While out prowling around with my lovely Bride the other day, I saw this old table sitting in a corner of one of the stores we were in. I notice right off (cause I'm shape like that), that it was a gate leg table. I looked at the price tag on it and did a double take. $95.00 and it said it was Walnut. I looked a little closer and I think it is Cherry but I could be wrong too. Anyway I ask the shop owner if I could pull it out and look underneath. The knuckle joint on the gate leg had been broken and someone put two triangle metal hinges on the gate legs on both sides.

Looking at the table it had some nice character to it and it my best "Picker" attempt I offered the guy 75.00 thinking the wood would probable be worth that. Well it didn't take him long at all to hand me the hand shake and agree to 75.00 - I knew I was too high!

So we brought it home and set it in the shop to become another project I will be working on at some point. I really want to get it up on the bench and take a better look at the bottom and see if the wood is Cherry or Walnut. On Sunday we were in another store that afternoon and saw on just like it with the knuckle joints intact. The price on it was $695.00. I am hoping I can repair the knuckle joints and clean up the circles on the top without doing a lot to the original finish and patina it has.

This side has a crack along the whole board, but each leaf and the top are one piece each one 21" wide. It has the original hinges in the leafs so I hope I can redo the knuckle joint on the legs. it even has the original brass/wood wheels on the bottom of the legs.

Just what I need, another project.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Update Section------------

Today, 7/13/2013 I got the Gate Leg Table up on the bench to finally see under it. Wow what a mess.

Here is the broken gate leg on one side. It is pretty bad. I am sure who ever did the repairs was not a woodworker.

Nice Hinges

The other side is the same.

The original table top was attached with pocket screws. Again a poor repair.

I am afraid to see behind this patch.

So I guess I got my work cut out to put this back to a useable gate leg table.

John,

I can relate, believe me!

Just what I need, another project.

 

Larry

Old Woodworking Machinery Forum Host

That's nicer than you described it to me John.

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Ron Dudelston
Site Administrator

Above and Beyond WoodWorks

That's a beautiful table, now. Well worth $75 IMHO. 

When you do the fefurb you plan, it will be an outstanding piece. 

Can't wait to drool over the pics!

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Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

I think you did fine John for 75 bucks. It's got a ton of character and looks decent from here. How do you plan on removing the rings?

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

Well that is a good question. I will probably try Mayonnaise first. I am hoping I don't have to go to the sanding. If I do that it will really ruin the patina I think is in the wood.

John Morris said:

I think you did fine John for 75 bucks. It's got a ton of character and looks decent from here. How do you plan on removing the rings?

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

John, if the rings are dark in color, it's in the wood man. You're sanding and refinishing, and a table that old, I am guessing it's in the wood. What color are the rings?

John Moody said:

Well that is a good question. I will probably try Mayonnaise first. I am hoping I don't have to go to the sanding. If I do that it will really ruin the patina I think is in the wood.

John Morris said:

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

Well some of them are white so I think they are just wax type rings. There may be some darker colors and that may be in the wood. I was out there tonight looking at the top and it looks like some paint on it like someone sat a paint bucket down on it. There was also a low spot that I have no idea what it is. It is about the size of a ball-pen hammer. There are some cracks but also. I really want to get it up on the bench and look it over a lot closer.

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John Moody

Site Administrator

John Moody Woodworks

http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Looks like a fun project John, it'd be nice to find a label or mark wouldn't it!

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John Morris

The Patriot Woodworker

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Yes it would. I have got to get Andrew to help me put it up on the bench and get it upside down.

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John Moody

Site Administrator

John Moody Woodworks

http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Why John, ya got a busted arm or something!!! LOL!! Sorry, I had to get that one in. How's the arm feeling by the way?

John Moody said:

http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

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John Morris

The Patriot Woodworker

/forums/uploads/ning-image001-11559-21.jpg">

It has been feeling real good till today. They worked it pretty hard yesterday in Therapy and I used it a lot at the desk here at work and my shoulder is pretty sore today. Having a hard time lifting and moving it today.

But that's okay, it will be better soon.

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John Moody

Site Administrator

John Moody Woodworks

http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Last night I got a chance to remove the metal gate hinges from the gate leg or swing leg table. This gave me a chance to look at the damage to the original knuckle joint.

This is the half of the knuckle that is attached to the apron. The bottom (table is upside down) piece it broken off complete. The top (closest to the table top) is split in half. I have hoping that I can remove this piece from the part of the apron it is glued to. If I can remove it them I will make another knuckle joint for that side.

This is the other half set in to match up. It is pretty well split also. I think I can just cut off the end of this piece and re-cut the tenons on this piece. Then drill the hole through the two pieces and install a piece of brass stock.

I too one of my block planes to the bottom of the apron and the wood is most definitely Cherry and not Walnut as they had on the label. I told the man in the store I was pretty sure it was cherry when I was looking at the grain on the top.

The other side is the same as this one.

I'll try to keep you updated as I move slowly through redoing this old table.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Very cool John, and it wouldn't be the first time a dealer called out the specie's of a wood by the color of the stain!!! LOL

You are in for some fun work, I love doing this type of work, it is very satisfying making something like this useable and pretty again. Good luck John!

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John Morris

The Patriot Woodworker

/forums/uploads/ning-image001-11556-95.jpg">

It is pretty cool to work on a table this old. Or at least appears to be old. I am always Leary of just how old something really is. Some of the projects I finish are pretty old by the time I get done with them.

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John Moody

Site Administrator

John Moody Woodworks

http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Now that's funny.

John Moody said:

It is pretty cool to work on a table this old. Or at least appears to be old. I am always Leary of just how old something really is. Some of the projects I finish are pretty old by the time I get done with them.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker