Coffee Table from Sweetgum Ovals

kelLOGg · March 18, 2019, 08:14:58 AM

I have had a challenging relationship with sweetgum but finally prevailed even on the toughest part - drying - and now I have something to show for the efforts. I started by sawing ovals and this post is what I did with the half ovals before I started sawing off the full ovals. (Note: the pics are not in order but are numbered for clarity)

1) Started sawing with the log at about 30° from the bed

3) Selected 4 of them and sawed a slot on the mill to receive a spline

4) I inserted an oak inlay and rubbed down with tung oil. Table is 4' diameter and 18" tall. My plan is to add a glass top.

2) The half ovals posing at their family reunion ;D

5) The base is WO stained with pine stain to go with the sapwood

Wudman · March 18, 2019, 10:58:35 AM

That's pretty Dang neat.

Wudman

Kindlinmaker · March 18, 2019, 11:19:55 AM

Outstanding. Very unique. This type of work is what makes tree to finish woodworking worth the effort and cost. Great piece.

AZ_builder · March 18, 2019, 12:15:34 PM

I like the idea. Very nice

Weekend_Sawyer · March 18, 2019, 12:40:33 PM

I am absolutely impressed!

rjwoelk · March 18, 2019, 12:56:18 PM

Very nice I like it.

alan gage · March 18, 2019, 02:02:19 PM

Quote from: kelLOGg on March 18, 2019, 08:14:58 AMMy plan is to add a glass top.

I thought it was a very nicely done but completely impractical table until I read through the post a second time and saw the above quote. Glad to see it will be both beautiful and functional. Nice work.

Alan

WV Sawmiller · March 18, 2019, 04:46:59 PM

Very neat concept and execution. What is the likelihood that bark will stay on? Any extra steps involved to try to preserve it that way?

Ljohnsaw · March 18, 2019, 05:41:38 PM

Quote from: WV Sawmiller on March 18, 2019, 04:46:59 PMAny extra steps involved to try to preserve it that way?

You don't expect him to spill his secrets, do you? Then he will have to fight to keep his Highly Valuable ~~Walnut~~ Sweet Gum! :D

kelLOGg · March 18, 2019, 07:47:13 PM

his Highly Valuable ~~Walnut~~ Sweet Gum!

In my dreams. However, it is a good feeling to take a much maligned and misbehaving wood and make something attractive from it. I have lots of whole ovals (bark on 360°) which I might use to make a long narrow table.

The bark is still very tightly bound to the sapwood and is quite hard, maybe because of the long kiln time it took to dry it. It was in the DH kiln for several months before it got to 8% MC. I then followed it up with sterilization at 133°F at the core. It came out of the kiln early Jan. The bark withstood a good bit of handling during the construction; I hope that is a good indication of its longevity. (Here's an interesting aside: the whole ovals did not crack during drying but the half ovals did where there was no bark.)

thecfarm · March 18, 2019, 07:56:22 PM

I could say that will be a nice looking table. But it all ready is a nice looking table. A great idea.

WDH · March 18, 2019, 09:09:05 PM

DanG-gum that is fine!

kelLOGg · March 19, 2019, 06:58:20 AM

The glass top is going to cost me an arm and a leg so I have a cheap "idea". Put a taller base on it and two diners will have built-in elbow rests. :D Then kid's parents can't say "get your elbows off the table"