From Mason McBrien’s article, Elegant Side Table in Fine Woodworking #281

See the grain

When breaking down a board, Mason McBrien likes to use a clear template a little bigger than the part he’s laying out. This way, he makes sure the grain is exactly what he wants.

Straight rips at the bandsaw

Because laying out for grain often means running at an angle to the board’s edge, use the bandsaw for rips. A jigsaw can handle the crosscuts.

Rip adjacent parts from single wide board

Ripping nearby upper and lower parts from a single wide board keeps the grain matching between the two, strengthening the project’s aesthetic harmony. Mark the end grain so you can easily identify matched pairs later.

Legs need rift grain

Look for straight grain on the edge of an 8/4 board as well as straight grain on the face. Ideally, you want growth rings that are evenly spaced on all faces and run 45° across the ends.

Make wide tops from a single board

This ensures grain and color match. Crosscut the board and use one half as the middle of the glued-up top; the second half gives you straight, riftsawn edges.

Glueline disappears in the rift

Rotate the riftsawn edges end for end and glue them onto the first half of the board you crosscut, and the glueline vanishes in the straight grain. The tighter and straighter the grain, the better the effect.

	Elegant side table With tapered legs, split aprons, and profiled top, Mason McBrien’s table was designed to showcase the lightness and straight grain of the American white ash.
	Designing With Grain By Jason Roberts #206–July/Aug 2009 Issue English-walnut sideboard demonstrates how grain patterns can take a piece to the next level
	Make a Table from a Board By Michael Pekovich #243–Nov/Dec 2014 Issue Stylish side table is a great lesson in getting the most out of your lumber

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

AnchorSeal Log and Lumber End-Grain Sealer

Good for both sealing the end grain of freshly cut logs and boards, this wax prevents end-grain checking and saves material

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Starrett 12-in. combination square

This accurate, robust, well-machined, easy-to-read combo square is as great as ever.

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Ridgid R4331 Planer

Priced nearly $300 less than the DeWalt 735X, the Ridgid R4331 is an excellent value. Its three-knife cutterhead left wonderfully clean surfaces on plainsawn white oak and white pine. It did not perform nearly as well on curly maple as the 735X.

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