Jim Becker]

My mouth is hanging open so wide that I almost dribbled my latte on the keyboard...oy! Wow! Thanks for posting that pictorial. No matter what style one prefers, seeing work like this is so inspiring. And frankly, your pictorial really shows that it's "doable". The techniques are understandable and approachable.

And yes, multiple "replies" in the same thread, IMHO, is the correct way to document a project. (Doing it all in the wee hours insures that they all stay "together", too! LOL!)

[John Timberlake]

Wow, wow and wow! Not my style, but I love the work. And you did a great job of documenting the process. I can use that anytime I want to do a similar process on a smaller scale.

You asked for critiques. If I were going to make this set and had the skill (which I don't yet) and had the patience (which I never will), there a two things I would change. I think the legs look a little large for the size of the tables, but that is just my mindset from looking at Federal furniture. And I don't like the handle on the drawers. Need a handle more in keeping with the design.

Otherwise a fantastic job using a great design with terrific execution. Keep up the postings.

[Matt Wachter]

John. I read this thing when you posted on WN and I read it again here. Still as amazing now as it was then.

You should also show them the cabinet you built.

[Michael Em]

Holy !@)#(. Those pieces belong in a museum! Wow!

Michael

[Ken Garlock]

When I was a youngster, I knew a man named John Fry who was a magician. You have certainly carried on the 'magic' with your creation. It is just plain beautiful.:eek:

You have raised the bar, but why did you make it so high for the rest of us.;)

[Jim Hinze]

Suddenly I feel grossly inadequate :eek: .

Dude, simply awesome!

[Bill White]

you'll get it PERFECT.
Dang, that's some kinda workmanship. You are to be congratulated.
How many hours have you got in that project?
Bill

[Hugh Jaskok]

That is awesome work! You must have the patience of a saint.

[Steve Evans]

John

That's not bad for your first post. Did I show you a picture of the step stool that I made?? :D :D :D

That is simply stunning and the tutorial is very nicely done. Thanks

[Aaron Koehl]

That's very impressive.

[Lori Kleinberg]

WOW, AWESOME, WONDERFUL, UNBELIEVEABLE!!
Did I leave anything out? Great work.
Thank you for sharing

[Ted Calver]

Holy mackerel!! That is sooooo nice!!

[Blaine Harrison]

John,

I've seen this table before and oogled it then, just as I do now. Your attention to detail and your craftmanship is amazing. I would love to apprentice under you!

Since you said this was an "older" project that was not commissioned (unlike are most of your pieces), have you sold the set yet? If you have, do you got out of it what you put into it?

As was said previously, I agree that the legs look a bit heavy for the piece, but others will disagree. I also think that a wooden handle on the drawer (ebony??? Anigre???) would better fit the piece. That's not strong criticism at all, but I know you'll take it as intended.

Once again, beautiful work!

Blaine

[Brad Noble]

I told you guys and gals that this guy was good. I love looking at his work. I know there are others that can perform as well but John has a real knack for the details of not only doing the work but his pictorial representations are excellant. His is a teacher in some respects.

Brad

[Chris Padilla]

Uh, uh, uh, uhm...uh....this was free right? I didn't have to pay?!

[Bob Atchison]

John~

Your work is super!

Cory has some questions for a guy with your skill level about a jewelry box on a stand a few post down.

Can you help a friend out?:)

Thanks

Bob

[tod evans]

pretty slick john!

[Fred Voorhees]

Welcome! Great work and jeez, you are going to be a great addition to the lineup of great woodworkers that lurk around here. I think we all could learn something from you. Welcome again.

[John Fry]

Thanks everybody!

Here are a few answers to your questions and critiques.

As to the critiques, I have been told by quite a few that the legs appear too bulky, or stout. When I first did the concept drawings, they didn't appear that way on paper. But I agree, they could have been refined a bit more. I think the width of the aprons is a bit too wide also. They look fine on the end tables, but are too bulky on the shorter coffee table.

I learned one thing about this type of design and that is the difficulty in making any dimensional change or adjustment. Because every component is based around triangles, and the rectangles their groupings created, if I changed one dimension anywhere on the table, it obviously changed the shape of the apron assembly, and therefore required changing the whole table top's dimensions as well. This would mean the width, as well as the length, of every component on the table had to change.

The wire pulls in the primary photos, were temporarily taken off my kitchen drawers, 'cause I was so excited to shoot pix when I was finished. I agree with you sharp eyed people that they are pretty funky. This is a picture of the final pull that we put on, I think it is much better, but maybe not the ultimate pull either. I didn't want to cover too much wood.

http://www.chiselandbit.com/cgi-script/CSUpload//upload/Coffee_Table_Set%252edb/new%20pull.jpg

I have not sold this set, in fact my wife, who watches everything I make go out the door, asked me to keep it, at least for while anyway. It sits in my family/display/studio room.


Thanks again,

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

Hey John Wasn't that posted on woodnet a while babk?
I though it was pretty darn cool then.

[John Hedges]

Told you guys he was good :D.

I loved this the first time I saw it and it is just as impressive now. I have learned a ton from your posts (not that I could ever do 1% of this kind of work). I used the tapering technique with the planer on my bed posts and it worked great.

[Ted Jay]

Thanks everybody!
.................................
I have not sold this set, in fact my wife, who watches everything I make go out the door, asked me to keep it, at least for while anyway. It sits in my family/display/studio room.


Thanks again,

MAN... looks good.:eek: :eek:
So what would a set like this go for?:rolleyes:

Well, I'm off to the classified section..... to sell all my tools:(

[Kevin Blunt]

John,

Never apologize for posting pics of your work, it is more like apologizing for not posting your work. Especially when you are posting those beauties. That being said, all I can say is wow! DROOL DROOL. That is some piece of work! Excellent. Thanks fro sharing and welcome to the creek.

Kevin

[Jim Tobias]

John,
That is very, very impressive, beautiful and extremely educational!!!!!! I want to see more of your work. It will inspire all of us to dig in and try more intricate work.

Jim

[jonathan snyder]

WOW, that is amazing! I have never seen anything like it. Every day I am amazed and inspired by the fabalous work done by all you creekers.

JOnathan

[Alan DuBoff]

John,

Always a pleasure to see your work.

Simply exquisite.

[Rich Torino]

You were way past me after you said "This is my first time posting"....
Amazing work..... Welcome to the Creek

[Zahid Naqvi]

John, really appreciate the detailed photo tutorial. This one goes right in the bookmarks. Excellent work.

[Dave Shively]

Hello John,

I liked looking at those pictures before and I like looking at them again.
You are an artist in your field! I always look forward to seeing your work.

Dave (Nimrod)

[Todd Griffin]

John,
When you posted your projects "at the other place," I always made a point to read (and re-read and re-read....wipe the drool....and re-read and re-read...wipe...you get the idea :)) your posts. I have a profound respect for your craft. To me, you are Tiger Woods and I am the weekend golfer that plays golf 2 times a year (kinda true, ;)). To paraphrase a quote, "you play a game that I don't know." I don't recall who made the original statement, but it was from a professional athlete (golf, I believe) who was describing another (younger) athlete in the same sport.

As a beginning ww'er, I appreciate the detail of your posts. I also like that you link your previous threads, which allows me to look at the ones I missed.

Thank You!


Todd

[Mark Thompson-MphsTN]

Simply amazing! Thanks for taking the time to post.

[JOHN HAMMES]

John:

Who's thanking who here? We should thank you for posting this!! WoW! I just signed up today, and from stuff like this post, I'm getting the idea that any advice I get from you guys will be Expert opinions!

John Hammes :)

[lou sansone]

great educational post. I know that something like this takes time to put on the web as you have done. thanks Very impressive work.

how did you handle any type of toning of the various woods or are they all " natural" color with just a common top coat?
Lou

[John Fry]

great educational post. I know that something like this takes time to put on the web as you have done. thanks Very impressive work.

how did you handle any type of toning of the various woods or are they all " natural" color with just a common top coat?
Lou
Lou,

You hit the nail on the head. Every wood used in this project is in its natural state, and the finish is a commercial oil and varnish blend.

I have a wood sample box of over 75 samples of exotics and a few domestics that are all unstained, and finished with an oil/varnish blend. I put it together to show clients the possiblities of nature's palette of colors.

I just spread them out on a table and pick what goes well with each other.

[Troy Wilkins]

John, I swear that I have seen a table very similar to yours advertised in a magazine. I can't remember the magazine or the designer at the moment and it is driving me crazy. Please tell me that I am not losing my mind, and that I really did see what I thought I saw, and that your table was inspired by another table.
Regardless of my mental state, you do outstanding work.