rodger. Posted February 3, 2016 Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 I have been on municipal water for about 2 years, and really miss the well I had on my previous property. I decided, after a lot of research and reading on water quality, to get a "Big Berkey" water filtration system. I have been using the Berkey for about a week, and this thing is awesome. As a bonus, it requires no electricity or water pressure. It can create clean water from swamp water, though I will never require it to do so (unless there is a zombie Apocalypse). Here is video of the system (I am not affiliated in any way, just a happy customer). So this thing is currently sitting on my counter. I need to get it out of the way, so I decided to build a table for it. I did some sketch up diagrams for something suitable. The cut out is for the spout area of the water unit. The legs will be notched to receive the lower shelf. This is a new technique for me, so I am looking forward to trying it. I will get a cutlist together soon, and then start amassing materials. If anyone has suggestions on the design, let me know and I may make some changes. I may taper the legs, but not sure yet. All other details ( beading, edge treatment, I always omit on sketchup as I find it too time consuming). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted February 3, 2016 Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 Cut your notches before you taper the legs ! I would be trying a couple of 45 degree blocks double faced taped to the domino and cut some test notches with it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted February 3, 2016 Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 Pug, which water filter did you get? I watched the video, pretty neat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted February 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 4 minutes ago, K Cooper said: Pug, which water filter did you get? I watched the video, pretty neat. I use the black filters (2) that come with the unit. I thought about doubling them for faster filtering, but its pretty quick with 2. The one accessory I would like to have is the spout that indicates water level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted February 3, 2016 Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 Sorry, I meant which dispenser did you get? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted February 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 I went with the "big berkey", which is suitable for 4 people. It's about 8" in diameter, and 20" tall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted February 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 Got started on this project. Milled up the rough stock to let it sit for the night. Will mill again tomorrow or the next day, and get ready to glue up the shelf and top. I broke down the stock before flattening, and used my "bandsaw" again. This stock is 8/4, so ripping it was a lot of effort! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted February 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 Following steve's suggestion, i tapered the legs. I think it looks better now. Now I need to think about how to do the notches. I will definitely cut the notches before I taper, and I will need to account for the depth. Will the shelf be able to go in square, or will it need a bevel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxdabroxx Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 I would use pocket screws.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 I was thinking a 45 degree clipped corner but making a test mock up is crucial. Dry assembly before glue up will let you figure out the order to follow and the clamping needed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted February 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 This is the plan so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxdabroxx Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 Should work, shelf shouldn't be able to work it's way out. Won't have much resistance to the legs splaying though, if that is a concern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted February 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2016 After doing doing more looking, I also found some tables that have a shelf directly attached to some lower stretchers. I did a quick sketch, and think this looks kinda cool. Not sure if its the winner yet, though. Regardless, I need to keep this project moving along. I decided to glue up the top, and the shelf. So i finished milling them last night, and then laminated them together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted February 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 Got some more work done on this table in the last few days. I milled and cut most of the parts to final dimension for the base. No need to show all this, as I have done so in previous journals. So the first order of business was to make a taper sled for later (needed to cut mortises first). I made the sled form 3/4 mdf and a few cut-offs from the legs. I screwed some toggle clamps on and was set to go. The leg tapers frop 1" at the bottom to a point about 7" from the top of the leg. The I cut all the dominoes in the leg blanks. There are a total of 40 mortises in this piece. I needed to offset almost all the mortises (depth) to allow for the tenons not to meet in the middle of the leg. Then I cut the tapers with the sled, and did a dry fit to get the measurement of the bottom shelf. I laid out the shelf, and then cut some 5mm dominoes. I cut one mortise on each side of the shelf extra wide, and will not glue it to the shelf (glued to apron only). This will allow the shelf to move seasonally without stressing the final piece. I decided to use "Z" clips for table top attachment, so now was the time to cut the groove. I cut a 1/4" groove about 3/8" from the top. Then I ran a bead along the bottom of the apron. I'll take a pic when I get the base out of the clamps. Up next will be cutting the top to final size, and cutting out the arc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 Great progess! You should be done this one pretty quick!! Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted February 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 here is the glued up base - top is next, then some final prep before finish. 2 hours ago, shaneymack said: Great progess! You should be done this one pretty quick!! Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Nothing too complex here, just a simple tapered leg table. I was playing with the idea of a drawer, but it wouldn't hold very much, so I let it go. I can always redesign/rebuild if I feel the need for more storage in it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 Looks nice, Pug! That's an especially interesting pose in the last photo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted February 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 10 minutes ago, wtnhighlander said: Looks nice, Pug! That's an especially interesting pose in the last photo! haha - just wanted to get it up off the floor for a quick photo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 I am quite impressed ! I love when a custom piece for a special purpose ends up looking like someone found an antique that suited the requirements exactly. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted February 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 18 minutes ago, wdwerker said: I am quite impressed ! I love when a custom piece for a special purpose ends up looking like someone found an antique that suited the requirements exactly. Thank you. Receiving praise from such a highly respected member of the comminity is very rewarding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 Super good job Pug! It may be a "simple" piece but, it was well executed! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 Great work so far. I love the tapered legs. Makes it look really elegant. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 Looking good pug. Is that cherry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 Awesome build so far Pug! I've had a Big Berkey for the last 3 years, it's incredible how well it works. I also added the fluoride and heavy metals filters to it. When I redo my kitchen, I want to do a custom stand for the Berkey with a shelf underneath to hold a cup or pot or whatever I'm filling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted February 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 10 hours ago, estesbubba said: Looking good pug. Is that cherry? Thanks! Yup, its all solid cherry. Legs came from 8/4, everything else from 4/4. 8 hours ago, Tom Cancelleri said: Awesome build so far Pug! I've had a Big Berkey for the last 3 years, it's incredible how well it works. I also added the fluoride and heavy metals filters to it. When I redo my kitchen, I want to do a custom stand for the Berkey with a shelf underneath to hold a cup or pot or whatever I'm filling. That's a good point - i didn't allow for a "stand" for a pot. The cut out will allow for easy filling, but I still need to hold the container. Food for thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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