Thread: More Commissions - Dining table

I'm pulling up a seat to watch this table as I know it's going to be good.

SB

Next small installment, I have had a few delays so progress hasn't been very fast. I bought a Makita MLT 100 table saw (those little compact jobs) just before Christmas, I have only used it a couple of times and while I was cutting the legs for this table it died so checked out the overload and switch but looked like it may have been brushes or windings so bundled it up and took it back under warranty. The first time I have every had a dodgey Makita. Ok, back to the table, I have planed the top and trimmed the ends, flipped it over and filling a couple of holes. I used my old Noris A2 to smooth the top and then "the dog" a home made scraper plane I made in a hurry one day, I was struggling to get a job finished and the scraper plane I had was too small. I found a short piece of Red Mahogany, rounded the corners a liitle and chopped a throat through and fitted an old bent stanley blade from a 4 or 5. Worked realy well, I have since done a little more to it each time I use it. It does now have that little short blade which is a hand made Japanese blade I had made for it, crazy, the blade cost $150 and I stuck it in a bit of fire wood.This time I have drilled it and put a pull stick through (similar to the HTN Gordons) also works well (will have to post another picture of it now) Opps back to the table, ahh yeh, has a couple of holes through a couple of boards so flipped it over, plugged a couple of small ones with plastasceen? (how do ya spell plastaseen?) anyway plugged up and then taped up an open ended cavity, and put in some epoxy with a little tint. Started rebating the tops of the legs too but didn't take any pics yet. Tomorrow

In the cattledogs plasticine(?) is spelt as "modelling clay".

Nice work CH

Ah, modeling clay, that's better, thanks guys. Should have some more progress today (once I get out of the vegie patch and into the workshop).

Wow some stuff that I had no idea about. Thanks guys.

Hi Christos, which stuff is that? modeling clay
Todays activities were to again flip the top back over right side up and fill any small holes ( the ones blocked up with modeling clay) once that was done it was rebate the tops of the legs, cut some mortices and rebate the side rails. First shot is all the bits I use to mix my epoxy, the plastic fast food containers from Officeworks (about $2.50 for a bag full) I use various size syringes (from the local chemist shop) to measure things like hardener and tints/stains (used Feast Watson Proof Tint on these, few drops of black and a few of Mahogany) , its easy to get the right about and not make too big a mess. Sometimes I will use the small medicine glass. And acetone for clean up. The second shot is just starting a mortice through the top of the Redgum leg, I was just starting the mortice before going to the drill, then finishing off with the chisels. Last shot is just running the router down the length of the rails to put a small rebates in them for looks. Hope you guys find this amusing and not too dreary
See you tomorrow (cut some tennons and fit to the legs)

Beautiful looking table so far mate, some interesting tips and tricks too. I've been using the pump packs for epoxy and hardener but it's a pain for measurements when you only need a litle mix. Syringes are a great idea!

Just out of interest, how long has it taken you so far?

Hi Sandow, I haven't been working on this as much as I should, too many interuptions most of my tables take about 50 hours start to finish with slight differences depending on the design. This one is on course hours wise but need to get my finger out.

Originally Posted by Claw Hama

. Hope you guys find this amusing and not too dreary...)

Not at all. It's been weeks since I got into the shed (for various reasons). Watching others make progress on a project is good therapy. Keep it up!

ajw

Ah Friday arvo, isn't it great to kick back after another week at the office. Office work today consisted of cutting tenons on the rails of the table. I like to make strong joints on my tables because more than likely tables in the course of there life will be dragged around a little, maybe some impromtu table dancing who knows so when the tops of these legs were to be "only" 65mm sq which ment the tennon would only be about 50mm on one side and 30ish on the other, I thought I would step the tenon to give both a bit of length. I fitted them all as full tenons then went back and took out the notch where their opposite would fit. All fitted snugley into there mortices with their buddies I gave the who frame a dryrun. Good all fitting well, time to glue. Both ends are glued up, tomorrow, yes Saturday I will glue in the long side rails so I will be ready for a big day sanding, sealing, filling etc on Monday.
When glueing the legs I often use these stainless steel shelf brackets, they are just the right shape and size to clamp inside 90deg joints. I glue up, slip the joint together, clamp the bracket inside the joint with a couple or 4 clamps then put the sash clamps on and pull it all together. A quick check but as usual all square and snug.

Looking good so far.
Enjoying this thread, clear explanations of the process.

The timber on those legs look like they will come up nice when the finish goes on.

Looking forward to the next installment.

Steven.

Originally Posted by Claw Hama

Hi Christos, which stuff is that? modeling clay

Yeah I did not know that you could use modeling clay to fill gaps.

Not boring for me.

Hi Guys, I only use the modeling clay to stop the epoxy running right through, you could use chewing gum or putty too, anything to bog up the holes while the epoxy sets. Glad you enjoy my tit bits, it only takes a few seconds to snap a pic as the job unfolds.
The Redgum legs will come up nice once finished, they are a little rough at present, they were rather dry and cracked but will look good with a little TLC. Great grain in them.