anorexic table nearly done

[engineerone]

well we are sloooooooowly getting there, after a range of
problems.

with the help of colin cott, i have resolved, but not yet instigated a method of holding the top on. just waiting to sort out some 21/2 old fashioned screws.

not sure whether i want the curves on the top support, or would prefer a mitred cut.

the drawer sides are thin cedar, and although smells nice, is a real pita to use in such a thin section, very fragile. need to stick the drawer front on, so first question how do you do it??
the drawer box has a top so it is difficult to get to the drawer that way. i understand about using double sided tape to hold the front on, but how do you get them properly fitted and square, the final fixing will be with a couple of screws. no knob on the drawer front, it will be really only a looking drawer, so will open by pulling on the narrow chamfer at the back.

i knocked the b thing over, and although it landed on the carpet tiles, still the glue shattered on a couple of joints. gave me the chance to re do a couple of things, not least the shelf slats at the bottom. the first ones were too short, and thin. so made them slightly thicker and longer. have to put dowels in the central 3 at each end. (and repair a mistake i made )







the 1st photo shows it with a lamp on top, as designed. only by chance had the wooden based lamp but looks quite decent.

then there is a photo showing it from the drawer end, another with from the other end, and finally the top again.

so what is left, drilling for the repair and dowelling,
fitting the drawer front, and then finally fixing the top with screws through the drawer box top, and into the top itself through the supports. i will slot the supports to allow movement.

not sure yet about the drawer falling out stop.

then all it needs is a final waxing.

so have i learnt any more

oak is actually a bugger to use, particularly in small sections.
chips and marks more easily than you would like. however when finally together looks pretty good and is quite strong.

cutting the dovetails by hand becomes easier, but still time consuming, and you really do need to ensure that you have support under which ever side you mark second, so that it stays square. since thin cedar is even more fragile, you need really sharp chisels, and it is actually sensible to cut out more of the dovetail with a coping or similar saw to ensure that you only have a small amount to chisel out.

although the rod was useful, i found that during making it, i could not always rely on it. particularly when i made the legs thinner than expected

next time i will cut the mortices whilst the legs are not tapered.
now have a sliding bevel to ensure the angles are right. guess work does not always look good, but it is amazing what you can hide.

as a part timer, it takes longer cause you are always worried about the mistakes, and you spend more time than is right trying not to make them.

paul

[jfc]

You like making tables dont you ;D Looks smart mate , not sure why the top is floating off the legs but it looks good .

[engineerone]

told you it was a LIGHT table ;D

just liked the idea of the top kind of floating

paul

[engineerone]

thinking more about it jason, there is method in my madness.

if you are starting out again, you need to think about increasing your hand making skills. on both the tables i have made so far in the last 5-6 months, i have hand made the m/t's and learnt the problems with those. including the through ones.

done some hand made dovetails, and also used the plough plane to groove things. would like to try the veritas plough, think it might be easier than the stanley

i have also used a rod for the first time, and basically can understand some of where jacob is coming from, but still find it
difficult to get my head round all the time.

the legs were hand tapered, and then i made the m/t's next time will do the mortices and then taper, then do the tenons.

so my thinking is you always can find the use for a side/coffee table and if you learn that is good. also means you can use up many of the offies you have lying around. also you can mix and match materials without it looking too far off the wall.

finally, if you make a mess, you don't feel inclined to save it, but rather start bits again and make the best of it.

next of course you can think about cabinet tables, and then grow your confidence and skills that way.

paul

[engineerone]

thank gawd for easter i guess.

well finally sorted the table out, had to wait for a couple of things to ensure it was what i had thought of, and also to get the help and advice from colin cott. to whom i am really grateful for the time and effort he has expended in helping me increase my skills.

together colin and i decided to put through screws from under the drawer top into the top itself. i drilled wider holes in the supports to allow for movement, and used brass screws the tops of which i had to cut back so they would not come through. had to wait because i wanted to slotted screws to make it look better, even if they will be hidden

screwed the drawer front on too.

finally lacquered and then waxed out over this weekend.

so to provide some idea of the scale i have placed a lie nielson block plane on it.






so what other difficulties have i overcome

stuck the drawer front on with sellotape double folded and then screwed through. needed the right angle driver though cause of the size of the drawer. which is made from cedar and has the plain oak front.

in the end i used two of my combination squares to allow me to fit the top on accurately and squarely took a little time to ensure i had the overhang the same all around. wonder how any one else does this??

on the lower separated shelf, i used a pair of spacers to ensure the same gap between each long rail. the outer ones are glued top, bottom and along one side, however, since the central ones are only glued top and bottom, i decided to dowel through into the central three, and those were made from walnut kindly provided by colin.

so all that waits now, is for my client's to come and pick up the item

anyway i know it took a long time, but at least now is finished, and maybe the next one will take less long. ;D

paul