Making an Ambrosia Beetle Riddled Spalted Pecan Coffee Table

[WDH]

I am making a 36" x 36" x 22" high coffee table out of 5/4 pecan that has a lot of character to say the least.  The basic design is by the customer.  The legs are 2" square pecan.  Each leg has two mortises for the aprons and a dado groove for a shelf.  The legs have inside tapers below the shelf.



 

I chamfered the edges of the boards on the top to create a planked look. 



 

The shelf is a little funky too.  All the black is from a fungus associated with the ambrosia beetle holes.  Nobody can do rustic like Mother Nature.



 

On the aprons, I put on a bead to create a shadow line.  I pegged the tenons with a 3/8" diameter, 2" long walnut peg.  This thing is never coming apart. 



 

Here is the table dry-fitted together.  Not sure how the customer will want it finished. 



 

Just a simple project.  I continue to be inspired by Tule Peak Timber. 

[Glenn1]

Looks very nice.  Love the wood!

[fishpharmer]

Neat little table, can't wait to see it with finish.

[Andy White]

Danny,
A really fine looking project you have created there! Is the planks for the top and shelf edge glued, or biscuited  or dowelled? The beading on the aprons is a good look . You sure make that  [Pecan] look great.      Andy

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Will you run it through the Edger now?  ;D

[Magicman]

I actually love Pecan lumber riddled with beetle holes contrasting with the redish heartwood.  Customers went crazy over it, and I had no trouble selling items built with it.

[WDH]

Andy,

Edge glued with biscuits.

MM,

I have some pecan logs that I am covering with planer shavings.  The shavings will get wet, and hopefully, in the heat of the summer, the logs will cook.  Also hopefully, the ambrosia beetles will go to town too, and have a party.  The wood for the table resulted when I left some pecan logs stacked off the ground, and sorta forgot them for a year.  When I sawed them, this lumber is what I got.

Serendipity. 

[beenthere]

Great looking table... anxious to see it with a finish..  (and finished too  ;D )

[customsawyer]

Like the looks of that.

[SwampDonkey]

Nice table. I like the way the aprons are joined to the corners.  ;D Never have to worry about the shelf neither, I have made a couple items with that type of shelf, plus I groove another at a 90 and fit side pieces edge glued, you'd have to bust the legs off the thing to get that shelf out. ;D

[Peter Drouin]

Nice, The work of a fine woodworker. Good job,  8) 8) 8)

[tule peak timber]

Yes sir , A neat looking table !

[ely]

that is a great looking table, I wish I was set up and had the smarts to do those joints. :P

[LeeB]

Is it glued up already? I'm a little concerned about the shelf. If it expands much it may break the legs, unless I'm seeing things wrong. Sure is pretty though. I have a whole bunch of pecan like that, if the PPB's haven't eaten it yet.

[samandothers]

WOW  really pretty.  I look forward to seeing the finish if you apply versus customer.  I am surprised by the size of the black from the Ambrosia.  I am not familar with Ambrosia riddled Pecan some that may be very common.

[SwampDonkey]

The streaks get long in maple I know. Sometimes you really have to look to find the pin hole.  :D

[WDH]

Lee, 

I have used this shelf design many times.  There is enough give in the legs to accommodate seasonal movement. 

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Lee, 
There is enough give in the legs to accommodate seasonal movement.

What about state line movement? If it fits (in my truck), it ships, 

[WDH]

You stay away from here.  I will have Julio watching for you. 

[SwampDonkey]

I've never had any trouble with that type of attachment either. 

[gfadvm]

A beautiful table with some real character. Looks like that pecan dried flat. Was this a standing dead tree when cut? My standing dead pecan and hickory have behaved better than green when being air dried.

Forgot to add that I love the joinery on this table!

[hackberry jake]

It's going to come alive once the finish gets applied. Sure looks like a rock solid table. How did you do the tennons and mortises?

[WDH]

Andy,

The tree was cut down green in March and left exposed to the elements, stacked off the ground for a year, then sawn.  I had other logs to saw, plus, the grade on these logs was not great, and I was dreading sawing them.  It was a nice surprise when I opened them up.

Jake,

I have a mortising attachment that fits on the drill press.  Like the one in the video.  It uses a square chisel with a drill bit inside it. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxyWfze3qzQ

The tenons were cut on the table saw using a tenoning jig exactly like this one.

http://www.wwgoa.com/tenoning-jig-how-to/

[lowpolyjoe]

Looks great.  Lots of character

[woodweasel]

Very nice!!!