This week’s project is by David M. from Vestal, NY. David describes himself as “corporate drone” who just recently started getting into fine woodworking. His only previous woodworking experience was in 7th grade, nearly 23 years ago. His hall table is made of from cherry, features bandsawn legs and a continuous 16″ wide top!! Let’s hear the story from David himself:
I picked up the wood for this table at my local hardwood distributor, Southern Tier Hardwoods. The day I stopped in I noticed an unusual stock of wide (15-18″) 4/4 cherry planks they had just finished from raw stock. I bought all they had and figured I’d be able to start my first project with some of it – and at a minimum avoid some gluing. The intent was to use my first woodworking furniture project to replace a sofa table in our foyer. I wanted to match the theme established by a cherry mirror hangng on the wall directly above the table. I decided to match the legs to the mirror sides. My wife was skeptical that my first project would make the grade for the foyer. (my victory was to be sweet)
The table was finished with three coats of Deft lacquer and touched up with #00 steel wool. I really wish my first project looked that good. You are off to a great start David.
22 Responses to “David’s Cherry Hall Table”
Excellent new feature Marc! I like checking out other peoples projects and this give a little more background info than flickr.
David your first project looks pretty good! I like the nice wide board you had for the top.
I also think that this will be a great new thing. I am equally stoked that I loggied on tonight knowing that TWW wouldn’t let me down. Always new things here. I love it. My wife also got a kick out of the Live chat the other night. It’s always good when the wifey agrees! Keep up the good work.
David, great job- matching is no easy feat. I envy your ambition. You keep it up too.
-Getting cold up in Utah
Zach
David,
A Beautiful table for a very first project. The cherry looks really nice and glad to hear you passed the WIFE test and the project is in the house. Good work man.
David,
I am impressed by your first project. I think you should be very proud of it. It obviously did not take long for the Mrs. to put her Halloween stuff on it so it appears she loves it also. I like the way you cut a camber on the top, one of the tricks of the trade to make the top look thicker. The cherry will age and get darker very nicely!
Please note that these are all positive comment so I don’t need a talkin’ to from Nicole!! : )
Wow. It looks great. I can’t exactly remember my first project but I know it’s not sitting the foyer. Claude
Very cool looking table design. I am also impressed with Marc’s usage of Lightbox for the pictures. I have been using that nice little piece of Javascript and CSS for years and am happy whenever I see it on a sight.
Great job Marc, and great job David!!!!!
WOW! That is a beautiful table! It’s nice to know some of us “Johnny-come-latelys” who are new to the craft later in life can still make nice furniture. That’s great stuff.
Marc, thanks for adding this feature. It is nice for people to display their work, but more importantly to inspire others that they (including me) can be an amateur and make really nice furniture. Another great site addition.
Thanks to Marc for making this site what it is — THE BEST!
David, kudos to you for a fine looking piece!
Any project that will stand the scrutiny of being inside the house in plain view is quite an undertaking for a new woodworker. Congrats for having the gutts to risk making it, and keep at it! You did a nice job and future projects will only get better as you develop your own style over time.
I also like this new feature. I’d like to know more detail about a project than reported with this first project, such as type of joinery, biggest problem and how solved, or a picture of the matching mirror. Perhaps in the future Marc could comment on how he would have addressed a project’s biggest problem.
Marc, this is a great new feature, Keep it up, I check this every day!
Dave, This is a great project, not just because it’s your first in alone time but it because it did a great job!
The mirror picture was added. Will try to get the other details for future posts.
great job David – simple, elegant, and silky. The finish shimmers nicely and really makes you want to touch it. Nicely done!
David,
Great Job on the table. Beautiful choice of wood too, smart man to get all the wide cherry you could get especially the curly boards. Very nice touch designing your own piece. How did you attach the legs? Keep up the good work.
Marc,
Like the new idea.
Great job David ! Beautiful piece, and more so for your first. I too would like to know more about your technique, joinery, how you handled flattening that large top etc.
Also tell us about your shop.
Thanks for all the compliments – I really apprecite them. To answer the questions posted:
1. Given I had not done any M&T joinery yet, I was anxious to get this first piece done sooner rather than later, so I opted for glued butted joints, with pocket hole screws from the back. I used a scrap piece of wainscoting to ensure a consistent distance from the front edge. I setup the short aprons between two legs – joined them as described above – then joined the long aprons to the two leg/short apron assemblies. Seemed to work well. I then also used 45 degree corner blocks as a backup.
2. The top came to me from the local hardwood guys more or less flat – they do a great planing job there on their 24″ planer. I did have to do some minor belt sanding, but not much. The reason I first connected with Marc (WW) was because I had emailed him – asking how to deal with the large, continuous plank. My upstate NY climate has big shifts in humidity throughout the year. I was asking if I should rip it and glue it to relieve some of the stress in the grain. I was glad to hear him say that there were ways to mitigate possible cupping and prove a means for movement. (attach via fig 8 connectors!)
3. My shop is filling 1/3 of our basement. The shortlist related to this project is:
Table saw: Delta 36-981
Band saw: Hitachi CB6Y
Belt Sander: Porter Cable 371K (compact)
Clamps: Bessey 50″ / Irwin Quick Grip 36″
Pocket Hole Jig: Kreg cheapo model (~$20)
Screws: 1.25″ self-tapping
Mitre saw: Dewalt DW716 (12″)
It is small but growing – hopefully to a new structure out of the basement in the spring.
I’ve started a more complex piece, which I’ll forward pics onto Marc as it progresses. I really apprecite the feedback and find the group that frequents this site to be a good bunch. Thanks again…
-David M.
Excellent job Dave. The mirror and the table match perfectly. You’ve got a 1/3 of shop now , but just you wait it’ll be the whole basement soon. Sweet and simple, ya gotta love it! Keep at it man, great job
Really a beautiful job! Some nice materials and great execution. Hard to believe that’s your first project. Nice work
Very nice table. I especially like the legs – not an easy task. How did you attach the top? Hopefully in a way that will compensate for wood movement. Don’t get stressed about the “cheapo” pocket hole jig – the more expensive models only save you time–they don’t work any better. Cheers…
Very nice. Kind of makes me think of Frank Lloyd Wright.
David,
For a first project you did outstanding. THe table is beautiful and as mentioned earlier passed the WIFE test. Keep up the good work.
Nice table, and ditto with Marc’s comments, I too wish my first project looked that good!
hi. . I watched your footage posted on YouTube and I was impressed. I really loved what you did so I accessed the website and even my attention atrsas. consider yourself a skilled person and I want to wish you luck in what you do.