My first table (w/pics)

[Cliff Polubinsky]

Here are some photos of my first table - a creedence table for church. It's also my first veneer job (hammer veneer with hide glue) and my first hand cut dovetailed drawer.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a313/cpolubin/Creedence_Table_1_s_9351C.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a313/cpolubin/Creedence_Table_2_s_9366.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a313/cpolubin/Creedence_Table_Top_s_9363C.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a313/cpolubin/Creedence_Table_Drawer_s_9365C.jpg

Not perfect, but for a first attempt I'm happy with it.

Thanks for looking

Cliff

[Jim Becker]

Very nice, Cliff!! Great job all around and it's an attractive table.

[peter slamp]

I like it! Can you tell me what materials you used. This is all new to me. Thanks!

[Terry Hatfield]

Cliff,

Great job!!!! I'd have never known it was your first time on the veneer or the dovetails if you hadn't told me. Keep up the great work!!!

t

[Cliff Polubinsky]

Peter,

The frame wood is walnut. The top is 1/8" bookmatched walnut and bloodwood hammer veneered with hide glued to a plywood substrate and then trimmed with walnut.

I used the hammer veneer technique so I wouldn't have to buy a vacuum bag setup. With hammer veneering you coat the veneer and substrate with hot hide glue and then use a hammer, which is actually a kind of squeegee, to press the veneer down and squeeze the excess glue out. As the hide glue cools it pulls the veneer down tight without needing a vacuum pump or bag. Do a Google search on hammer veneering and you'll find more than enough information.

Let me know if you need any more information. Good luck.

Cliff

[Seth Poorman]

Good work Cliff

[Jesse Thornton]

Wow, helluva nice first table! Just curious, how long have you been woodworking in general?

[John Fry]

A very nice job all around, Cliff.

I really like the undercut bevel that you used as a profile on the top's framework. Your finish came out great too, what did you use?

You should be proud.

[Al Garay]

Most people build a workbench for their first project. Yours is worthy of being in a Cathedral. Very nice job. You might get more requests for pews and chairs.

[Dave Fifield]

I don't see any flaws Cliff - just a VERY NICE LOOKING table :)! Great job sir!! Keep up the good work.

I'd be curious to know how the hide glue holds up in the long run. I haven't had much luck with it. I recently repaired a chess table for someone and used hide glue to hold the new 0.25" thick inlay squares in place. The heat from the sanding process was enough to re-melt the glue and cause height problems between the squares. I ended up sanding it all very slowly and tediously by hand. I don't think I'll be using hide glue for inlay/veneer again soon.....

:Dave F.

[Hans Braul]

Gorgeous. Very nicely made. Must have taken a few hours? As a relative newbie myself I appreciate the satisfaction you must feel to have created such a beautiful object. What finish did you use?

Hans

[Billy Chambless]

Beautiful table, Cliff.

[Mike Cutler]

Very nice Cliff. Well done. The veneer job looks great!

[lou sansone]

very nice table. how did you go about piecing the veneer together? did you lay up 4 squares and then tape them together and hammer them down? or did you layup the 4 squares and hammer each one down separately ?

Lou

[John Shuk]

Can't wait to see what you do for an encore!
Very nice!

[Ken Shoemaker]

Well done... I'm sure all those who see it will be as impressed as I am....

[Mark Valsi]

very nice job !!!

[everett lowell]

Awesome work Cliff, you should be very proud of that table!...not perfect:confused:- I dont see any flaws.

[Cliff Polubinsky]

Jesse,

Took it up as an obsession (rather than hobby) a couple of years ago. I'd always played with wood a bit since a kid but didn't get serious until recently, then filled my 1 car garage with decent tools. Each project is a learning experience in one way or another.

Cliff

[Cliff Polubinsky]

A very nice job all around, Cliff.

I really like the undercut bevel that you used as a profile on the top's framework. Your finish came out great too, what did you use?

You should be proud. John,

I used General Finishes Arm-R-Seal Semi-gloss. I usually use Waterlox, but I'd run out and decided to try something new. This wasn't a easy as Waterlox but eventually I was able to get it looking right.

Cliff

[Roy Wall]

Cliff-

WOW!!! That is beautiful! Congrats on a great job......

Can you tell us more about the veneering process to make the top? HOw to cut, trim, etc...?

[Cliff Polubinsky]

very nice table. how did you go about piecing the veneer together? did you lay up 4 squares and then tape them together and hammer them down? or did you layup the 4 squares and hammer each one down separately ?

Lou Lou,

I'll have to remember that one. It would have made things a lot easier. Since this was my first veneer attempt (translate - didn't know what I was doing) I laid down the cross, then shaved the walnut pieces with a shooting board and plane until they fit properly, then glued them down. I can see where doing it in taped together quarters would be much easier. Thanks for the tip.

Cliff

[Guy Germaine]

That's your FIRST table, AND first veneer job?????:eek:

That's it, I quit!
Check Swap and Sell for a bunch of woodworking tools for sale! ;)

VERY impressive work, my friend.

[Robert Mahon]

I just have to stop looking at these projects.
They make me feel so inferior.

[John Schreiber]

I've got to say that you have set your standard high. I hope you don't feel like you have to do better for your next one.

[Dan Oliphant]

Great job and a class design, very ambitious project for a first table.

[Bill White]

Yeah, right!!! First time-sure! NOT!!! Ya gotta been doin' this stuff for years. All kiddin' aside, GREAT job. Keep 'em coming.
Bill

[Ron Jones near Indy]

Great looking table Cliff! No matter if it's your first or your hundredth, that table is one to be proud of.

[Zahid Naqvi]

first table or hundredth, doesn't matter it is still a great looking piece of furniture.

[Dave Ray]

Very pretty table Cliff. Lot of first's here, all done well. Will be looking for more good stuff from you. Merry Christmas

[Larry Norton]

If that's your first table, I can't wait to see your 10th. I've been woodworking for 17 years and nothing I've built comes even close to that. And to build it for your church makes it that much better. Ya done good, Cliff!

[Aaron Montgomery]

Great looking table Cliff! Thanks for sharing!!

[Mark Singer]

Excellent work! Very nice finished piece!

[Byron Trantham]

Great design. It is one stricking piece and it's your first?!:eek:

[Corey Hallagan]

Very nice! That is an incredible first or last veneer job.

Corey