Hall Table - WA Marri & Blackwood

**jcostab** · 29th December 2011, 12:19 PM

Hi guys,

I thought I'd share some pics of a hall table I built a few weeks ago as a Christmas gift for my girlfriend.

The top is two boards of WA Marri edge joined using biscuits. I tried to get the grain to match as much as possible and filled the gum veins and knots with black tinted epoxy.

The skirts are made from some blackwood I had in the timber pile.

I'm not entirely sure what the legs are made from - they have a similar look to the Marri, but a little lighter. I tapered them on the two inside edges and joined them to the skirts using biscuits.

The table was finished with one coat of boiled linseed oil and then many dozens of coats of a light amber shellac mixture. I plan to give it a final rub down using some carnauba wax, but wanted to wait a few weeks for the finish to fully cure (probably not necessary with Shellac?).

Overall I'm very pleased with the result and everyone, including my girlfriend, loved it. I now have a long list of potential customers, although I'm sure all but my mum will pull out once they know how much I'd have to charge for my time

I also made the coat rack seen in the last picture, using an offcut of the timber the legs are made of and some ceramic cupboard handles my GF bought from a clearance shop.

Cheers,
John

**Christos** · 29th December 2011, 09:36 PM

I think it's very nice. I can see that matching the grain was always going to be a challenge.

if they do pull out just means they need a few days or months to think about it. Could do a trade of a table for tools but you have to specify the tools and brands. Might be then they know the value of you labour.

**jcostab** · 29th December 2011, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by Christos

I think it's very nice. I can see that matching the grain was always going to be a challenge.

if they do pull out just means they need a few days or months to think about it. Could do a trade of a table for tools but you have to specify the tools and brands. Might be then they know the value of you labour.

Thanks Christos. I'm happy with the result, and it gave me lots of pleasure to make.

I'm not really looking to sell anything. I was trying to imply that it took me a very, very long time to make it (because I'm slow!), rather than my time is valuable

I have promised my mum I'd make her something similar, so will keep an eye out for another nice piece of timber and get started on that soon.

Cheers,
John

**Christos** · 29th December 2011, 10:31 PM

I did misunderstand, thanks for clearing this up. I am also slow, that's the beauty of the hobby done on your own time frame. I think in time I will be faster but not so to make a living by.

**spokeshave** · 1st January 2012, 04:41 PM

Very nice piece. Great work.

I really like the way the top has come up too, very impressive.

Steven.

**jcostab** · 1st January 2012, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by spokeshave

Very nice piece. Great work.

I really like the way the top has come up too, very impressive.

Steven.

Thanks Steven, I'm really happy with it too. It's the first furniture piece I've ever completed on my own - I have a Blackwood TV cabinet that's 95% done too, which I built during a couple of semesters at the VWA, but this hall table was all me from design to finish using all my own tools - very satisfying!

I think I'm addicted now

Cheers,
John

**Pops** · 3rd January 2012, 12:19 AM

Hi John,

Great table, very elegant proportions. Well done indeed, I really likes it. And when the GF likes it you know you are on a winner.

Yes it is addictive, good isn't it?

Cheers
Pops

**pmcgee** · 3rd January 2012, 06:04 AM

I also think it's a great job there

Nice job putting the grain together on that top.

It will/would be interesting to see it 5 years from now and compare to the photos of it freshly made ... to see what extra character accumulates with time ... and to remember the enjoyment you had in making it.

Thanks for sharing your work.

Cheers,
Paul McGee

**jcostab** · 3rd January 2012, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by Pops

Hi John,

Great table, very elegant proportions. Well done indeed, I really likes it. And when the GF likes it you know you are on a winner.

Yes it is addictive, good isn't it?

Cheers
Pops

Thanks Pops. Yes I find the whole process quite addictive, including seeing the reaction on people's faces when you tell them you built it all yourself. I can't wait to get started on a new project!

Cheers,
John

**jcostab** · 3rd January 2012, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by pmcgee

I also think it's a great job there

Nice job putting the grain together on that top.

It will/would be interesting to see it 5 years from now and compare to the photos of it freshly made ... to see what extra character accumulates with time ... and to remember the enjoyment you had in making it.

Thanks for sharing your work.

Cheers,
Paul McGee

Thanks Paul.

I'm sure my girlfriend will be pleased to know that I now have a reason to stick around for 5 years - to see how my hall table ages

The grain in that timber really is spectacular. I wish I could take credit for it, but mother nature did all the hard work

Cheers,
John

**Trav** · 4th January 2012, 06:47 AM

John

great table. I love the grain in the timber top and the filled cracks look good. What did you use to tint the epoxy? And how did you fix the top to the aprons?

A table like this for the GF will go a long way towards being able to spend more time in the shed!

Great work

Trav

**Trav** · 4th January 2012, 06:48 AM

John

great table. I love the grain in the timber top and the filled cracks look good. What did you use to tint the epoxy? And how did you fix the top to the aprons?

A table like this for the GF will go a long way towards being able to spend more time in the shed!

Great work

Trav

**jcostab** · 4th January 2012, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by Trav

John

great table. I love the grain in the timber top and the filled cracks look good. What did you use to tint the epoxy? And how did you fix the top to the aprons?

A table like this for the GF will go a long way towards being able to spend more time in the shed!

Great work

Trav

Thanks Trav.

I tinted the epoxy using a commercial black tint they sold at the marine shop where I bought the epoxy (Wests System). The tint is a liquid that comes in a little clear tube.

The top is fixed to the apron using metal L brackets and screws that sit in elongated holes to allow for seasonal movement. I would have liked to have used home made wooden buttons, but didn't have the time - Christmas snuck up on me!

Thanks for your comments.

Cheers,
John

**Chief012** · 4th January 2012, 07:27 PM

Great job John, I really like the timber and the design as well. A hall table is next on my list so will use yours as a bit of motivation to get a wriggle on!! Keep it up.

Cheers

Cam

**Sawdust Maker** · 4th January 2012, 08:23 PM

Fantaboulous Table

that top is brilliant

well done

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