RichardA Posted February 12, 2018 Report Share Posted February 12, 2018 Snug fit Lewis, looks good. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisc Posted February 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2018 It’s been a slow week for getting back to it. I’ve sanded the legs and rails to 150 and removed the corners using a block plane. I’m starting to find a lot of value in a block plane. I’ll be curious to see how an expensive plane performs next to the Stanley plane I’m using. The first leg assembly is glued. I’ll get the next one done tomorrow and then move onto the long rails. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisc Posted February 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 That was an adventure. I managed to get the final glueup for the legs and rails done. I figured out a way to extend some parallel clamps to do the glueup. Glueup was done with West Systems. The extra open time was useful. Any squeeze out was wiped down with acetone. The next step is to glue the inner support rails, give everything a final sand and begin painting. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisc Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 The inner support rails are done. Not the best but far better than my first attempt at them. Sanding is next. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisc Posted April 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2018 It’s been a while since I’ve been at this. I haven’t had time to get timber for the top till today. I think I got a reasonable match between the different pieces. I picked up a bunch of Messmate. It’s gnarly and has some character. I’ve glued 3 panels up that I’ll cleanup, run through the thicknesser and sand. After that, I’ll join the panels with hopefully minimal work to smooth it ready for finishing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted April 4, 2018 Report Share Posted April 4, 2018 Had to look that timber up. Looks like your table will be quite sturdy for several generations to use. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisc Posted April 6, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2018 A bit of work done in the last few days. The top was glued together. I don’t think I’ve sweated that much for a while. Not so much because of the heavy lifting but because this was the biggest table top I’ve done. 2.2metres x 1m. I was feeling nervous but it came together well. Ive filled a few holes with epoxy and cut it to length. I clamped a piece on the exit side of my make-do tracksaw to prevent tear out. Worked like a treat. I wet the surface with metholated spirits to get an idea of what it looks like. Im happy with it but... This will serve as a reminder about timber selection. There’s a few pieces that match well but it could’ve been better. I took my time choosing the pieces but it I should have looked a bit more. Probably should’ve found some wider timber. I’ll need to remember this for the future. Once the finish is on and it starts being used, it’ll blend in with everything and I won’t notice as much. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted April 6, 2018 Report Share Posted April 6, 2018 Nice tabletop. If you wipe boards with spirits when you are selecting the order they will go together the colors will be close to the appearance under a finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisc Posted April 7, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2018 I’ll need to remember that for the next one. Good idea. I’m going to use table buttons for attaching the top. How many is enough for a large table? I’ve drawn on the base to indicate what I was thinking. Overkill, needs more or just right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted April 7, 2018 Report Share Posted April 7, 2018 Are the buttons the figure 8 looking fasteners? I'd just consider how the top is going to move and make sure that the fasteners are not going to constrict that movement. I generally try and keep the fasteners on the members that are parallel to the direction of expansion and contraction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisc Posted April 7, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2018 I’m going with the home made variety. I understand the movement and not locking it in place just not sure of how many would be best. Theres a good article by Christian Becksvoort on keeping table tops flat. He covers a few methods of how he does these things. https://www.finewoodworking.com/media/TabletopsFlat.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted April 7, 2018 Report Share Posted April 7, 2018 Oh those are different from what i was thinking. The figure 8 guys i fear sometimes could get stuck and restain the movement. Those would slide in a gap and work great. I've done home made versions of those before as well and like them. The figure 8 guys are just less work. I think on the long rails in the end rectangles you could get away with 1 per side vs 2. So instead of 5 in a row you'd have 3. So i'd say your in the overkill stage but it's not like it's going to hurt anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted April 7, 2018 Report Share Posted April 7, 2018 Only slightly in the overkill zone but it couldn't hurt. I rub a little wax on the tongue so it doesn't stick. Domino cuts the mortice quick & easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisc Posted April 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2018 Who needs a gym when you’ve got one of these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted April 13, 2018 Report Share Posted April 13, 2018 4 hours ago, lewisc said: Who needs a gym when you’ve got one of these. My friends scoff at me when i tell them that my workout is woodworking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post lewisc Posted April 13, 2018 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted April 13, 2018 And done! Buttons installed and the top is put into place. It’s finished with chalk paint (don’t hate on it too much) and 2 coats of PolyX. The timber yard I bought the top timber from makes furniture and uses PolyX so I thought I’d give it a go. It’s easy to apply but time will tell how durable it is. We bought some cheap chairs which will serve for now. That’ll be a problem for another day. I think the design and proportions are good although it might be slightly on the tall side. I’ll see how that works out. A cushion on the chairs helps there. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted April 13, 2018 Report Share Posted April 13, 2018 When you said paint, I thought surely not, that top is fine looking. Then saw the pics and remembered the plan. Very well done Lewis. Very well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted April 14, 2018 Report Share Posted April 14, 2018 Looks nice Lewis. That would look great in my home also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted April 14, 2018 Report Share Posted April 14, 2018 Really nice Lewis I like the contrast between the legs and the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted April 14, 2018 Report Share Posted April 14, 2018 That top came out looking great Lewis. The whole table is well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisc Posted April 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2018 Thanks for the comments. I was unsure of how the base and top would come together at the end but they’ve worked out well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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