We were to build a 42″ round, pedestal, dining table in cherry. Cost was an issue so we bought the column and legs and only had to make the table’s top, assemble the parts and finish it. No skirt. Just a single center ‘stretcher’, sitting underneath at 90 degrees to the table top’s planks.
We purchased extra thick cherry (1&1/2″) in rough form (from the mill), machined the board’s faces to make them dead straight and true (flat w/ square edges). We positioned the boards to one another to achieve a 42″ round without any sapwood before gluing together.
We used double stacked biscuits (makes the top stronger) every 10 inches or so, glued all edges completely, pipe clamped and (with a wet rag) removed all the glue that had seeped from all the seams (which could prevent stain from taking during finishing).
One of the ways to minimize any curvature to the top is to alternate the growth rings from one board to the next. In this picture of the glue-up, I used photoshop to highlight the boards rings on the end grain.
When dry, we made a ‘compass’ to delineate the circle (a stick with a nail at one end and a pencil at the other). We used a jigsaw to cut out a rough circle, 1/4″ outside the pencil line.
We then made a circle-cutting jig (much like the ‘compass’). This makes cutting a concise circle with a router fairly easy.
I cut the circle by making a number of passes, each 1/4″ deeper than the last, until the cutting bit (blade) made it all the way through. The speed at which I moved the router was important as too fast could create ‘tear out’ at the table top’s edges and too slow would leave the exposed edge with burn marks (which can be hard to remove by sanding). I cleaned the bit often and used a blade coating spray on the cutting bit to minimize burn. Here you can see the clean arc being created after the first of five passes with the router.
To attach the table top to the pedestal, we made a stretcher board which sits just beneath the top. This will help keep the table’s top flat and still allow for it’s inevitable movement through the seasons (expansion and contraction). Here you see my illustration of it and the actual piece attached to the base.
After finishing, it all came together nicely. Our client was very pleased. (Click on this last photo to see an enlarged version)
Russell Hudson / www.hudsoncabinetmaking.com
How come I never knew you made fine furniture? I will keep that in mind.’
Tina
That table is so gorgeous! I’m so sorry that my house is already filled up. Now I have to find a bigger house for Hudson Cabinetmaking to fill up with cabinets and fine furniture. Do you think that table would look good in mahogony?
On a serious note, you guys are so talented it gives me chils.
Betsy forwarded this to me. Your work is gorgeous. What finish material and process did you use?
I just opened this email and was very impressed. Excellent illustrative/marketing piece to show a glimpse of the work involved to make the table top…oh yeah, the table came out beautiful also. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Nice job! In addition to the finished product I was impressed with the lucidity of the text. I subscribe to the KISS philosophy! Keep up the good work.
Ray