Walnut End Tables

[Salvadore]

I made these tables for my wife and I, the sit on either side of our bed.

The construction is mortise and tenon, I used a cordless drill and chisel to make the mortise and a router table to make the tenons.

Then I used a hand saw to cut the shoulders.

I cut a small dado in the sides to except the little blocks that will hold the top to the base so the top can move with seasonal expansion and contraction.

I dovetailed to front/top apron into the legs, and used a double tenon joint for the bottom/front apron, or are they stretchers?

The drawers are made with half blind dovetails in the front and through dovetails for the back.

I hand cut the dovetails.

And one other part I find to be interesting, is I beveled the bottom of the drawer into the sides and just used one little dad of glue ion the center of the drawer front to allow the bottom (solid poplar) to expand.

So, What do you all think?

Thanks for viewing and commenting.

[jimmykx250]

Very nice work! I like the handcut dovetails. What is the finish? If you dont mind me asking how much time do you have in one or both? Just curious.

Nice job they will be around for a long time.

[Mike M]

I recently made a couple of tables that are identical in construction. The only suggestion for construction involves the double mortise and tenon. I added a small shoulder (< 1/8") on the top and bottom of the rail to cover over any chipout or inaccuracy in the fit of the mortises. It doesn't really show unless one of your picky woodworker friends removes the drawer or looks up from the bottom.

Stylewise, I cut a taper on the insides of the legs to lighten them up. The taper starts just below the apron and makes the bottom of the legs 1/4" thinner than the tops.

The dovetails look perfect. Nice job.

Mike

[Salvadore]

Thanks guys!!

I too made a small shoulder on the double tenon with my chisel.

The wife refused my wish to taper the legs and after I see the result I'm okay with them.

Having said that and having to take a week off work to make the tables I actually made all the parts for two more tables minus the drawers out of cherry with tapered legs with the hope of selling them to recoup my time. Stll in the process of installing the tops of the chert tables.

The finish is just two coats of poly follow by two cans of spray gloss poly

[Salvadore]

I have always liked the idea of building atleast one extra whatever I'm making when I can cause most of the work is setting up the tools and running the boards. Although all the hand work with these walnut tables to longer then I had hoped. But I plan on my soon to be born son to pass these tables on to his grand kids

Thanks again!!

And I'm happy I found this forum and glad to be here

[Vic]

Great job, Salvadore. Looks like some nice tight joints.

[dstring20]

Dovtails are perfect very nice.

[ChetlovesMer]

Those are beautiful. I always like Walnut. Your joints look great. The drawers look like they may last until your grandchildren's grandchildren inherit them. I would say the no taper on the legs looks good. Although, in truth, I too would have tapered them... probably. Did you mention what you used for a finish?

[Salvadore]

Thanks a lot Chet!! I hope these tables do stand the test of time!

The finish is just two coats of brushed on poly followed by 4 or 5 coats of sprayed on gloss poly.

But I made two cherry tables at the same time as these, with tapered legs!

For the finish on those i used de waxed selac cut 50/50 with denatured alcohol then two coats of stain then more selac then assembly then 5 coats of gloss sprayed poly!