I have started a project to build a small display table for a pitcher and basin set I picked up from a local thrift store.  This is my first time building a table of any size, so as they say, "you learn from your mistakes".  I anticipate I will learn a lot from this project.  I don't know if I have posted on my trip to Tulsa, so if this is a repeat, please bear with me.  Last Saturday, I made a trip down to the Tulsa Woodcraft to purchase a 2"x6"x18" granite plate to aid in sharpening, checking flatness, etc.  I think I did post this in the hand tool forum, but it is relevant to this project.  I got the plate, and I was hoping to get 4 pieces of padauk 3/4"x3"x24" for the aprons around the table top, but they didn't have those sizes in stock, so I wound up with a piece of 8/4 padauk, 107"x5 1/2".  So I have some re-sawing and other milling to do, but I will still have some padauk left over for another project.  My plans include walnut for the legs, and a simulated ebony inlay about 1 inch in from the edges.  I say simulated, because I am going to miter some trim pieces around the top, with a 1/8" piece of ebony sandwiched between the trim pieces and the top.  In the picture of the glue-up set-up, you can see the granite plate, which I am using to get a flush edge on the ebony and padauk pieces along one edge, and I can trim the other edge flush after the glue dries.  I am using Titebond hide glue to extend my open time due to the complexity of the set-up.  Also using waxed paper to prevent gluing the pieces to the granite.  The basin has a circular recess in the bottom, so I am going to cut a round "registration" piece to glue to the table top to fit in to the bottom of the basin, hopefully preventing the basin from sliding off.

 

.

 

Following along on this one! Nice score on the pitcher and basin!

I agree with Lew.  As for padauk, every bit of it I've used over the years has eventual darkened up to be nearly indistinguishable from walnut.  You might want to do some research to figure out what finish (if any) can keep it the freshly sanded color over time.   With walnut legs below that may not detract from the look of the stand if the padauk goes dark.  

4D

I suppose it will darken over time.  I chose padauk because I had some left over after making the chess set for my grandson.  After gluing up the table top, I realized I didn't have enough for the aprons.  After I mill down the 8/4 piece I bought from Woodcraft, I will be back in the same boat.  Oh well, I'll just pick a smaller project next time.  

Looking forward to following your build Tom especially with your wood choices. Great score on the basin and pitcher set. Love the iridescent look of the basin as well as the pattern on both. Appreciate you taking us along.

On 10/15/2023 at 4:32 PM, Grandpadave52 said:

Appreciate you taking us along.

I don't mind taking you along, but you have to buy your own doughnuts.  

On 10/16/2023 at 8:12 PM, PostalTom said:

I don't mind taking you along, but you have to buy your own doughnuts.  

What? OH man! I'm looking forward to this build as well.

Ok, time to catch up on my progress on the table.  It's been some time since I posted on this project, so if I repeat myself, just chalk it up to old age.  I have trouble properly matching captions up with their associated pictures, but I'll do my best.

 

 

This is my completed tapering jig.

 

The glued up edging with the ebony for the simulated inlay.

 

This is the tapering jig almost set up to cut a taper.  Yes, I know, it's on the wrong side of the blade.  I did that intentionally because I discovered it's easier to set up that way without the blade and splitter in the way.  Of course, I moved it over to make the cut.

 

The mortises were done using my hollow chisel mortiser.  This is the first time I have used it since making my work bench.  Clamping it down so that I didn't wind up with it in my lap was a pain, but yet another learning experience.  I have a pair of 12" bar clamps that I filed the stop off of from the end of the bar.  Took that side of the clamp off, fed the bar up through dog holes in my bench and reinstalled the clamp.  A little awkward, but it worked.  Two more clamps on the front of the mortiser clamped it down to my bench the normal way, and it worked fine.  

 

After the mortises were cut and the legs tapered, I spent some time removing the inevitable burn marks on the legs.  That's my progress so far.  Next up is to fine tune the tenon to fit the mortises properly.

 

 

 

Really like that taper jig design, Tom!

 

After many years of use, with mine, the slots for the hold down bolts/clamps wore out and would let the bolts spin instead of tightening on the clamps. I used carriage bolts and sized the slots to capture the square portion under the head. Had to replace the base MDF with plywood. So far so good.

Thanks for the progress update pictures Tom. Good to see you in the shop again. Hopefully you're healed up now.

The top looks awesome. Love the faux inlay. Really adds to the look.

On 1/1/2024 at 11:42 AM, lew said:

Really like that taper jig design, Tom!

It wasn't my design.  I got it out of a Woodsmith magazine.  Works pretty good though.

On 1/1/2024 at 12:59 PM, Grandpadave52 said:

The top looks awesome. Love the faux inlay. Really adds to the look.

Thanks Dave.  I didn't have the confidence to make a true inlay, so I figured this would be the easier method.

8 hours ago, PostalTom said:

Thanks Dave.  I didn't have the confidence to make a true inlay, so I figured this would be the easier method.

What is simulated inlay Tom?  Those mitered corners are

Way to go, Tom! 

On 1/3/2024 at 6:23 AM, Cal said:

What is simulated inlay Tom?  Those mitered corners are

It's a simulated inlay in that the ebony does not sit in a groove.  It is a layer surrounding the table, the full thickness of the table, with padauk surrounding that.  Think of a sandwich with ebony as the meat, and the padauk as the bread.  And thanks for the comment on the miters.  That took some time and patience, but they turned out pretty good, if you don't look too close.

Thanks Tom, I kinda thought that was how it was done.

Well, I finished the table.  I had promised the gentleman who runs the thrift store where I bought the pitcher and basin that when I finished the table, I would bring him a picture of the finished product.  That was about two years ago, IIRC.  The finish on the top and legs was 3 coats of Zinsser Bullseye sanding sealer, and 3 coats of Minwax Helmsman spar varnish.  Zinsser to get the shellac base coats, and Minwax to get the UV inhibitors.  I have trouble captioning the pictures, so I will describe here.  The top pic is the finished table.  (Finally!)  And the bottom pic shows the registration disk for the basin.  Thanks for following and looking.

 

 

Tt

Turned out spectacular Tom! Thanks for sharing the project build and the finished piece. Bowl and pitcher really compliment your build. Clever idea for the bowl registration too.

4 hours ago, PostalTom said:

bottom pic shows the registration disk for the basin

Beautiful work! That registration disk is a really great idea.

Great finish on a very good design.