scott kinninger
03-09-2008, 10:08 AM
Well I started work on this thing about one year ago not too long after I got my new Grizzly 513X bandsaw, I wanted to make a table that required the bandsaw to make bent laminations and curved or shaped legs. This is my own design, but I did get the rough idea for shape of the legs from various pictures of other people's work I've found here on SMC and on the "other" wood working forum. Since I just kind of did this "on the fly" I had to make a LOT of test pieces with MDF each step along the way until I found one that I liked best, experimenting until I found the one I liked was quite time consuming. I ended up making 3 or 4 bending forms for the stretcher before I finally got it right, a couple test pieces for the shape of the bottom of the legs, 6 or 8 test pieces for the shape of the top of the legs and I think 5 test pieces for the top. I'm not real artsy so I have to sleep on some of these design ideas for a few days to determine if I really like them. The biggest challenge by far was coming up with some way to cut the tenons in the legs and the matching mortises in the stretchers at the angle required, this alone almost caused me to throw in the towel on this project but I just took my time and tried to thoroughly think it through.
The finish on the legs is two coats india ink sanding after each coat, then two coats of Zinseers clear shellac, and lastly two brushed on coats of Waterlox original. The top and stretcher got a few coats of orange dewaxed shellac followed by three coats Waterlox. It stands about 25-26 inches tall and the top is 15" diameter.
After each completed project I ask myself "If I did this again what would I do differently?". On this project I really like the look of the legs being angled backwards but it ended up making the table a little less stable than I anticipated. This was only supposed to be a 3 degree angle but for some reason (error on my part I'm sure) it sure looks like a lot more. Making the leg perpendicular to the floor would probably be a better design.
Thanks for looking and I welcome all comments. Scott
83703
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The finish on the legs is two coats india ink sanding after each coat, then two coats of Zinseers clear shellac, and lastly two brushed on coats of Waterlox original. The top and stretcher got a few coats of orange dewaxed shellac followed by three coats Waterlox. It stands about 25-26 inches tall and the top is 15" diameter.
After each completed project I ask myself "If I did this again what would I do differently?". On this project I really like the look of the legs being angled backwards but it ended up making the table a little less stable than I anticipated. This was only supposed to be a 3 degree angle but for some reason (error on my part I'm sure) it sure looks like a lot more. Making the leg perpendicular to the floor would probably be a better design.
Thanks for looking and I welcome all comments. Scott
83703
83704