Making an Ambrosia Beetle Riddled Spalted Pecan Coffee Table

WDH · April 14, 2015, 09:10:17 PM

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 · April 14, 2015, 09:16:51 PM

Looks very nice. Love the wood!

fishpharmer · April 14, 2015, 09:29:33 PM

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

Andy White · April 14, 2015, 09:45:27 PM

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 · April 14, 2015, 10:11:25 PM

Will you run it through the Edger now? ;D

Magicman · April 14, 2015, 10:18:48 PM

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 · April 14, 2015, 11:01:15 PM

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 · April 14, 2015, 11:06:44 PM

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

customsawyer · April 15, 2015, 04:27:04 AM

Like the looks of that.

SwampDonkey · April 15, 2015, 04:53:04 AM

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 · April 15, 2015, 06:52:54 AM

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

tule peak timber · April 15, 2015, 08:35:08 AM

Yes sir , A neat looking table !

ely · April 15, 2015, 09:46:43 AM

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

LeeB · April 15, 2015, 10:04:25 AM

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 · April 15, 2015, 06:59:25 PM

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 · April 15, 2015, 07:37:49 PM

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

WDH · April 15, 2015, 08:11:01 PM

Lee,

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

POSTON WIDEHEAD · April 15, 2015, 08:14:36 PM

Quote from: WDH on April 15, 2015, 08:11:01 PM
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 · April 15, 2015, 08:22:03 PM

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

SwampDonkey · April 15, 2015, 08:44:22 PM

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

gfadvm · April 15, 2015, 09:01:57 PM

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 · April 15, 2015, 09:12:03 PM

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 · April 16, 2015, 07:12:20 AM

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 · April 16, 2015, 10:36:45 AM

Looks great. Lots of character

woodweasel · April 16, 2015, 12:20:01 PM

Very nice!!!

dablack · April 16, 2015, 04:44:06 PM

Pecan is always a beautiful wood but what you have done with it, really takes this piece over the top. Beautiful table for sure.

5quarter · April 16, 2015, 06:01:13 PM

Great table! I've got some knarly hickory slabs that are similarly "rustic". Makes me want to go dig them out. ;)
As a sidebar, a clever way to attach lower shelves to legs that was used for many years involved and eye bolt and screw. the eye bolt was threaded into the leg and the screw passed through the eyebolt into the bottom of the shelf. not only was it simple and solid, but it allowed for some shrinkage without distorting the legs.

gfadvm · April 16, 2015, 08:53:23 PM

Thanks for the reply. I'm always looking for a way to get these woods to "behave better" when drying.

ron barnes · April 17, 2015, 06:48:46 AM

Beautiful table with excellent woodworking. Thanks for posting.

Jemclimber · April 17, 2015, 07:54:26 AM

Very nice and thanks for showing. The pins are a nice touch.

Lud · April 17, 2015, 07:59:56 AM

Nic 8)e looking, Danny. Good looking table.

mesquite buckeye · April 18, 2015, 10:39:51 PM

I thought you didn't like pecan. say_what

;D

Pretty cool, by the way.

WDH · April 19, 2015, 08:07:00 AM

It is the

. Some things in life are beautiful, but they come with a kick.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · April 19, 2015, 10:44:38 AM

Quote from: WDH on April 19, 2015, 08:07:00 AM
It is the . Some things in life are beautiful, but they come with a kick.

Good 1. :D :D :D

Mooseherder · April 19, 2015, 11:05:29 AM

I don't know how I missed this project up until today. Nice table WDH.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · April 19, 2015, 11:08:06 AM

Quote from: Mooseherder on April 19, 2015, 11:05:29 AM
I don't know how I missed this project up until today. Nice table WDH.

Moose, you need to get busy and build something. Your tables are pretty nice to.

Mooseherder · April 19, 2015, 11:12:00 AM

Thanks David but yours are much nicer than mine. ;)

yukon cornelius · April 19, 2015, 12:45:27 PM

I missed this project also. that is beautiful! I have never tried anything like that maybe in the future I will

Lawg Dawg · April 19, 2015, 07:11:30 PM

yes sir that is pretty nice! I like the wood floor in the shop also!

YellowHammer · April 19, 2015, 08:18:58 PM

That's a sweet table, I bet it's got a little heft to it also. ;D

Problem with building it out of pecan, is the customers will start buying more and more of them, and then, before you know it, you'll have to mill more pecan!

WDH · April 19, 2015, 08:40:27 PM

I know. It is awful.

mesquite buckeye · April 20, 2015, 12:33:27 AM

Quote from: WDH on April 19, 2015, 08:07:00 AM
It is the . Some things in life are beautiful, but they come with a kick.

Sounds like chiltepines... ;D ;D ;D

The WoodYard · June 30, 2015, 09:16:04 PM

Maybe there is a market for ambosia beetles. I'll take a few. Your shop is too clean! I'm embarassed..

WDH · June 30, 2015, 09:44:25 PM

Rick,

Check out this thread. I am trying to make some more ambrosia beetle riddled, spalted, pecan. Next time you come down, maybe some will be ready to see.

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,84241.msg1287209.html#msg1287209

WDH · June 24, 2016, 08:51:03 PM

The customer really liked the finished coffee table. Here is the original in the customer's living room with the varnish applied for reference.

.

The reason that I am posting this is because the customer wanted a matching sofa table made from the same wood, and I had just enough to make the sofa table. The top is nicely spalted, and there are the characteristic black ambrosia beetle holes that you see in pecan. Made in the same style, but rectangular, not square. 19" wide, 24.5" long, and 24" high.

PC-Urban-Sawyer · June 25, 2016, 01:35:09 AM

Danny,

My, my, my...

That

wood is sure pretty!

Herb

SwampDonkey · June 25, 2016, 04:28:34 AM

Beautiful wood, nice work "to boot" (old saying).

ron barnes · June 25, 2016, 06:03:59 AM

Beautiful table and workmanship. Really nice.

mesquite buckeye · June 27, 2016, 02:51:41 AM

Pretty neat... ;D 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

Left Coast Chris · July 04, 2016, 02:45:59 PM

Just beautiful. Great work.

Carson-saws · July 13, 2016, 09:54:38 AM

OUTSTANDING!!....VERY nice Sir.

Czech_Made · July 13, 2016, 10:32:16 AM

Excellent!

drobertson · July 25, 2016, 08:30:33 AM

Very nice!

bkaimwood · July 28, 2016, 08:56:56 PM

You had me at ambrosia beetle ridden....

Ron Scott · August 07, 2016, 08:32:35 PM

Well done!

Den Socling · August 07, 2016, 11:45:49 PM

Isn't it strange that stuff that would have been unacceptable a few years ago is now considered pretty?

SwampDonkey · August 08, 2016, 03:33:07 PM

Depends on the local market. Anything with bug holes or stain would be tough sell in these parts. ;)

WDH · August 09, 2016, 07:41:31 AM

Rustic is in style now. I sell an amazing amount of wood for farm tables.

Darrel · August 10, 2016, 01:56:53 PM

Beautiful!

Okrafarmer · August 10, 2016, 11:33:49 PM

Very nice, Danny!

Almost thou persuadest me to be a wood-worker!

Now as far as culturing ambrosia beetles go, great going for you if you like to do it with devilish wood, but my ornery old self would envision culturing it in maple or other woods more easily milled and worked!

;D :D ;)