Been itching to make something bigger lately so started web shopping for ideas. Came across a table design by architect Josef Hoffmann (1903) which had some interesting details like fretwork sides and tapered square legs.
No fancy curves or other stuff so should be easy enough.
An original:
Further digging found a FWW article where the builder used a "pinwheel" top with center feature (tile). (FWW Sep/Oct 2011)
I liked the changes!
White oak, quarter/rift sawn. top is about 20"x20, 27" high
Begins with cutting dados/rabbets for the sides. Wanted a tight lap joint so some careful drum sanding to get the lap joint thickness down. Also made sure to preserve the cut sequence.
Four fret panels.
Joined to tapered legs with slip tenons.
The legs have ebony bands around the bottoms.
Top is pinwheeled for effect, 1" thick.
Long/end grain joint so only glued dominos over the first 3", then an alignment domino with a widened slot at the outer edges. "V" grooved joint and 30 degree tapered edges. Center void (3"x3") took a green granite tile from the kitchen counter project 25 years ago.
Needed a large "fumadore" to fume the white oak. My PVC pipe tent was a bit awkward so used a 55 G plastic barrel.
Finished with Osmo (base) and Arm-R-Seal for the top.
Very nice Bruce. Funny that you mentioned you wanted to start making bigger items, I was thinking the same thing the other day. Probably not for the same reasons that you have, but I find it's a lot easier to make a large item than it is to make a small item. Problem is I don't sell anything and I don't really need anything in my house.🥴
Thanks all! Duck, there is an oak "plug" about 1/4" thick under the tile (about 3/8" thick). I push in the tile (tight fit) until it is flush w/top. Some caulking on the tile bottom to keep water out and have it stick to the oak plug. The plug is then pushed in and two brass pins are toe nailed into the side to keep in in.
John, yep. I have no room for stuff so it all goes for sale eventually. I like making bigger stuff, get a chance to use up some wood!
Interesting design and nicely executed! I’m interested to know your reason for using different finishes. Do you find Arm R Seal more durable than Osmo?
You gave me an idea. I can make different (style) things just to do it. The auction them off for the children's hospital. We don't have much room for more.
I was wondering how you would join the cross grain. Nicely done.
Very cool. I've always admired this design. Your rendition is perfect. Great job. Thanks for detailed write-up. Beautiful.
PS - You mentioned that you were "itching" to build some bigger pieces. I'm kind of in the opposite camp. I'm "itching" to build some smaller items! I've been reading your blog about lamp construction. Some day, I'll get there. Again, nice work on this table...
Hah! It has my logo on the underside of the top, below the tile 🤠
Do you find Arm R Seal more durable than Osmo?
That was me being lazy. The top needed something durable since that is where the "bad" stuff happens. I've never used Arm-R-Seal before so I figured it was time to try. I sprayed the first coat and gave it a good rub in, then followed with 2 more sprayed coats With 24 hours and #0000 between. Osmo is a finish I really like, #1 being it's easy to apply, but I don't feel it's up to something that probably will have cups w/o coasters set on it. I could have used the Arm-R on the base, but doing more than one coat would have been a nightmare to try and scuff sand all those holes. With the Osmo, I get a great finish (for looks) and only have to do the wipe down once. Took about 3 hours getting the 64 holes thoroughly wiped and then there were all the additional crannies, ugh!
Petey: I hope the cross grain joints hold up! The expansion calculator came up with about 1/32" over the "trapped" joint area, hoping that since it was really low humidity when glued, full humidity will make the expanding board compress and not split!
Small items like jewelry boxes with drawers and dividers take a lot of time, but of course little wood. This table is opposite. Build/cutting is easy and of course it's a great feeling when a plan comes together without drama.
