However, not long ago the Frau offered her parents that I would make them a new kitchen table. She thought it would look nice with their new kitchen.
I decided that yes, this would be a good project. The table is small, only about 3 1/2 feet by 2 feet, give or take. I had never built a kitchen table before, so thought it would be great practice for a dining table I intend to build for our other apartment.
Long story short, I got stuck in the middle of this project because we really needed a bed for our new apartment. One thing led to another, and it has been about a year since I started.
For this project I used some absolutely beautiful quater sawn oak that was 44 mm thick in the rough. I laminated the legs together to come up with legs 78 mm thick. I wanted quarter sawn grain showing on all four faces, and at first thought it would be a good answer to glue the legs up in a miter configuration that would show this grain on all four sides. I read about it in a magazine a while back. However, I didn't think this would be any fun doing by hand.
I also remember from the same article, that it was historically accurate to veneer the flat sawn faces, too. This was not difficult and it turned out brilliantly. The veneer I used was a bit lighter in color than the wood that I had, and strangely enough, it wasn't as figured as the real wood. After the finish I used of boiled linseed oil followed by paste wax, the color differences are minimal, and I think most people would probably not notice.
Joinery is pegged mortise and tennons, and I secured the top with buttons held in place with lag bolts (they happened to be at hand). This table should last a good while.
If you would like to read my other blog posts about this table build, check out some of these older posts:
Kitchen Table Finished
The Schwiegereltern Table
Boring Post
Almost Famous!
And I have a few more pictures of this table and the build on my family's blog:
Happy Clients
Table Project
This Weekend's Progress
The Latest
Nice table. I went back and read your previous posts on the table. I like the idea of using the scrub plane when making the bevels.
ReplyDeleteThe scrub worked as the perfect tool to start this. There was a lot of wood to remove. After I got close, I switched to my BU jack.
DeleteThat is a good looking table. I like the bevels on the top. They give an interesting look.
ReplyDeleteBrgds
Jonas
Thanks, Jonas. The original design comes from Frank Klaus. However, on his much larger table the bevel isn't quite so prominent. You can see it here:
Deletehttp://www.frankklausz.com/gallery_j_big.html
I think your table looks better.
ReplyDelete1) The finsh you have used looks better (to me), the one on Klaus' table is too shiny for my taste.
2) I like the darker legs better. But again it is all a matter of personal taste.