Ash Coffee Table WIP (pics) FINISHED!

[Trent Mason]

I just started the coffee table that I [strike]would like to have[/strike] have to have finished by Friday. Just wanted to post some WIP pics of it. I definitely learned a few lessons tonight.

First, IT IS A LOT EASIER TO CUT A STRAIGHT EDGE WHEN YOU HAVE A STRAIGHT EDGE. :BangHead::BangHead::BangHead::BangHead:

The rest of the lessons don't have any significance compared to that one.

After finally getting a square board for the table top, using just about every saw I had in the shop, we started thinking about the legs. Initially, I wanted to have one post in the center with four legs going out at 90 degree angles from there. The problem was that the table top is only 14" wide, so the short legs would've looked ridiculous (at least to me) and not have been very stable. I thought of all kinds of different options but didn't think I had the time to pull them off. So I modified the original design to a more basic "skirt and four legs" plan. I still wanted to try a curved leg for the first time, so I drew out a stencil on some scrap mdf and traced and cut out/scrolled eight 4/4" pieces on the bandsaw, then clamped "married" the most similar looking pieces in pairs to make (more or less) 2x2"s. I was going for the "nice chair in the living room" legs. They had to be tall, but couldn't go our very far. Here are some pics.


The table top (right) and the board I bought today to make the legs/skirt out of.

Legs cut out on the bandsaw from 4'4" stock, about to be glued in pairs.

The legs glued up.

A closeup of one of the legs.

The "outside" :roll: of my shop tonight. Getting a little chilly out there, btw.

A happy guy at the end of a long day. :icon_thum

Seeing the Maloof Rocker thread that Jeremy posted really inspired me to try a curved leg. I was so impressed with their work, I just couldn't wait to try it, even on a tight schedule. I'm sure it would've been a lot better to have 8/4" stock to work with for the legs, but this project is a classic example of doing what you can with what you have to work with (I just bought the last Ash board in town) This is very different for me, having to rush a project. I normally take my time and really think about what I want to do, then build it.

I know I have A LOT of sanding and routing to do tomorrow night, so there is plenty of work left. Luckily, the glueing pieces will be ready to roll tomorrow and all I have to do is sand sand sand, put it together and finish. Not sure what the end product is going to look like. I'm kind've worried about the legs, but that's what I ended up with. Hopefully she'll like it. :eusa_pray:eusa_pray:eusa_pray:eusa_pray:eusa_pray


Thanks for looking and all of the inspiration. :notworthy:


Cheers, ccasion1

Trent

 

[MikeH]

Re: Ash Coffee Table WIP (pics)

Trent the table looks great so far. I'll be anxious to see what you do with the legs. Of course there's no pressure at all on this since you only have 3 days to do it! :rolf: Nothing like putting yourself under the gun. I'm sure it will turn out great. Keep up the good work and keep the WIP pics coming. :icon_thum

 

[erasmussen]

Re: Ash Coffee Table WIP (pics)

Looking great so far :icon_thum

 

[TracyP]

Re: Ash Coffee Table WIP (pics)

Looking Great!!!

 

[ScottM]

Re: Ash Coffee Table WIP (pics)

Great progress. :icon_thum Can't wait for the finished table.

 

[Shamrock]

Re: Ash Coffee Table WIP (pics)

Trent- I cant remember if you have a table router or not, but if so-clean your mdf template up and use some two sided tape to the legs and pattern rout the legs-that way they'll all match!

Good progress so far-looking good

:BangHead::BangHead::BangHead:clamps-clamps-why do I nver have enough clamps

 

[Bas]

Re: Ash Coffee Table WIP (pics)

Great work Trent, and thanks for posting the pics. Good luck with the routing tomorrow, ash doesn't burn too badly but it will still be a challenge. Michael had an excellent suggestion re: double stick tape - be safe! If you have a router table, consider attaching a scrap piece of wood using some (countersunk) screws to the template to use as a handle.

 

[farmerbw]

Re: Ash Coffee Table WIP (pics)

Trent, nice work and good progress. :icon_thum Keep working steady and you should have no problems meeting your deadline. Keep the pics coming.

Brian.

 

[skeeter]

Re: Ash Coffee Table WIP (pics)

Dude, you've made a good start on the coffee table. I like the top and the leg shape looks good. Now quit reading this thread and get back to work. :gar-La;

 

[jerrye]

Re: Ash Coffee Table WIP (pics)

Nice Trent. A question: are you planning to attach the legs all the way to the end of the skirt, or inset them a bit so that the curved foot is even with the end of the table? Just thinking that if they were inset, you could do a decorative cut or rout on the ends of the skirt, or even end the skirt at the leg attachment point. Might add an interesting touch.

 

[Trent Mason]

Re: Ash Coffee Table WIP (pics)

I wanted to update this thread last night, but didn't get a chance to. Yesterday I had the "pleasure" of taking out a tile floor (glued to the slab) on the bottom floor of someone's house. For anyone who has done that before or does that for a living, I feel your pain. :swoon:

Did manage to bust out quite a bit of work on the table last night though. I got it all the way to a dry fit when I ran out of drill power and realized I didn't have any bolts/nuts/washers to secure the legs. :BangHead::BangHead::BangHead: Here are a few pics. Thanks for the great tips guys. I wish I would've checked this thread before working on it last night. :slap:

Legs unclamped. PLENTY of sanding to follow....

Legs after sanding. Routed the edges with a new roundover bit (sneak gloat). :eusa_danc Left the bottoms with some "wiggle room." Will probably have to beltsand a little so it doesn't wobble. :roll:

Changed my mind three times on the shape of the top. Ended up with this. Why does everything I make look like a surfboard? :icon_scra Routed the top edge with the roundover bit. I had a HARD time maneuvering that thing on the bandsaw so the edges/rails are not perfect. :roll:

The skirt.

Dry fit. Please squint while looking at this photo. Forgive my first attempt at curved legs. :eusa_pray

Tonight I have to secure the legs, sand and finish. I think I like wipe on poly for the skirt/legs. For the top, I'm going to use bar top epoxy.


QUESTION. I've used bartop epoxy on a coffee table in the past and ended up with little "drips" on the underside from where it slowly ran down. Is there a good way to prevent this, so I don't have to stand there and keep wiping it off? Painters tape? Anything?



Thanks for looking and all of the great suggestions. :notworthy:

Cheers, ccasion1

Trent

 

[sapwood]

Re: Ash Coffee Table WIP (pics)

Looks good to me, Trent!
Creativity and originality makes pieces unique.
It's always good to know there won't be another one like it :icon_thum

Roger

 

[jerrye]

Re: Ash Coffee Table WIP (pics)

Why does everything I make look like a surfboard? :icon_scra

Trent

So you can practice surfing on bad days?:dontknow::eusa_doh::no::swoon::rotflm:

Great looking design. DAYG, or following someone else's?

 

[Bas]

Re: Ash Coffee Table WIP (pics)

I've never used bar top epoxy, but wouldn't that be overkill for a coffee table? I'd want some kind of varnish protection, but it's unlikely the table would get as much abuse as a commercial bar top. That would solve your drip problem as well - just use a different finish.

Just a thought.

 

[Dutchman]

Re: Ash Coffee Table WIP (pics)

Hey Trent,
Just a suggestion on you top attachment. You might consider clamping up the base together as an assembly. THen slot you cleats so the board can grow in the width and not show cracks between the legs and aprons. Looking good so far. A little bit of finishing and you'll have a nice place to rest your feet, cold beer and cigar.

 

[TracyP]

Re: Ash Coffee Table WIP (pics)

Looking good, keep the updates coming!!

 

[LeftyTom]

Re: Ash Coffee Table WIP (pics)

You got your WW'ing mojo working, Trent. Wow, just wow.:wsmile:

 

[Trent Mason]

Re: Ash Coffee Table WIP (pics)

Hey Trent,
Just a suggestion on you top attachment. You might consider clamping up the base together as an assembly. THen slot you cleats so the board can grow in the width and not show cracks between the legs and aprons. Looking good so far. A little bit of finishing and you'll have a nice place to rest your feet, cold beer and cigar.

Thank you so much for the suggestion Buddy. Once again tonight I started working before I read this thread. I did it the way you saw it laid out. There are a few small gaps between the skirt and the legs, but nothing too bad/noticeable. I very much appreciate your tip and will definitely do it on the next one. :thumbs_up


My boss at work today suggested that I drill slightly larger pilot holes from the exposed side of the skirt, about halfway through it, then drill my screw holes, that way there would be no screws exposed and I agree that that route is much more stable. Every project is a learning experience, that's FOR SURE. :icon_thum

 

[jeff...]

Re: Ash Coffee Table WIP (pics)

I see you have a table saw work bench like me :thumbs_up

 

[Trent Mason]

Re: Ash Coffee Table WIP (pics)

Just wanted to give you all a little update.

I went to Lowes today for work, so while I was there, I picked up some of those double-sided, half wood, half machine screws for attaching table legs. Those worked pretty well securing the legs. I did learn that a lock nut REALLY DOESN'T LIKE to be unscrewed. :BangHead::BangHead::BangHead:

Eventually, I got the legs secured, sanded everything to 320, cleaned it off and brought it upstairs to the spair bedroom for finishing. My initial plan was to throw a coat of wipe-on poly on the legs/skirt/etc, then flip it over and finish the top with bar top epoxy. Then tomorrow night I would sand the "undercarriage" and apply a second coat to that, then it would be done. I spread out some plastic over the floor and went at it. Then when I flipped it over, I noticed that there were a few marks on the top from the poly that I used to finish the rest of the table. :BangHead::BangHead: So I ended up putting a liberal coat of poly on the top, probably a good thing. I think I'm just going to let that dry overnight, then sand, apply another coat of poly to the "undercarriage" and then do the epoxy tomorrow night. I thought about dumping the epoxy right on top of the fresh coat of poly on top, but wasn't sure what that would end up like, so I'm planning on waiting until tomorrow night. If that is doable, please let me know. :eusa_thin The poly really brought out the grain a lot and I cleaned up the edges with the belt sander. Here are some pics.


Legs secure, unfinished.

Finished

Amazing what a little finish will do to a piece of wood. :swoon:

Thanks for looking and for the great advice! :notworthy:

Trent