Popular Post wnaziri Posted January 7, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 I have a full slate projects that I want to tackle this year but I added one more while I was enjoying Christmas with our kids. Our son, who is a sophomore in college, is heading back to school to live in his frat house. He came to me and explained that he had found a really nice and inexpensive side table on Amazon and was wondering if I could pay for it. He was very sweet and pointed out that he chose it because it was cheap. I looked at it and my heart broke. It was the biggest piece of crap you ever saw. I knew what I had to do. No self respecting father, who is a wood worker, would let his son / daughter settle for that POS. But, I told him that he chose wisely and told him that I went ahead and ordered it but it would get here from China in 3-4 weeks. He was delighted. After extensive research (i.e. looking at google images), I found a beautiful piece by Paul Schürch that I plan to make and deliver to my son's frat house in 3-4 weeks. Here a pic of it (I hope it is legal to post a copy of the piece here): I happen to have one piece of 8/4 hard maple left over from my workbench build and a good variety of veneers. The legs are maple with Honduras mahogany for inlay and cladding. The table top will have tiger maple, walnut, Makore, and QS sapele veneers. I worked a few hours this week and made some progress. This will be done using the Northfield table saw exclusively, now that is all set up and optimized. Starting substrates: 8/4 maple and a small piece of Baltic Birch. Milled maple and cut BB for table top. Legs cut to size and tapered on 4 sides using a tapering jig with my table saw. Added the decorative band and cladding to each leg also. The state of the table as of today. Lesson #1 so far: joinery BEFORE tapering!!! I plan to use my Domino for the joinery. It will be a little more difficult now but should not be impossible. Plan for this weekend: sand the legs, joinery, and maybe do some of the veneer design and prelim cutting of the veneer. The precision need for the veneer work seems daunting but I am jumping into it head first. Wish me luck. Advice appreciated. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Bob Posted January 7, 2017 Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 31 minutes ago, wnaziri said: Advice appreciated. Beautiful work, no advice, well done Dad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted January 7, 2017 Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 Really cool of you to do this as a surprise for your son. I have to ask, frat house huh, are you using a beer proof finish on the table. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted January 7, 2017 Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 Looks great! You hit it on the head with joinery before tapers tho! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan G Posted January 7, 2017 Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 Looking great! How thick are the overlay pieces at the base of the legs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 7, 2017 Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 I hope you took the average weight of a drunk sorority girl into your joinery considerations ! Looks like a fun build, thanks for bringing us along for the ride . 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeslayer Posted January 7, 2017 Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 thanks for letting us tag along Wade, you're doing exactly what any woodworking father would have done, salute to you sir! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted January 7, 2017 Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 Now thats a good dad ! This looks like a really fun project. I look forward to seeing your progress. Do you have a vacuum setup? Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted January 7, 2017 Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 Wade, that is an awesome job, the table will look great! I hope your son's frat bros appreciate it as much as he surely will! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted January 7, 2017 Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 I like it. Can you show more details on the leg banding. I have never done that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaziri Posted January 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 9 hours ago, Chet K said: are you using a beer proof finish on the table. I think I will be whipping out my HVLP for its maiden voyage with some pre-cat dynamite proof lacquer. 2 hours ago, Alan G said: How thick are the overlay pieces at the base of the legs? The overlay is 1/8" so far. The top will have commercial veneer. 47 minutes ago, shaneymack said: Do you have a vacuum setup? I do not. I have been considering one for a while. I may end up buying one. The top is 16 X 16 and I may be able to get away just using clamps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted January 7, 2017 Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 I do not. I have been considering one for a while. I may end up buying one. The top is 16 X 16 and I may be able to get away just using clamps. You may be able to "get away just using clamps" but how boring is that ! With a crazy shop and tools like you have you HAVE to get a vac setup Have a look at the vacupress systems. You know you want one... Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan G Posted January 7, 2017 Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 7 minutes ago, shaneymack said: You may be able to "get away just using clamps" but how boring is that ! With a crazy shop and tools like you have you HAVE to get a vac setup Have a look at the vacupress systems. You know you want one... Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Agreed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaziri Posted January 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 8 minutes ago, Ronn W said: Can you show more details on the leg banding. Unfortunately, I did not take any pics of interim steps. However, I cut a 1/8" kerf in each leg on all sides (before I tapered the legs) and then filled with mahogany that I cut 1/8' thick. I glued two opposing sides at a time which allowed me to clamp them. The corners are not mitered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wnaziri Posted January 7, 2017 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 12 minutes ago, shaneymack said: You may be able to "get away just using clamps" but how boring is that ! With a crazy shop and tools like you have you HAVE to get a vac setup @shaneymack I WILL be getting a vacuum but I need to pace myself. Plus, stop encouraging me. Do you know how much you have cost me already with all my Festool crap (Domino XL, track saw, 3 sanders, routers, etc)? Just to show you that I am not afraid of making my tools just purrrfect, this is what I did this Christmas: I hate using sleds on my table saw. So, after looking at my options, I decided to go with a SawStop sliding table. It is amazing. By the way, I blame @wdwerker for this one. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted January 7, 2017 Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 @shaneymack I WILL be getting a vacuum but I need to pace myself. Plus, stop encouraging me. Do you know how much you have cost me already with all my Festool crap (Domino XL, track saw, 3 sanders, routers, etc)? Just to show you that I am not afraid of making my tools just purrrfect, this is what I did this Christmas: I hate using sleds on my table saw. So, after looking at my options, I decided to go with a SawStop sliding table. It is amazing. By the way, I blame @wdwerker for this one. Haha! Just here to help, Wade ! When i move to or build a bigger shop I will probably add that sliding table as well. How do you like it? Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted January 7, 2017 Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 Wade, you might consider a pile of sandbags instead of clamps for the top veneer, just to get more even pressure. While you wait for the vac press to arrive, that is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaziri Posted January 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 12 minutes ago, shaneymack said: When i move to or build a bigger shop I will probably add that sliding table as well. How do you like it? The reason I chose the SawStop was its compact size and how well its built. It really does not take much space so, don't wait. How do I like it? I LOVE it. It really makes X-cutting so simple and efficient. Making the table base took so little time. It does not have stops for 0 and 45, so you have to make sure you get it locked in place before you push your piece through. The first cut I made was off and when I looked at the gauge, it was not at 0 degrees. By pushing it, I had changed the angle. Now, I tighten it well and no further issues. I highly recommend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted January 7, 2017 Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 The reason I chose the SawStop was its compact size and how well its built. It really does not take much space so, don't wait. How do I like it? I LOVE it. It really makes X-cutting so simple and efficient. Making the table base took so little time. It does not have stops for 0 and 45, so you have to make sure you get it locked in place before you push your piece through. The first cut I made was off and when I looked at the gauge, it was not at 0 degrees. By pushing it, I had changed the angle. Now, I tighten it well and no further issues. I highly recommend it. Good to know. I think that is the only downside to it, no stops. I can't understand why they would not put atleast a stop at 90°. Is it not a pain in the butt to have to have to double check your 90° everytime after using it at a different angle? Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaziri Posted January 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 3 minutes ago, shaneymack said: Is it not a pain in the butt to have to have to double check your 90° everytime after using it at a different angle? I do wish they had the two stops. However, checking 90 takes about 4.3 seconds. The good thing is that I will rarely be cutting something other than 90. For me it was trade off and I really, really liked the build quality of the SawStop product. It is so solid. I thought it was good match for my saw. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted January 7, 2017 Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 Very cool to see this build and its looking great. Good going on the sliding table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wnaziri Posted January 9, 2017 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 I accomplished very little this weekend. We have had a cold spell and I could not get the shop HVAC system to work. So, little got done. But, I did make some progress. I was able to get all the edges of the table top done. The edge treatment is with 1/8" mahogany. I also figured a quick solution to bail me out of my mistake of tapering the table legs before the joinery. I cobbled together a jig the will hold each leg square so that I can use the Domino XL to precisely place some loose tenons. By the way, this pic clearly shows the difference in Home Depot / Lowes plywood vs Baltic Birch. Not even close. Anyway, the three sided box with the open end will hold the leg square while allowing me to use the Domino. The back end of the jig is designed to be held down by a clamp it to the workbench. I am hoping that I will never have to do this again. For the top, I considered the following veneers: tiger maple, pommelle sapele, and lacewood as the primary veneer: I plan to go with this combination of tiger maple / walnut / sapele for this table: I am really enjoying the heck out of this project and I can see myself making a couple of variants to see which one I like best. This project takes very little in the way of materials. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wnaziri Posted January 13, 2017 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 (edited) Update: spent a little more time on this project. I was dreading doing the jointery since I had prematurely tapered the legs. But, my little jig worked like a charm. I used the Domino and here is the initial dry fit of the table: I sort had to put the piece on hold, waiting for my new toy to arrive today: Really excited about putting this baby to work this weekend. You might be seeing lots more veneer pieces form me. It looks like my next purchase will be a nice scroll saw. Suggestions? Edited January 13, 2017 by wnaziri added missing word 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 Really excited about putting this baby to work this weekend. You might be seeing lots more veneer pieces form me. It looks my next purchase will be a nice scroll saw. Suggestions? Wade, is that the vacupress industrial 10 cfm??? If it is, I'm drooling. Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 Look at Joe Woodworker's site if you want to add vacuum clamping to your shop. It is so nice to hold a part from below and be able to route all 4 sides. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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