Replies

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Oct 08, 2008 04:30am | #1

   Beautifully venneered top!  The inlay is nice and clean - certainly not overpowering.  Is the apron laminated or bent?

   The hidden drawer has given me an idea - make a wall mounted table that pulls forward to reveal the compartment.

   Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

2. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 08, 2008 04:45am | #2

   All I can say is beautiful and I usually only said that to my mate!

3. 
   calvinhobbs | Oct 08, 2008 04:12pm | #3

   Very nice!  Do you think you could post a closer view of inlay on the top?  Look forward to seeing more... Cal

1. 
   Sheraton | Oct 08, 2008 04:40pm | #5

   Hey Calvin,

   Here's the closeup up the fan inlay at the bottom of the table.

   This particular stock of veneer was amazingly brittle. It didn't seem to matter how sharp I kept my knife and how light pressure...it seemed at time to just break for the sake of breaking....particularly the inner "molten" maple veneer. When I do it again there will be some things I change about the way I do it...but am happy with the overall outcome.

    

   Thanks all for the comments so far!

    

   
1. 
   JiminFla | Oct 08, 2008 07:23pm | #6

   Absolutely beautiful work.

2. 
   user-83153 | Oct 08, 2008 10:19pm | #7

   Just a fantastic job all around! That veneer work is so tight and detailed.

   You said you would do things differently next time. Can you give some examples so the rest of us can learn from your experience? One other question, How was the veneer done, hide glue or what?

                  Rob

1. 
   Sheraton | Oct 09, 2008 08:57pm | #8

   Hi Rob,

   Thanks for the compliments first of all.

   When I do another one...(plans for the top design under way) there are a few things I would change.

   First of all, I would probably brick build the front and veneer over that instead of laminating 3/4" MDF sheets together. While the MDF worked well, I would much prefer there being solid wood helping to support my drawer assembly than MDF...really more of a personal choice than anything.

   The other thing I would do...which I knew I should have done this time but didn't. I would certainly veneer press my backer veneer for the top and the shown side of the top in the same day. I veneered the backside with my backer veneer and didn't do my face side for another two days. I was extremely lucky I didn't have any cupping on the top...I know I shouldn't be and am positive I wouldn't be the next time! So for sure I would press both sides of the top in the same day...better to be safe than sorry.

   I would also use cabinetmaker's buttons to secure the top.

   These are but a few things I would change. As always trying to do build something just a little bit nicer than the last!

   Thanks,

   E. Sheraton

3. 
   forestgirl | Oct 10, 2008 05:33am | #9

   "...but am happy with the overall outcome."  Geeeez, ya think??!!  Zowie, that table is gorgeous!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

4. 
   ajkelly | Oct 12, 2008 07:06pm | #15

   yes, your veneer work is spectacular - very beautiful.  Nicely done.  How did you get the 3-D effect in the fan? - did you burn or darken the edges on the Left?

   AJ Kelly

1. 
   Sheraton | Oct 12, 2008 07:32pm | #16

   Hi AJ,

   Each of the fan blades is sand-shaded on the same side.

   I use an old frying pan and add 1" of play sand to it and throw it on the cooktop and let it get nice and hot. The trick is to darken enough to get the 3d effect of overlaping without making it so brittle that cutting it becomes nearly impossible. The darker you can get it the deeper the overlaping will look.

   Thanks for your comments.

   E. Sheraton

4. 
   MBerger | Oct 08, 2008 04:30pm | #4

   Hi Sheraton:

   It would be great if you could post these photos in our new user gallery.

   http://finewoodworking.taunton.com/gallery

   Matt Berger
   Fine Woodworking

5. 
   philip | Oct 10, 2008 10:56am | #10

   Congratulations.
   Could you give us a run down on how you did the Sheraton legs?

   Philip Marcou
1. 
   Sheraton | Oct 10, 2008 04:25pm | #11

   Hi Philip,

   The legs were a lot easier than they look. I kept the legs square at slightly over 1.75". About 2.5" from the bottom I used an 1.25" forstner bit and a jig I built to stop the 1.25" radius .75" in from the edge and drilled out all four sides giving me the coves

   I then cut the lower tapers by just building a simple taper jig.

   The long tapers start at 3" from the top and are stop-cut on the table saw a hair before you reach the deepest part of the coves cut with the forstner bit. I used a flush cut saw and finished cutting the taper with that. After than it was just a matter of blending it in with a rasp and sand paper.

   Hope that run down is okay. If you have questions let me know!

   Thanks for the compliments!

   E. Sheraton 

    

1. 
   philip | Oct 11, 2008 12:13am | #12

   E,
   Always interesting to compare methods of work.
   I have only ever made two tables with the Sheraton legs . I just marked out the lines using a template and bandsawed the waste not forgetting to leave some for support. I then cleaned up the flats with plane, scraper and sand paper. The shoulders at the feet were refined with chisels and , er, sand paper wrapped around sticks....
   I guess that if I had to do lots of them I would use an adaptation of your table saw method. You are a brave man with forstner bits.Philip Marcou

6. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 11, 2008 10:30pm | #13

   Once I find a handle for the drawer I like I'll put it on...so far I haven't found anything that turns my crank.

    

   With your skills, I'd say make a wooden one with Inlays!

1. 
   Sheraton | Oct 12, 2008 02:39am | #14

   Hey Will,

   You know I had thought about a wooden wood with some brass and mother-of-pearl inlay...I'm still considering it.

   Sheraton

7. 
   Stig | Oct 12, 2008 08:55pm | #17

   Hello and congratulation Sheraton! You should be proud over that work. That is a very good looking table.  

   Tomorrow, (no – not on the 13^th.) But on Tuesday I will start one of my own. Your pictures inspired me. So, wish me luck I need it.

    

   Stig
   Valley Center, California.

    

1. 
   Sheraton | Oct 14, 2008 02:58am | #18

   Hey Stig,

   Glad to hear it.

   Good luck and if you have any questions on the way feel free to ask!

   E. Sheraton

8. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Oct 14, 2008 03:17am | #19

   Extremely nice and especially the veneer...

   Sarge..

9. 
   Kell | Oct 16, 2008 04:52pm | #20

   That table is spectacular Sheraton!  Nice work!

   Kell