It’s actually just friction fit together in this picture; as I type it’s in the clamps as the glue dries. Tomorrow some final touch up sanding and the first of four coats of spar varnish, then a few decades on my front porch under a couple potted plants.
There’s an education in all this oak; it looks conceptually simple compared to the shaker tables I’ve done so far, right? IT AIN’T! Each leg cambers out by 5 degrees in both directions, and that tiny difference make this project SO much more obnoxious than a table with vertical legs. Laying things out accounting for that compound miter at the top and bottom is “fun.” The upper and lower frame rails are no longer the same length, they’re different but related lengths. That lower panel? Can’t be installed with the frame assembled. Hell I didn’t even bother attaching it in any way, it’s just captive in there.
Unlike the previous tables I’ve built that are held together with floating tenons, the rails are thin and fit entirely into mortises in the legs, which meant some chisel work squaring the corners of the mortises, so I gained quite a bit of experience with chisels here.
But, another project nearing completion.
Beautiful! And thank you for the description of the progress - it’s inspiring, even though I’m far away from attempting anything like that myself at the moment.
Thanks!
I’ll tell you this, I couldn’t have gotten this done two years ago. I’ve built a lot of things over the years but very few fine woodworking projects, and last year I really started hitting it in earnest, I outfitted my backyard shed as an almost fully featured furniture shop (I can’t figure how to cram in a lathe or a band saw) and started really churning things out. And each project was a learning experience. Including this one.
Do you do any woodworking?
I do some woodcarving now and then of smaller stuff like knives and cups, but I live in cities and move around a lot, so it’s not all that convenient to get into proper woodworking. I did create a couple of outdoor benches once (that a friend still has on his balcony around a decade later), but they’re more sturdy than they are good looking!
I recently moved into a more spacious unfurnished apartment and started a three-year contract with work, and my partner and I have been discussing maybe building some furniture for it. Nothing yet though - so far just making it liveable has been the priority. :)
You might want to see if there’s a makerspace in your area open to public membership, they can be a great way to not only access tools but network with other craftsmen and take classes.
True! I’m also lucky enough to come from the countryside with a father who is an avid tool collector, so whenever I’m on holiday back home I have a lot of things available, including a lathe and a band saw. I really should make more active use of it, even though I live too far away for it to be practical to build anything big.