34 – Sculpted End Table (1 of 6)

Video - January 11, 2008

In this episode, I start building a modern end table with some very unique legs. This video will walk you through the design phase, including discussion of inspiration, design options, and template construction. This series will be a bit of a departure from the normal presentation style of The Wood Whisperer. Usually I don’t release project footage until the project is complete, providing a seamless and smooth presentation. But if I do that on bigger projects like this, you’ll be waiting a month for another video. So instead, I will be releasing videos as I go. Should be a nice change of pace.

Discussion

Jason (cfiiman) December 7, 2007 10:48 pm

Nice episode Marc! Can’t wait to see how it turns out…

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Tomcat1066 December 8, 2007 5:23 am

Marc,

I can’t speak for everyone, but I kind of like the step by step approach you’re taking now. Helps me see the specifics on a much smaller scale, and I can actually see it helping someone do their own pieces by following your steps.

By the way, when are you doing the nightstand again? ;)

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Al Navas December 8, 2007 5:51 am

I like all of them, Marc! (Please ignore the numbers below – they help me organize my thoughts – lol )

1. I mean, the shorter format, which gives me time to think about what you *might* do next. In fact, I am already thinking, “How would I tackle the leg joinery?”. Now I can’t wait for the next episode!

and

2. The process of creating, which should (must?) be flexible, allowing for adjustments along the way.

and

3. Giving yourself a chance for recovery from mistakes – no one likes them, but they *are* are reality in what we do.

Pretty cool! Thanks for a great intro to this project!

Al

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alexander December 8, 2007 6:56 am

Great intro as usual:

Three things: 1. no powermatic or finewoodworking sponsorship on the beginning of the video(s) – aren’t they a sponsor anymore?

2. what player do you use for your website (the one that is embedded)

3. Clear, accurate, and nicely presented info as usual.

Personally i think you need to use the domino on this one. Or even dowels. Keep the technique simple enough cuz this object won’t need super strong joints. Even though in terms of strength: mortise and tennon (strongest), then dowels, then dominos. The domino machine is perfect for this application.

Thanks again

P.S. How are the donations comin’?

Reply
Brian December 8, 2007 7:03 am

Looks like it’s going to be a nice table!

If you ask me, it looked more like a Teletubbie head, rather than the Colts logo. :-)

-Brian

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Roger December 8, 2007 7:45 am

Another great video Marc! It really helps when I hear your design thought process.

I do have a couple of questions. Did you make the sample leg out of pine, poplar or what? Also, would you care to recommend any specific furniture design books?

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casey December 8, 2007 9:24 am

hey marc, great show. would a sliding dovetail be appropriate in this case?

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Jim Jones December 8, 2007 9:28 am

Great episode! Glad you are publishing the videos as you go instead of waiting to finish the project.

I am a novice wrt furniture making and several months ago, at wife’s request, I embarked on making a pair of end tables. I designed it by adapting the design of a hall table I built it earlier this year. I built a complete prototype out of scraps and which led to a few adjustments to the design like you mentioned.

I got most of the walnut cut and got sidetracked onto another 6 month project (HardiePlank siding) and now I need to finish the end tables. Your video inspires me to get my rear in gear and finish it. I need to make a couple more adjustments and a few more cuts and start assembling.

I must say, my table design is MUCH simpler than yours.

Thanks for the inspiration.

Reply
thewoodwhisperer December 8, 2007 9:31 am

Alexander- They are still our main sponsors. And some ads will come back in 2008 as part of our 2008 agreements. And donations are doing ok. Every little bit helps. And the embedded player is from our video host, Blip.tv.

Roger- The sample was made from maple. As far as specific books, I like the entire Fine Woodworking Design Book series. I look for books with lots of pics of furniture as opposed to a book that tells me how to design furniture.

Casey- A sliding dovetail would be an interesting option. Trying to get the joinery cut ahead of time would be the trick. I will think about that option. Thanks.

Thanks for all the kind responses!

Reply
baldy December 8, 2007 1:58 pm

Hey Tomcat 1066 he’ll get to those nightstand right after the coffee table!!!! LOL!!!! Sorry Marc had to say it!!!! Oh and by the way those are some sexy legs!!!

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Dean December 8, 2007 2:31 pm

Marc, from what I read in the comments everyone likes this type of podcast where you wing it. I think all of us are trying to think of ways to make the joints and then at the same time guess what you will come up with. You are making all of us think!! Imagine that.
I would like to see the shop cam back on when you are working. I miss seeing you while you are working. demonstrate those festools for us. Dean

Reply
Dean December 8, 2007 2:57 pm

I would like for all of you to consider making a donation to help keep this site going. Marc is doing a great job for us and the podcast are great. If you have ever emailed with a question you know it gets answered and not a week or two later. As far as a woodworking web site we have the best with the best instructor. The only way it could get any better is for Marc to get a TV show but then we would lose our ability to email him and get the help he provides now. All it takes is for each one of us to kick in a little. Don’t think everyone else can do it for you. The website actually needs your donations so set aside a few dollars and send them some every month and we will all be better off for it. I have sent in my donation so where is yours???? Dean Knight

Reply
Germain December 8, 2007 3:30 pm

Very effective process in this video, Marc. Although, please don’t abandon the humor which has made your videos so unique and entertaining. Also, it’s always nice to see a Nicole cameo.

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JeffH December 8, 2007 3:58 pm

Marc,

As always, your pacing of delivery and advocacy of personal interpretation of other’s work is spot on. Thanks for always stating that.

I have a couple of questions:
1) Do you still use SketchUp for prototyping/working out details? From the standpoint of visualization, I think SU is a great tool short of making 1/2 or full scale models out of cardboard. This said, I’ve had issues with its flexibility to do organic shapes quickly (such as the legs). Just curious since I first learned of SU on your site. :-)

2) Is a hip joint a candidate for the joinery on the cross pieces? I realize I may be ahead of the show on that one but it just came to me. I recently went to a seminar by Marc Adams and he demonstrated that joint. What a cool, powerful joint.

Reply
Vic December 8, 2007 6:59 pm

JeffH, I googled the hip joint and can’t find an example. Do you have any links to photos of the joint. I heard it mentioned before and want to know what it looks like.

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Lori December 8, 2007 8:15 pm

Marc….this is such an awesome subject. When it comes to design I’m like an author with writers block, I get stuck. I think most of the fear comes from making a mistake (which I hate to do), but I’ve heard time and time again that a great woodworker is not one who can duplicate a design from beginning to end, but one that can make a mistake during the production and come up with a way to work that mistake into the design. This is such a great topic…thanks for bringing it too us. Also…thank you again for all your hard work and many hours that you put into your videos and website. Can’t wait for the next video!!!

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Vic December 8, 2007 8:44 pm

Finally got a minute to watch the video, Marc. Very nice start. I look forward to getting a glimpse into your creative processes. The creativity of woodworking is what draws many of us. While it is very important to learn the technical aspects, nothing beats the creation!

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JeffH December 8, 2007 10:20 pm

Vic,

I’m not sure where any examples of it may be located. I learned about it in Marc Adams’ seminar. Adams studied Sam Maloof and indicated Maloof used it in most of his work. Marc Spagnoulo’s design reminded me of Maloof… I’ll try to provide more information. Thanks for the inquiry.

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Grant December 9, 2007 1:43 am

Another way of looking at how a design will progress might be to use a mirror as opposed to drawing it. Food for thought…

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Mark Mazzo December 9, 2007 8:28 am

Marc,

Great episode and tutorial on your process for developing a template and design ideas! I agree on the benefits of a template. I’m working on a Queen Anne period piece with Cabriole legs right now – I couldn’t have attempted the legs without a good template.

I like the step-wise alternative you’ve chosen for the videos. I think it gives a better perspective of the trades/decisions that you make along the way in the design/build process.

Looking forward to the next episode!

–Mark

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Jeremy (Bama5150) December 9, 2007 12:51 pm

Great episode Marc. I also like the way you are presenting this project. As far as joinery goes, I personally would prefer to see something done with tool(s) that more of us have in our own shops. (meaning without the domino). But thats just my opinion.
Anyways, keep up the good work. Looking forward from the next video.

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Jeremy (Bama5150) December 9, 2007 12:52 pm

oops. I mean looking forward TO the next video

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Vic December 9, 2007 1:59 pm

Bama! For a second there, I thought you’d gone prescient on us! JeffH, it’s snowing here today and I don’t feel much like mudding the sheetrock today. So, I’m still hunting for a photo of that elusive hip joint. If you find a link please post, as I get a little OCD when I can’t find what I’m looking for.

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Brad_Nailor December 9, 2007 6:24 pm

Marc
Great video, it’s always helpful to pick someoneâ

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thewoodwhisperer December 9, 2007 6:49 pm

Jeff- I didn’t use Sketchup for this piece simple because of the curves. Im not good enough with the program to work out the curves that way. So with these complicated shapes, I find it easiest to work with life-sized samples in the shop.

Now I imagine you could use a hip joint. But truthfully I have never made one and not to mention it would be total over-kill for this piece. But certainly would be great practice if you are looking to make a rocker.

Here are some of the joints I am considering at this point: dowels, dominos, sliding dovetails, and traditional mortise and tenon. And if I can, I will get footage of my experimentation. Should be a good lesson for all of us. :)

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Vic December 9, 2007 8:57 pm

OK, I give Marc. Please if no one has a picture of a hip joint, could you please explain one to me. I’ve poured over my Joinery book from Fine Woodworking and cannot find one.

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BadAndy December 10, 2007 10:17 am

Marc,
I vote for the sliding dovetail. The top is going to be glass correct? It would be a nice subtle detail under the glass. And besides, I’d like to see that joint made. Sure you could jab the Domino at the leg but whats the fun in that?!

Ive learned more from you this year than I have from years of watching Norm etc.. and reading books. Thanks SO much for doing this. I hope things are working out financially for you. Ill donate as soon as possible, its worth it to keep you doing this.
Thanks!

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Steve December 10, 2007 7:24 pm

Dean (Comment # 12) is 100% on target! We all need to do our share to help support Marc and Nichole so they can maintain the website. Everyone of us should be able to make a donation. And don’t forget that every time we visit one of the Google Ads, Marc gets a small commission from Google. I try to visit at least three of four of them every time I visit the site. Like Dean said we all need to make a donation each month and can’t depend on others to take care of it for us.

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Vic December 10, 2007 8:10 pm

Hear, hear! Steve, Dean and BADAndy! If everyone donated five bucks every few episodes…think about the knowledge, the IMMEDIATE feedback. You will not get that at any other site. There are a few other sites(very few) that give insight into the woodworking process. But, none of the other hosts are making their sites their top priority. Marc does make this site his priority and it shows. We get access to free tutorials, answers to our site questions and email requests, not to mention the interaction with fellow woodworkers at all levels of expertise. I donate to this site and still feel like I’m gettin’ a hell of a deal!

Reply
Roger (rjack) December 11, 2007 9:19 am

I also recently made a donation to Marc and this site. The question you have to ask yourself is “What value am I getting from Marc’s videos?”. I personally get a great deal of value and have learned MANY new and useful things. This is better than a TV woodworking show because of the INTERACTIVITY and DEPTH. If you get real value, then please give Marc some real value in return. You will feel better for it – I guarantee it!

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Jeremy July 14, 2011 9:52 am

Hey Marc, maybe I missed it, but I am curious how you know everything will be level when you are finished with the project. Is it by making sure all the legs will be cut pricisely to exact measurements or do you check them at the end? Sorry, i am new to woodworking and haven’t made a table yet. Thanks for any info.

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer July 14, 2011 11:19 am
  
  Hey Jeremy. On a small table like this, with all the joinery milled at the same time and all the legs being the same length, there shouldn’t be much of an issue with leveling. Even if things are a little off, no one would ever notice. So as long as all the legs are touching and there’s no wobble, I’m happy with the results.
  
  Reply
Alex Corsi August 28, 2012 8:20 pm

The sign of a good cabinet maker is not how well you hide mistakes but how well you make them work to your advantage.

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34 – Sculpted End Table (1 of 6)

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