Coffee Table in White Oak

[Jay Aubuchon]

In the summer of 2017, a friend told me that his neighbor Gary wanted to give away some white oak. It had been sawed from a tree that fell at his previous home in 1974. Of course, I went right over and loaded it into my van. No sooner did I have it loaded than Gary mentioned that he was hoping I would make him a coffee table using some of the wood. What's more, he had several old 9 1/2" square glass aerial photo plates. Could I incorporate some into the table top?

Here's the wood in my basement, where it sat on my racks until this July.

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When we got together to talk this over in July, Gary was rather vague as to exactly what he wanted. Based on out discussion, I made a full-size cardboard mock-up to put in his living room.

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That forced Gary and his wife to make some decisions. Here's the result. I hope it is a little nicer than the cardboard version.

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We wanted to include a bit of evidence of insect damage to the tree. It is tucked up at the top of the apron on one side, so it isn't in your face.

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[Jim Becker]

Very nice execution of the idea and bravo to mocking it up first with the "client" to be sure they understood the scale, etc.

[Mark Rainey]

Very nice table Jay. What a conversation starter for some visitors to your friends house! How did you fit/joint the plates to the table top?

[George Bokros]

Nice design and excellent execution.

[Bill McNiel]

Nicely done, I believe you created a quality solution. Honestly, I do question the rounded corners on the inserts, they seem to conflict with the overall design.

[Jay Aubuchon]

Honestly, I do question the rounded corners on the inserts, they seem to conflict with the overall design.

I agree. I was out-voted by my key adviser (i.e., my wife) and, more importantly, the client.

[Jay Aubuchon]

How did you fit/joint the plates to the table top?

Each plate sits in a rabbet on the underside of the top.

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Note the gap between the plate and the sides of the rabbet. That's to allow for expansion and contraction of the table top (the frame) around the rigid glass plate (the panel). I added Space Balls to keep the plate from rattling around.

The plate is backed by white foam board. This provides good visual contrast for viewing the photo. It also provides a bit of cushioning.

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The foam board is backed by a thin piece of plywood, held in place by wooden blocks.

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[Frederick Skelly]

Very nice Jay!

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Jay, well done Sir! I like your design/solution and execution!

[Bill McNiel]

I agree. I was out-voted by my key adviser (i.e., my wife) and, more importantly, the client.

I get it. My wife, who was a woodworker and has great eye and sense of design, consults on virtually every design decision in the shop. She doesn't always "win" but her input is invaluable to me.