1 hour ago, Cal said:

Finish stated as medium walnut on maple, so you were the first one to post up maple as a likely suspect on the legs

Even a blind and lame squirrel stumbles upon a nut once in a while.

Love the look/design as well as the stain choice. Great recovery on the in-process, in effect Engineering change.. Pocket hole joinery was designed for times such as this. I keep mine in close sight all the time. Maybe I should keep some pencils in the case for emergency use.

 

Great update Cal. I'm really enjoying this thread and following the progress.

1 hour ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Even a blind and lame squirrel stumbles upon a nut once in a while.

That reminds me of one of my new  truisms- " Make a decision and stick with it. The road of life is littered with flattened squirrels that couldn't make up their minds." 

21 hours ago, Gunny said:

If you are Orthodox Christmas is Jan 7th. So you still have time.

 

That right there would be too easy Gunny, how about moving the date up instead of back...

 

Tuesday the 21st was cold and rainy, all day.  It was, after all, the first day of winter.  I had been requested to meet our daughter at a car dealership in Macon that afternoon, she had been doing her research on-line and had made an appointment to look over and test drive a new car.  Me?  I was just to be there for moral support.  In the cold.  And in the rain.

 

After breakfast I ventured out to the shop to inspect the project.  All of the parts for the main bodies were beautiful.  The tops, not so much.  The tops are a bit splotchy and muddled.  Both tops came from the same board, chosen for it's grain pattern.  What are the odds of that single board being the only one in the stack that blotched?  Pretty good I reckon.  Be that as it may; James and I set out to get them assembled.  About 11 AM the glass company called to say the glass was in and I could pick it up at my convenience.  The moment of truth approaches.  I was told the glass would be spot on the measurements I had given them.  I allowed maybe 1/16th extra in my tops.  I think I got real lucky.  Three of the glass panels fit like a glove.  One hole needed a bit of touch up.  That would have to wait until I got back from Macon.

 

 

 

That evening I used a bit of sandpaper to fix the top where needed.  Sure was glad I had gone the Watco route, it was super easy to just apply a bit more to the sanded spot.  Had I used a stain & poly I would have been in a full melt down.  Thank you son for suggesting the Watco!

 

And Gunny, daughter let us know that plans for her BF was to come in Wednesday, and they would head up to his folks on Friday.  So, some gifts would be opened on Thursday evening.  Julie knew about a coffee table, though she didn't know what it would look like.  I decided that the coffee table would be the large gift to her on Thursday 

Wednesday the 22nd had stopped raining and warmed a bit.  I went into town to the furniture store and snagged a couple of large boxes and that afternoon James helped me "wrap" the tables.  We left the boxed coffee table in plain sight in the shop and tucked the sofa table behind the rolling media cabinets.

 

Thursday was slightly warmer.  James & I spent the afternoon working outside and burning brush and a few logs.  James enjoys cooking over coals, and boy did he deliver for supper that night!  I didn't get a pic of the chicken, but it was some of the best eatin' I've done!

 

 

That evening after supper - and sorting out the cable problem as documented in a different post - we all opened a gift.  Julie was quite surprised (or said she was) with the coffee table.  She relayed as much to her sisters and friends that evening and the next day.

 

 

Just to make things interesting on Christmas day we generally open most gifts in the AM, have a big family gathering with large meal and such in mid afternoon and then open a special gift or two in the evening.  So when Julie left to go to her sister's for the afternoon's activities James & I carried the sofa table in and then went to join them.  Julie got the sofa table that evening.

 

The warming trend continued for the past week.  These last two pics were taken a couple days ago.  Sure, we had the doors open - but we didn't have the screens in.  It was actually to humid to have the windows open, but it was sure has been great (warm) out.  Supposed to change over the next couple of days.

 

 

2 hours ago, Cal said:

  Julie got the sofa table that evening.

 

The warming trend continued for the past week.  These last two pics were taken a couple days ago.  Sure, we had the doors open - but we didn't have the screens in.  It was actually to humid to have the windows open, but it was sure has been great (warm) out.  Supposed to change over the next couple of days.

Great tables. That lift top sure makes a difference

Absolutely beautiful job on those tables, Cal. As Gerald said, those glass lift up tops are spectacular. 

Spectacular Cal!!  Ya' did good...real good. Thanks for sharing your project, your home and your family.

 

BTW, when you complete your outdoor barbecue season, can I borrow those roof jacks?

@CalOh, congratulations on your Dawgs too! I wasn't a fan last night but they came to win. I WILL BE rooting for them in their next game to be sure.

Ah, my daughter was looking at my Stickley style footrests and wondering if I could make two of them to replace her coffee table so they have something they can put their feet up on.  Would be similar base to your coffee table but with an upholstered top.

4 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

Absolutely beautiful job on those tables, Cal. As Gerald said, those glass lift up tops are spectacular. 

I'm sure the furniture will be cherished for many years.  Nicely done.   Danl