Console table - WIP

[jhl.verona]

This is my first 'serious' project, so I thought I'd try something reasonably simple, plus I have space in the house for it.

The design came from the Fine Woodworking Hall table, Jonathan Crone's Hall table, Tom Buhl's Hall table, a couple of Phil Gould's Hall tables (half way down the page), and a gorgeous piece by Alan Peters in his book "Cabinetmaking the professional approach":

I've prepared a simple Sketchup model, but also built a half scale model. Making mistakes (and I made plenty) on €30 of wood is a lot cheaper than on €300 worth at full scale!

Here is the half scale model, I used a 10 cent coin, which is almost 20mm in diameter for scale.

The final console table will be 1200mm long, 300mm wide and 800mm high - that's about 47" by 12" by 31 1/2".

Here is the Sketchup model, with hopefully a better joint for the dovetails to the apron:

A rough mockup in situ (though the table is too small, the tiles are 600mm long - it should have covered two of them):

Tomorrow I hope to buy the wood, pearwood or maple for the top, and beech for the legs and aprons. While it acclimates, I'll be practicing my M&T's and other joints.

Any suggestions, comments or criticisms gratefully accepted,

John

console-table.skp

[PaulMarcel]

Nice job on the scale model; this will look great when you get it perfect in the real deal.

Pearwood will make a nice top; nice contrast to the Beech. Also is very easy to work.

My only experience with Beech is from a load of it I got locally. Right now, just thinking about it, it is probably moving. Could be the load I got, but it was enough to turn me off of Beech "until further notice" Bummer, too, because planed Beech has fantastic rays.

[jhl.verona]

I'm looking for a contrast, but not too much. Tomorrow I'll be seeing a professional woodworker who I hope will give me some advise, and sell me some wood.

I really hope to find some pearwood, as I've only heard good things about it, though I'm not sure what sizes I can expect to find.

Perhaps you have American Beech, which is a little different to European Beech? I don't know about movement, perhaps you were unlucky, but it certainly a nice wood to plane, and it's very strong for its weight.

John

[jhl.verona]

Well, it didn't quite work out the way I planned, which is par for the course.

Yesterday I met the professional, but came away with a small haul:

Instead of the Pearwood and Beech promised, I came away with a badly jointed Cherry shelf, and some American Sap Gum - called nocino in Italian. Plus some bits and pieces to play with. So, so for €50. The Cherry also has a dead knot, so I think it will be used for test pieces, but the Sap Gum looks promising.

So today I made my first visit to a more serious timber yard - legnameria. Came away with two boards (cut to fit in the car), one of evaporated Beech, the other is Ash, both 50mm thick (about 2") for €75. Much better. I added the Maple to the photo, as this is the total sum of my (current) wood stash. Well you've got to start somewhere, I suppose.

All in all a good end to the year, and a good start to the project. Happy New Year!

John

[jhl.verona]

Small quantity of progress made.

Probably the most impressive result is this:

Though that's not what most people think of as wooden furniture. Perhaps they could be a sort of bean bag, without the beans?

Managed to hand cut a piece of beech in half, without completely ruining the thing:

Made a new Ash table top (the original I'm keeping as a souvenir, "how not to do things") - wonder how I'll get it down to thickness. Not going to saw the damn thing.

Legs almost planed to thickness, stretchers and the wedges

All that in just one small month. Fast as a snail with a broken leg. Oh for the space (and cash) for some power tools...

John