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I'm glad to see an article like this. So many think we have to spend $150 or more to get a plane that performs well. But with a bit of knowledge, equipment and effort, one can take a $5 plane and produce quality results.

Great looking table. I'm intrigued by the joinery picture. Can you give more details, explanation?

Ed,
Many people make a bench top and sandwich knots in wood in the interior. They know the adjoining boards will provide the needed rigidity.

Along the same line, I saw a guy make a 7 foot table top out of reclaimed 2x4 shorts (3-4 feet long each) and it turned out very solid. He used dowels and glue to connect the boards (joining the end grain) to make longer boards. then when he glued up the longer boards to make the table top, he made sure the joints were not next to each other (similar to the pattern in a hardwood floor). I'm a newbie woodworker but starting with 4x4s, which should be 3.5" thick, then taking some thickness off to level the top should result in about a 3" or more thick top. You could make sure the outer edge was a continuous, non-joined board. This should produce a rock solid top.

But you're right - post this to Knots and see what the experts say.

Great table - this inspires me to work with slabs. I saw the link to the fox tenon. How are they used to connect the legs? I can't see them showing on top.