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A coffee table for my nephew - #6

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A coffee table for my nephew - #6

#1

A coffee table for my nephew - #6

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

We are at the stage where the base - rail with tapered and splayed legs - is to be done next. This is the photo of the model ...


I like this base, and have chosen to replicate it. The two relevant items are the angle of the splay (which I estimated as 10 degrees), and the positioning of the ends of the legs (these appear to end in line with the carcase).

I get my Jarrah these days from an urban salvage yard, but some of it is ex-roofing beams, like this ...


It is a wonderful moment when it comes out the other end ...


I planed up a couple of these to find 4 blanks that would make the legs. Each is 450mm long. The legs will taper in the round from 40mm at the top to 25mm at the bottom.

The mortices were marked out ...


... and routed out (I have a great jig for this - just made for hard, hard woods) ..


.. leaving ...


The ends of the mortices are squared up ...


.. and then onto the lathe ...


A little tinted epoxy is needed to repair some of the resin holes ...



Next step is to determine the length of the rails. This is a no-math process that simply involves laying out the parts, with the legs at 10 degrees ...



Sawing the tenons is easy enough. The rails are 19mm (3/4") and the tenon/mortice is 1/4" wide ..


The tenon shoulder needs to be fitted flush with the leg ...


The easiest way is to use blue tape to mark the shoulders ...



The shoulder of the mortice is levelled with a chisel and rasp ..


... until each is a good fit ..


Finally, the glue up begins ...



I pulled off the clamps a short while ago ...


I'll clean it up in the morning.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: A coffee table for my nephew - #6

#2

Re: A coffee table for my nephew - #6

Barry Irby

You HAD to use the leg with the Boo-Boo? If I had any more stock it would have gone into the scrap bin. Adds Character? What?

You have done fabulous work, far beyond any skill I might even hope for. But my Eye is a bit skeptical of the 10 degree angle and the light thin rails. Perhaps in Oz you don't have the weight crisis we have here in Le Norte? Here, it would not be long before someone sat their fat arse on the coffee table. Perhaps two people. At a party. Drinking.

The answer may be some very sharp points on the bottoms of the legs, like hanger bolts ground to a needle point so they could get a grip and resist the tendency to spread. Is your nephew renting?

Re: A coffee table for my nephew - #6

#3

Re: A coffee table for my nephew - #6

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

Ha ha .. Barry! :)

Firstly, I do not know anyone who sits on a coffee table. Feet may rest on it, but bottoms never. Perhaps I move in refined circles? :)

My nephew and his fiance are unlikely to have wild parties - well, it would surprise me if they did. Or if they had friends who mistook a coffee table for a couch. They are late twenties, perhaps 30. On the conservative side.

In any event, the base is pretty strong. Jarrah is like steel. They build bridges, piers, and even roads out of it.

In any event, I will be adding substantial corner blocks to increase the stiffness and rigidity, along with a centre rail that is dovetailed at each end. What I am trying to do is keep the exterior looking sleek and slim, but will beef it up on the inside where it cannot be seen.

Oh, and the "boo-boo" cannot be seen as it faces inward. :)

Regards from Perth

Derek