Recent Projects - #1 Table - parts of which are repurposed pews

Henry W

Henry
Corporate Member
Here is a purpose built, or site specific, table that has been put off for a few years, and was previewed in the 'recent' and now long-running thread entitled "Post what you're building"

This is a purpose built table for the entry way of a church - it is pretty funky because the space is funky. There is a support pillar in place towards the left of the space that limited the depth of the table on the left side. That account for the shape of the table top. There is also a radiator protruding from the wall that needed some clearance around it (so there is only I low stretcher between the leg sets, but two up stretcher/skirt boards up high. Yes I realize the heat of the radiator may do in this table - but it's a risk I was willing to take.

Several components are repurposed church pew materials:
- The table top is a planed down pew back - but I had to glue up another piece of pew back to it to achieve the full width/depth of the table (i.e it was 18" wide but I needed 23").
- The inserted panels - which are really just decorative, to show the 'these are formerly pews' effect. I had a choice of these or larger (taller and heavier) panels, and decided that the arch routed into the taller panels would be too hidden to be effective - so the smaller panels and a support bar were chosen.

Initially I hand planed and sanded the pew backs, but that was clearly going to take too long. Later I borrowed a power handplane to rough plane the high spots, then handplaned and sanded. it's certainly not perfectly flat, but acceptably so.

Materials are stained maple, primarily Domino-ed toether. The pew inserts were originally shellaced and were left that way. The rest is was stained with transtint dyes and Target acrylic lacquer (6000).

EDIT - I forgot to mention that I glued more material under the edges of the table top to make it appear thicker. Once flattened it is less than 3/4" thick, so I made it appear thicker at least. END EDIT
 

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Mike Davis

Mike
Corporate Member
Wow, that’s an engineering feat just getting it in the position behind the post and over the radiator. It looks great and I hope it stays together with the heat so close.
 

bob vaughan

Bob Vaughan
Senior User
Nicely done Henry
Ditto on that.
A table top in that entryway was clearly needed. A good solution to a problem existing conditions presented. A simple table would have been easier if there was a flat wall, but that wasn't the case. I saw the work in progress photos in the other thread and thought, "What in the world is that all about". This is the rest of the story and now it makes perfect sense.
 

Henry W

Henry
Corporate Member
Ditto on that.
A table top in that entryway was clearly needed. A good solution to a problem existing conditions presented. A simple table would have been easier if there was a flat wall, but that wasn't the case. I saw the work in progress photos in the other thread and thought, "What in the world is that all about". This is the rest of the story and now it makes perfect sense.
Yes Bob, I knew that my WIP pics in the other thread were going to create some of the 'what in the world?' reactions. Thanks for validating my assumptions.
 

JimD

Jim
Senior User
Congratulations on completion of a fine project!

I volunteer one day a week at my church. We all do a little of whatever needs done but I specialize in making sawdust. Several months ago the church decided to get rid of the pews that had been used for seating in one room. They were about 16 feet long with mahogany backs and seats. MDF ends trimmed in mahogany with mahogany mid supports. So we took them apart and then the request for "short pews" started coming in. I bought in my track saw and cut seats and backs down to be refastened to the ends we had. Several pastors and other staff members got one. But there was a lot of left over material from the backs and seats. So several of us took it home rather than letting it go into the dumpster. I still have mine, haven't decided what to do with it yet. By the time I make the pieces flat, it will be less than 3/4 inch thick. That limits what it can be used for. But it is great wood and deserves to be repurposed into something.
 

drw

Donn
Corporate Member
Beautifully done! It is apparent that you were confronted with all sorts of challenges, but you managed to artfully handle each one.
 

Henry W

Henry
Corporate Member
By the time I make the pieces flat, it will be less than 3/4 inch thick. That limits what it can be used for. But it is great wood and deserves to be repurposed into something.
Thanks Jim.

Exactly right Jim of flattening and thickness. There is not much left by the time you flatten.
I forgot to mention that I doubled up the edges by gluing more material below in order to create what I thought was a more suitable look for this piece. Probably 1.25 - 1.375" thick or so now.
 

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