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by
Ken Tunnard
photos: Tracy Cox
illustration: Len Churchill |
TABLE FOR TWO |
Simple
in both design and construction,
this elegant little table is a breeze to build |
While the
dining room may get a workout when company calls, a small table
can come in handy in a cozy kitchen. I designed this project
so it’s quick to construct—even for a novice woodworker.
The best part is, if you start it right after breakfast, it
should be ready to finish by suppertime. Pre-turned legs and
simple, strong corner joinery make it all possible.
If you don’t have the time or the tools to turn your own
table legs, purchasing pre-turned components makes sense. A
variety of styles and species are available at your local hardware
store. I got mine from a mail-order company called Woodturners
Inc. (www.woodturners.ca;
877-603-9663). I purchased the paint-grade legs with the intention
of painting the bottom of the table and leaving the top natural.
But when I received my legs, the soft maple looked so flawless,
I couldn’t bear to hide the grain. That’s why I
made the rest of the table from the same wood species.
 |
| A
basic plan makes this table easy as pie, even for
a beginner. But don’t be fooled, it’s
still a feast for the eyes |
|
Table Basics
Most tables have an essential form: a base of four legs, four
aprons that connect the legs, and a top. But even within such
a simple design, it’s always nice to throw in a curve.
While sketching up ideas for this table, I included arched aprons
for added elegance. Those curves reflect some of the turned
elements in the legs and they provides more legroom, too.
You’ll need about 18 board feet of wood for this table.
I used rough-sawn, 1"-thick wood and milled it in my shop
with a jointer and planer. Standard, preplaned 3/4"-thick
lumber will work every bit as well. However, if you’re
feeling adventurous, you could even plane your own rough wood
by hand, since the quantities required are so small.
With your planed wood in hand, select boards for the top, paying
attention to the grain patterns. Arrange the boards so that
the best-looking grain will form the top surface.
Dry-fit the boards to ensure gap-free joints, then take them
apart, apply glue and clamp. Remove glue squeeze-out when it’s
half-hard, then let the top dry for a couple of hours before
removing the clamps. (For tips on creating perfectly edge-glued
boards, see
this article.) |
| YOU
WILL NEED |
| Parts |
Material |
SIZE
(TxWxL*) |
Qty |
| Top |
Soft maple |
3/4" x 24 3/4" x 28 3/4" |
1 |
| Side aprons |
Soft maple |
3/4" x 4" x 23" |
2 |
| End aprons |
Soft maple |
3/4" x 4" x 19" |
2 |
| Corner blocks |
Soft maple |
3/4" x 3 1/4" x 8" |
4 |
| Legs |
Soft maple |
1 3/4" x 29"** |
4 |
*Length
equals grain direction.
**Woodturners Inc. #TL810-29
(www.woodturners.ca or 877-603-9663) |
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PART 1 | PART 2 |
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