Thread: Z End Table (Black Walnut)

I think that that is very impressive! Are the final tables going to be in walnut? If so I think the colour of the walnut will go really well with having smoked glass in there.

A nice bit of innovative design there, treebutcher. Look forward to seeing them finished.

Are you putting glass on the bottoms? --?

As far as I know, you are the third member of these forums to join the ranks of people who have built a Z thing.

Rocker's zigzag chair:
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=23053

and my side tables:
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=25114

Do a search for 'Rietveld' and you should find lots of discussion on the topic of Z -- and other -- objects.

Originally Posted by Wood Butcher

I think that that is very impressive! Are the final tables going to be in walnut? If so I think the colour of the walnut will go really well with having smoked glass in there.

Thanx! The tables in the pictures are the real ones, and are made of walnut, but they are unfinished. I didn't include the pics of the prototype. I made that out of scrap rock maple. I agree with you on the smoked glass. I think it will look very nice as well.


Matt

Originally Posted by zenwood

A nice bit of innovative design there, treebutcher. Look forward to seeing them finished.

Are you putting glass on the bottoms? --?

Thanx zenwood! As you have found some similar designs here, I cannot take the credit for the design in whole. I had not seen the Z-Chair. That's great! A liability issue crosses my mind though =)

I am indeed putting glass on the bottom as well. It should make for a nice storage compartment, or display for a piece of art.

Thanx again for the links and search info.


Matt

Nice one Matt. You've obviously taken care with the joinery to get strength like that. You never know who's going to be dancing on your table.

Hi Matt,

I love the design and it should look really super with glass. I was amazed that someone would have black walnut "laying around" until I saw your TX location.

Love to see the final product.

Cheers
Bob

Hi Matt,
Good looking tables, and the glass will really finish them off. I like the way you've deviated from the original Z frame by alternating the brace direction. Mighty strong too, just don't try it with the glass in!:eek:

Cheers,

Originally Posted by BobL

I was amazed that someone would have black walnut "laying around" until I saw your TX location.

Thanx Bob,

Yeah, Black Walnut is pretty common in the US. I grew up in New York State (not the city), and up there, they make pallets out of walnut, cherry, ash, beach, etc... There is just so much of it everywhere you look.

Thanx for the compliments!

Matt

Originally Posted by Andy Mac

I like the way you've deviated from the original Z frame by alternating the brace direction.

Thanx Andy,

Yes, it was actually easier that way, because there are only three different pieces you have to cut. Once you get all of the jigs set up, you could run a dozen of these things in a few hours. The hard part was figuring out all of the angles and lengths of the uprights.



Matt

Matt,

I am still not a big fan of this Z-thing. It just doesn’t do it for me. (Please don't let Rocker know )

You have done a great job, the joint looks tight and strong. Impressive work my friend.

Cheers

Originally Posted by treebutcher

Thanx Andy,

Yes, it was actually easier that way, because there are only three different pieces you have to cut. Once you get all of the jigs set up, you could run a dozen of these things in a few hours. The hard part was figuring out all of the angles and lengths of the uprights.



Matt

Matt,

That is an elegant adaptation of the Z-chair idea, and your last pic shows how strong well-made halving joints are. My original Z-chair was made with bridle joints, but I have made some more with 22.5° mitres with pinned floating tenons for reinforcement, see http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=37789 . These will be tested by being loaded with three people at an upcoming gtg of Forum members in early November.

Rocker

Wongo,

Think of it in terms of the tension between yin and yang, and then add a touch of feng shui; maybe then the concept might be more acceptable

Rocker

Originally Posted by Rocker

Matt,

That is an elegant adaptation of the Z-chair idea, and your last pic shows how strong well-made halving joints are. My original Z-chair was made with bridle joints, but I have made some more with 22.5° mitres with pinned floating tenons for reinforcement, see http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=37789 . These will be tested by being loaded with three people at an upcoming gtg of Forum members in early November.

Rocker

Rocker,

Yes, your chair is what I saw that inspired these tables. I recalled seeing the "bridle joints" (I did not know the name of it until now) and the semi-finished chair some time ago after I sketched out the table design at first. It was your chair put the seed in my brain.

I was shocked at the strength of these joint. I could probably stand on these plus another person equal to my weight.

Thanx for the info, I'll read through the thread in detail.


Matt

Those tables are an excellent adaptation, very Escherry to coin a word.

I wonder what a Sheraton, Provencal, not to mention Early American etc versions would look like? That would be interesting to see if they could be made with curves and twiddly bits yet still retain the Escher look like a square spiral, one arising out of the other unlike the zigzags that leap. Ah, a circular version, say in Lloyd-Wright style, that oughta be a challenge.