Euc. Saligna coffee table

**alex_crosby** · 25th July 2009, 03:06 PM

Hey Everyone,

Alex here - im new and was wondering if i could get some advice on the making of a coffee table from Euc. Saligna scrap pieces ive been lucky enough to aquire for free.
I am completely new to wood working and have almost no experience but want to try my hand at this.

I have tried to make a design plan in the hope that i can get some advice on the design and hopfully solve my joining dilema. i wish to be able to join the top pieces of wood to the stumps below but also want them to be non-permenant so that when i move i dont have to move the whole table in 1 piece, but be able to remove the glass top, then the 2 side top pieces, 2 stumps, and middle shelf.

Also, what is the best way to construct the middle shelf so that it is stable while pieced together but can come apart?

And does anyone have a good suggestion for the finish on this wood? clear coat? wax? dont really want to stain because i love the look of the timber and want to keep it as natural as possible.

Also, what sort of tools would i require for this sort of work? i have access to most tools via my work but would like to know what i would need so i dont make trips back and forth everytime i start a new stage of the construction.

Thanks for any advice in advance...Alex

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**Fencepost2** · 25th July 2009, 08:08 PM

Hi Alex, for someone new to woodworking this looks pretty ambitious. My concern about this particular design would be getting all the bits square and level enough to support the glass top in a manner stable enough to support mugs without them rocking and slopping the coffee around. And the glass top would have to be tough enough to carry the weight without even supports. Getting offcut segments from a round log dimensioned exactly and square enough would be a problem for me. I am keen to hear what other more experienced blokes will say. It is really good that you are asking for advice before getting in there with your saw.

**alex_crosby** · 26th July 2009, 02:34 PM

i was going to use an electric planer to flatten the rounded edge slightly so that it wouldnt rock around but because this is a project based on free timber im not too worried if it doesnt work out at all - just wanted to get into some wood working and thought this would be a way to throw myself into the deep end of it...

**Frank&Earnest** · 26th July 2009, 03:08 PM

Apart any other consideration, are you going to dress the timber, and if so, is the sketch to scale? Bark and glass don't go together, IMHO...

As far as joining, robust bolted brackets from stump to stump hidden under the middle shelf would be the easiest non-permanent solution.
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**alex_crosby** · 26th July 2009, 04:19 PM

yeah im going to dress the timber - hopefully sand back smooth and then coat with something to protect. the sketch is not at all to scale and also is not a final sketch - just a rough one i did on the computer to give people an idea of what i was wanting to do. im open to suggestions all round as i havnt started yet at all.

the glass top is going to be showing the wood - is not going to be put on the bark (was infact thinking of getting rid of as much bark as possible to show the most wood i could.

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