Inspiration => Execution

[Todd Burch]

I set out a couple months ago to making a new dining room table for me & the Mrs. I was inspired from this picture I found in a book on Shaker furniture.

<img src="http://burchwoodusa.com/miscpix/Tables/dining_table.JPG">

The only info on it was the overall dimensions, which, we wanted ours a bit different. After a lot of sketching and profiling, this is the end result.

<img src="http://burchwoodusa.com/miscpix/Tables/trestle_table.jpg">

<img src="http://burchwoodusa.com/miscpix/Tables/trestle_breadboard.jpg">

<img src="http://burchwoodusa.com/miscpix/Tables/trestle_leg.jpg">

The dimensions are 29½" tall, 34" wide and 90" long. The top is solid cherry and the base is pine. I'll post more pictures later - gotta run to a family function this afternoon. Thanks for looking.

(And yes, The Mrs. likes it!! We can have Thanksgiving dinner now...)

[Carl Eyman]

How thick is the top and what's yhe finish on the cherry?

[John Davidson]

WOW!!! It's BEAUTIFUL!! How about some more details when you get a chance?

John

[Joe Tonich]

Todd,

You do GOOD work. That table is Excellent! I'll add it to my list of designs to choose from when I make mine. :)

Joe

[Bob Lasley]

Beeautiful Todd. The routed profile on the legs really set them off! Verry, very nice.

Bob

[Ace Karner]

Drop dead beautiful, nice detail on the understructure.

[Charles McKinley]

Hi Todd,

Another great piece! Keep them comming.

[Todd Burch]

Thanks all for the kudos. Here's some more details:

Carl - the top is 1 3/16" thick. I wouldn't go any thinner for this size top - not for structural reasons - but for the aesthetics. The finish, as it is in the picture above, is several coats of boiled linseed oil. Monday (or Tues, or Weds...) it will get 3 coats of dull lacquer to seal it up and give it some protection. It will also be set outside to get a good suntan for a few days when the weather clears up. Here's a shot of the oil getting applied.

<img src="http://burchwoodusa.com/miscpix/Tables/trestle_oiling.jpg">

Here are more details.

Top - breadboards ends, 3" wide. 4" would have been OK too. FYI - if you do this, make the table tenons at least 1 1/4" long. 1" is really too short. The ends are glued about 8" in the middle. There are 5 dowels (3/8" dia) at 3" in from either sides @ 7" centers. Guess where I bought the 3/8" dowels? Wrong - I made them with my trusty Stanley #77. If you look hard, you can see the chips flying:

<img src="http://burchwoodusa.com/miscpix/Tables/trestle_dowelmaking.jpg">

Base: 2 3/8" thick pine I cut myself over a year ago. This pine was from a stack that I never put a cover on, so it went through several wet/dry cycles. It took a truck bed load full to get enough "decent" stock to get this, and I still had to do a lot of patching. My original plan was to use milk paint on the base, but after I had used so much epoxy making repairs, filling voids where punky wood was pulled out, and regluing pine back together that had severe shakes between earlywood and latewood, I knew milk paint wasn't going to work. I went ahead and coated the entire base with epoxy to seal it, smooth it and toughen it up.


<img src="http://burchwoodusa.com/miscpix/Tables/trestle_base_raw.jpg">

I then used a high solids primer/undercoater (Clawlock) to provide a base for opaque lacquer.

<img src="http://burchwoodusa.com/miscpix/Tables/trestle_base_primered.jpg">

I then sprayed two coats of brown lacquer.

<img src="http://burchwoodusa.com/miscpix/Tables/trestle_base_brown.jpg">

I then completed the coloring with a coat of black laquer. I sanded through the black to the brown, and then clear coated the whole thing with dull lacquer. Then, a coat of dark paste wax completed the base.

The vertical leg pieces are tenoned through both the leg pieces and the upper cleats and are epoxied together. Very sturdy.

Two 10" long 1/2" bolts hold each leg assembly to the stretcher. There are captured nuts in the stretcher, permanently held in place with epoxy. I had wanted to use square head bolts, but they cost $7.50 each, plus shipping. So, I compromised and used hex head. I considered a tusk tenon, but didn't want the tenon sticking out that far.

The table is surprisingly sturdy. Can't wait to get the lacquer on it and get it inside. Again, thanks! Todd.

[Lloyd Robins]

Todd, once again the work on this site is very inspirational. The table is wonderful. Thanks for the extra information.

[Joe Tonich]

Top - breadboards ends, 3" wide. 4" would have been OK too. FYI - if you do this, make the table tenons at least 1 1/4" long. 1" is really too short. The ends are glued about 8" in the middle. There are 5 dowels (3/8" dia) at 3" in from either sides @ 7" centers. Guess where I bought the 3/8" dowels? Wrong - I made them with my trusty Stanley #77. If you look hard, you can see the chips flying:

http://burchwoodusa.com/miscpix/Tables/trestle_dowelmaking.jpg



Hey Todd, 1 question. How do you make those dowels with your "Disappearing hand"??? Tough to grab things when you can't see the grabber, EH? :rolleyes::p:D:D:D

Joe

[John Miliunas]

Todd, super job on the table! As others have said, nice attention to details. And there you went and picked one of my favorite woods again! I'm sure many, many a meal will be enjoyed on that table! :cool:

[Don Henthorn Smithville, TX]

Great job, Todd. You always do good work. I know LOYL will treasure that table and My prayers are for your family to enjoy the table for many years.

[Bruce Page]

Todd, I really enjoy seeing what you pro’s turn out. That Shaker table is stunning – I guess that’s why we call you a pro!
;)

[Terry Quiram]

Todd

Beautiful table. Must take 3 men and a boy to move it.

Terry

[Jason Roehl]

Todd,

If that had been mine, I wouldn't have covered up that mold-stained pine---that looks really cool (or "antique"). But, hey, you STILL made it come out looking great. Enjoy!

[Brad Schafer]

nothing to add except more congrats. that's a fine looking piece of work. the dowel-maker is very cool.

b

[David Blangger]

Okay Todd, you have finally done it.....I am green with envy..that is the perfect table!

[David Rose]

That is beautiful Todd! Thanks for passing the inspiration on.

David

[Glenn Clabo]

Todd...
As always...Great job! I really ... really like the whole package including your spring clamp rack. Did you buy it for holding the clamps or the bucket of finish?

[Todd Burch]

Glenn, that spring clamp racks is where I do my best thinking! (Too much thinking!)