Episode 11- Arts & Crafts Table (part 1)

February 14, 2007 | Filed Under Blog, Projects, Video 

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For the very first time on The Wood Whisperer, we are going to build a full piece of furniture. I had a commission recently for a beautiful Arts & Crafts table made of alder. Only problem was, I needed to get it done quickly. And unfortunately, trying to film a podcast at the same time would prove detrimental to my promised time-frame. But since I felt this was a great project for you to see, I filmed as much as a I could and as fast as I could. So if things look a bit rushed or not as polished as usual, cut me a little slack.

Here’s the final cut list: Table Top: 36″W x 72″L (4) Legs: 29 1/4″L x 3″W x 3″T (2) Long Aprons: 64″L x 3 1/2″W x 3/4″T (4) Short Aprons: 28″L x 3 1/2″W x 3/4″T (8) Side Slats: 16 1/4″L x 3″W x 1/2″ T

Note: I will be using the Festool Domino to construct this entire project. If you plan on cutting traditional integral tenons for this project, please include 3″ extra length on all apron pieces for 1 1/2″ tenons, and 2″ extra length on all side slats for 1″ tenons.

In part 1 of this episode, I show you the process that I go through whenever I begin a new project. This involves some educated guesses and the use of SketchUp, a free program that allows you to easily draw 3D renderings.


Comments

12 Responses to “Episode 11- Arts & Crafts Table (part 1)”

  1. Paul Comi on February 15th, 2007 9:00 am

    Marc,

    That was a good idea of explaining how a project begins from the point of a picture - to sketchup - and the thinking that we go through in building a custom piece of furniture. As someone who got into woodworking only 3 years ago and who learned mostly by watching NYW and reading forums and later books, the design process is the least covered subject. When watching Norm build anything, he begins from the point where he starts cutting wood and rarely covers any explanation why he chose his joinery. You keep giving this kind of “understanding-level” explanation to woodworking and you’re going to provide a valuable service. Regards

  2. bloody_peasant on February 15th, 2007 1:49 pm

    Thanks a ton Marc for the lead on to SketchUp, I’ve been looking for quite a while for a cheap 3D modeling tool, and free counts in my book :D

  3. nancy on February 15th, 2007 8:41 pm

    thanks for the advice…. after over 30 hours of trying to figure out plans and wood needs for projects I am working on at the moment.. hope sketchup helps
    love your site..

  4. Greg Watson on February 18th, 2007 2:27 pm

    Once again a great show Marc. I am a recent Sketchup convert and while I have been using it mainly for house designing it was good to see it in this application.

    Greg

  5. Ethan on February 18th, 2007 8:41 pm

    Marc,

    You’re not thinking of making me totally jealous by using some Festool Domino-looking thing for your loose tenon joinery, are you?

    Going through the project from concept to completed table is a great idea. Looking forward to seeing the rest of it!

    I’ll also give SketchUp a looksee. I’ve been meaning to check into a 3-D modeling tool for some time, and if this isn’t motivation enough, I don’t know what is.

  6. bloody_peasant on February 20th, 2007 8:37 am

    I just downloaded it and gave it a test drive, pretty simple and easy to use and the docs are well done.

    BTW to copy a component use the “Move” tool. Select the Move tool and hit your Ctrl key (or the Mac equivalent for Marc ;D) and you will notice a small + sign appear next to your Move mouse pointer. This means you are in copy mode.

    Also you can type in dimensions to create a copy and automatically move it X inches over for automatic spacing.

    To do this do the following:
    1. Select the Move tool
    2. Hit Ctrl to enter copy mode.
    3. Select the component and drag it in the direction you want to place it (keep the mouse button down).
    4. Type in the number of inches to move it and hit enter.

    It will automatically create a copy and move it that number of inches in the direction you desire.

    Really handy for creating multiple evenly spaced components.

  7. scott on February 20th, 2007 7:34 pm

    Thanks for the sketchup primer. (and for fixing whatever it was that seemed to turn the comment window into a clickable link to the above project photo - bizzarre).

    Going to enjoy the start to finish on this project. Glad your trying to make a show of it too! Your pain is our gain! Thanks for thinking of us!… Oh, and no need to apologise, looks good (apart from, what was that, a plane flying overhead ;) consider the slack, cut.

    Good luck!, we’ll be watching (and eagerly awaiting the next installments)

  8. Eric Stefl on February 21st, 2007 3:53 pm

    Marc,

    Loved this concept, can’t wait to see the rest of the videos! Do you plan on discussing the business end of the deal at all, talking about what the cost of the project was vs. what your commission was for the project? I would be very interested in something like that.

  9. randy powell on February 22nd, 2007 4:53 pm

    Marc,I enjoy your video`s. I`m such a wood working junkie an appreciate what your doing.Randy

  10. David Genrich on March 1st, 2007 11:51 am

    If you want to learn more about Sketchup as it applies to woodworking, here are some links:

    The Design Forum at Sawmill Creek is a great resource for Sketchup questions regarding to woodworking:
    http://www.sawmillcreek.org/forumdisplay.php?f=5

    Also check out the Sketchup Demo project written by David Richards. It is a great tutorial on using Sketchup to create an armoire.
    http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=43655

    For Sketchup Tutorials, check out:
    http://www.caddtutorialsonline.....rials.html

    For some Sketchup podcasts, try:
    http://www.go-2-school.com/podcasts

    Enjoy,
    David Genrich

  11. Lance Feagan on May 28th, 2007 9:51 pm

    Hi Mark, I have really enjoyed your videos and have been learning a lot as a result. I just thought I would mention to all potential Sketchup users that the free download version is for non-commercial use. I know that most people don’t read licenses, thus why I mentioned this. If you are using Sketchup for commerical gain, it wouldn’t hurt to pay the small licensing charge associated with the professional version which can be used for commercial gain.

  12. hiutopor on September 17th, 2007 2:28 am

    Hello

    Very interesting information! Thanks!

    G’night

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