Inlay Coffee Table in the Works.

SwampDonkey · January 21, 2008, 09:08:48 AM

Taking a pattern put together and displayed from the Making Patterns From Triangles thread, I am piecing together a coffee table using one of the patterns inlayed into the top.

Here I have biscuit jointed a few pieces, which are being held with clamps recommended by a forum member. ;) Once all the sections are glued up, I will scribe an oval off each end. Looking to have about a 30 inch wide table, by 45 inch long at the mid points. ;D

Robert Long · January 21, 2008, 09:39:41 AM

Hey Swamp Donkey 8)

That's looking nice! I am sure you are planning a boarder around that glue up.

Looking forward to seeing the table complete ;)

Robert

SwampDonkey · January 21, 2008, 10:01:48 AM

I have two more 5" sections to glue up on the end where the handles are and one more on the far end of the clamps.

I have some legs to turn and some 3" wide edging for the table underside to cut.

Left Coast Chris · January 21, 2008, 11:50:10 AM

I use aluminum bar clamps and seem to struggle with getting a flat piece in the end. The bars bow slightly and do not sit flat on the piece. Looks like you have home cut bars out of wood sitting flat on the piece? Do the clamps compress the top and bottom bars onto the piece?

Let us know how the clamps work and where to get them. Great clamping job not to mention the good looking inlay joints!

metalspinner · January 21, 2008, 12:57:35 PM

8) 8)

Love those clamps!

No way are you going to sand through those inlays either. :D What is that form of construction called, anyway? Marquetry? Any ideas on the base design yet?

LCC,
Those clamps compress in from all four directions. Woodcraft carries them. I'm sure others do, as well.

SwampDonkey · January 21, 2008, 01:56:02 PM

Quote from: metalspinner on January 21, 2008, 12:57:35 PM
No way are you going to sand through those inlays either. :D

Oh yeah? :D It took about 1 hr and 1/2 on the table sander, but I did it. I was a dust magnet by the time I finished. :D :D Just gotta touch up on the hand held belt sander after she's all glued up. ;D

QuoteWhat is that form of construction called, anyway? Marquetry?

I just call it inlay. :D What do I know? My first attempt, so don't ask too many hard questions. ;) It wasn't super perfect fit, but she's snug and just the odd hairline. A little colored fill will do magic along with some rotten stone between 2nd and third finish coats. ;D

QuoteAny ideas on the base design yet?

Yes, I just didn't draw anything up. Going to use halving joints to make a lower shelf using rails spaced about 2" apart. Just a place to stuff a book or photo album or puzzle book or whatever. ;D

SwampDonkey · January 21, 2008, 04:43:26 PM

Well I got an education today. Metalspinner mentioned this inlay work was called marquetry, so I went searching. ;D

http://www.marquetrysociety.ca

SwampDonkey · January 22, 2008, 06:25:29 AM

So, how do I scribe an ellipse on my table top ???

Refer here

SwampDonkey · January 22, 2008, 08:09:31 AM

Here is a splined joint used to make the table shelf with rails as cross members. Not sure how to join to the legs on the corners yet.

SwampDonkey · January 22, 2008, 07:17:16 PM

Here I've scribed my ellipse with my home made ovaler. My ovaler is a bit loose, you can tighten things up a bit if you take more time then I did. I would also embed a trimmed off finish nail on each corner of the underside to eliminate slippage. Maybe protrude the nail about 1/32", just barely touching the surface of the table. Your going to sand the surface afterward anyway. But mine did work well. I went around afterward and checked the geometry and made adjustments before applying a heavier line weight. It looks pretty good to me. I upgraded my mechanism from a 5" block to a 10" for a table this size.

metalspinner · January 22, 2008, 11:18:07 PM

That's looking great, SD.

That pattern reminds me of quilt patterns. Will this table be a close neighbor to your previous table?

WDH · January 23, 2008, 12:06:11 AM

SD,

That is looking good ;D.

SwampDonkey · January 23, 2008, 06:10:52 AM

Quote from: metalspinner on January 22, 2008, 11:18:07 PM
That's looking great, SD.

That pattern reminds me of quilt patterns. Will this table be a close neighbor to your previous table?

Yeah me to, to the quilt patterns. ;D It will be just across the room. ;D

SwampDonkey · January 23, 2008, 10:01:45 AM

Well, here is the table top cut out on the band saw. When carving out I left about 1/16 of an inch margin around the pencil line to give space for error. Then I took the top over to the table sander and smoothed out the rough edge to the line. Not too bad if I say so myself. ;D

You know what would go good with this table is if a some lady quilting bee put together a matching throw to toss over the back of the couch. ;D

Bro. Noble · January 23, 2008, 12:49:13 PM

Quote from: SwampDonkey on January 23, 2008, 10:01:45 AM

You know what would go good with this table is some lady to toss over the back of the couch. ;D

Sounds like an interesting next project 8) 8) 8)

SwampDonkey · January 24, 2008, 03:53:41 PM

Turned the legs today out of Y. birch. Took about an hour each to mark the reference lines and turn them out.

Got my four table legs in a row. ;D Cough.

shopteacher · January 24, 2008, 05:54:38 PM

Nice, 2 gold stars for you.

SwampDonkey · January 24, 2008, 05:59:13 PM

A little tip for turners:

If you have a steady hand or even better a template....., did you know that if you scribe the shape you want to turn on each face of your turning, that you can see the shape from the pencil lines as it turns on the lathe? Try it. ;)

WDH · January 24, 2008, 11:31:10 PM

I am with Bro. Noble. Tell me more about the lady that matches the table ;D.

SD, nice legs :D.

getoverit · January 25, 2008, 02:00:43 AM

Awesome table !!

SwampDonkey · January 25, 2008, 06:31:11 PM

Hows this for an attachment method for the table legs?

SwampDonkey · January 26, 2008, 03:03:50 PM

Here is the frame, still have to add the lower shelf framing. You can see the grooves cut further down the legs. Just wanted to show the construction on the corners.