LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Project Information

Just a plain, small end table that is made entirely of scraps of quartersawn white oak. The piece stands about 24 inches tall; the top is 22 inches long and 9.5 inches wide … just big enough for coffee and a small snack. Finish is the typical Jeff Jewitt recipe I've been using for a while. You can find a link to it on one of my earlier projects.

This is the first time I've used veneer to give ray flakes to all four sides of the legs. It won't be the last, as the veneer (about 1/16th inch thick) is nearly undetectable when the sharpness of the edge is broken. Not having conventionally flatsawn grain on such a high-profile portion of the table is worth the extra work.

The table sports a little secret drawer, just big enough for the kind of stuff that floats around the family room: coasters, iPods, extra remotes and so on. I may end up putting a small Stickley pull on the drawer, which will end the secrecy, but might give just a bit of pop to an otherwise plain table. If you're inclined to comment on the table, please feel free to weigh in: Pull or no pull!

Like my other recent pieces, I've branded this with my mark, thanks to the branding iron my wife bought me for Christmas a couple years back. You can see a closeup in the fourth picture. The design of the brand is an homage to the Roycrofters mark… it's comprised of my initials (JDK) in the circle. Those letters form the trunk of a tree, which is topped with four horizontal bars that are stylized branches … and they also represent our family-my wife, our two sons and me.

Gallery

Comments

· Registered
Joined
·
1,081 Posts
Nice table, I think the extra effort on the veneer was definitely worth doing, great stain choice too. Did you re-saw the veneer or purchase?
 

· Registered
Joined
·
13 Posts
Hey, Tim: I resawed the veneer, but not for this job. It was leftover from an earlier project … I had sawn off about an eighth of an inch in order to make the sides for this big double-door bookcase. Knew it would come in very handy someday.

I used doublesided tape to stick it to a piece of melamine, good side down, then ran that through my planer.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
3,465 Posts
Love it! I also like the hidden drawer-it looks just like an apron. I'd leave it without the pull.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
19,753 Posts
Nice sturdy looking table.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
27 Posts
gorgeous figure on what you call "scrap" or leftovers. I would propose more pictures of the glue-up process for the legs, 1-side at a time, 2, more? orientation, etc.
-on the pull, you have a deep lip under the drawer (nice guide and dovetails, BTW)....no need for a pull, keep the secret.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
13 Posts
Hey, Chris…

Your point is a great one. As I've been paying more attention to other work on lumberjocks, the appeal of in-process pictures has become clear. Great teaching tools. And taking pictures of a technique I'm using would be instructive simply for my own future reference.

Unfortunately, this was kind of built on the fly … no pictures until it was finished. In fact, the "plans" were just very crude sketches in a little notebook. By the time I thought of taking photos, it was done! Unfortunately, I did the same thing with my little drop-leaf table, too.

Going forward, I'll make it a point to document projects more thoroughly.

And thanks for weighing in on the "pull-no pull" debate. Think we're leaning that way, too.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
3,337 Posts
On my project agenda is a table about this size, just a little longer, for the recliner in my office. Great workmanship, and spot on finish.

I am finding the only way to take in process pictures is to keep a camera in the shop….....so I have started doing just that. Have to keep it away from the dust, otherwise, it makes documentation much easier, and therefore it is more likely to happen.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,081 Posts
Dave, I'm on the "no pull" side of this debate. But you could always temporarily mount a pull with a dab of hot glue or doublesided tape to see how it would look.

I would like to do this veneering technique on an upcoming project but I am thinking of gluing the 1/8" or so veneer to parts and then plane it down to 1/16". Just not sure if that would cause any other issues.

@ Jim….. Ziploc baggie for the camera
 

· Registered
Joined
·
4,054 Posts
I like the no pull / hidden drawer , look / feature …this is a wonderful little table with plenty to admire already and the pull might make it overkill. : ) JMHO
 

· Registered
Joined
·
3,337 Posts
Dave
...and by the way, I vote no pull also.

Tim
Perfect advice. I did it as soon as I read this.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
13 Posts
Tim: Good thoughts, both about the temporary pull and the zip-lock for camera storage. We'll have to keep an eye on Jim's projects to see if he follows through! ;-)
 
Top