Project Information
My 3 legged heart table is an original design by my wife and I. It is made of American walnut and Baltic birch plywood, designed to display heirloom keepsakes or whatever. It was another one of those projects that far exceeded my expectations for complexity. Also, it was the first furniture project in which I used Baltic birch ply other than for drawer construction.
First, I realized that virtually every component required a template to assure uniformity.
All the heart shapes were done as 1/2 then duplicated for form the full heart templates. The sets with the wave edges had to be drawn freehand since each small arch varied as you progressed around the parameter of the heart.
The wave pieces required many hours of hand sanding. Additionally they presented some challenges for assembly, since I object to using screws and nails. So I prefinished each layer before assembling. Being careful to preserve the glue surfaces for final assembly.
Then, careful locating and mortising of the Brusso hinges.
The 3 legged concept presented some challenges also. I didn't want any hardware/screws showing from the top. Yet I wanted very sturdy construction that will withstand moving or dragging the table. So I came up with an octagonal center that allowed for extra long tenons.
I don't know what you call the little cleat or whatever that holds the glass into the rabbet. But, I made a form for bent lamination.
All components were given 4 coats of General Finish's Arm-R-Seal Satin wipe-on.
The glass top was another problem. My regular source for cutting glass tried 4 times and failed. Finally had to be cut by a water-jet, which nearly doubled the materials cost. $200 just for the glass.
First, I realized that virtually every component required a template to assure uniformity.
All the heart shapes were done as 1/2 then duplicated for form the full heart templates. The sets with the wave edges had to be drawn freehand since each small arch varied as you progressed around the parameter of the heart.
The wave pieces required many hours of hand sanding. Additionally they presented some challenges for assembly, since I object to using screws and nails. So I prefinished each layer before assembling. Being careful to preserve the glue surfaces for final assembly.
Then, careful locating and mortising of the Brusso hinges.
The 3 legged concept presented some challenges also. I didn't want any hardware/screws showing from the top. Yet I wanted very sturdy construction that will withstand moving or dragging the table. So I came up with an octagonal center that allowed for extra long tenons.
I don't know what you call the little cleat or whatever that holds the glass into the rabbet. But, I made a form for bent lamination.
All components were given 4 coats of General Finish's Arm-R-Seal Satin wipe-on.
The glass top was another problem. My regular source for cutting glass tried 4 times and failed. Finally had to be cut by a water-jet, which nearly doubled the materials cost. $200 just for the glass.