The following series of photographs are again off the cutting room floor. Books  have space limitations but here in this platform we don’t. They show some more details while this small table was built in Nov. 2008.

This was the first piece I designed and built for the book projects and as it turns out it’s still my favourite of the six. I have since designed some other variations and plan on building one of them sometime this year when my time line permits. I’d love to hear from you if you decide to build you’re own version of this small side table.  The photos here aren’t in order of operation but small slices of life while working through the build. Enjoy!

Sawing through dovetails for the ‘drawer box’ in ash.

A fret saw is used to remove the waste between the tenons in the drawer box sides.

Paring the sides of a tenon to refine where the drawer box side meets the leg.

Sawing a tenon for the top stretcher that runs front to back.

Detail of tenon work.

Refining the shoulder of a top apron

A dry fit establishes a sense of scale to determine the final table top size.

The table legs are still square at this point and could have been left this way. The appearance with the square legs gives the design a more Danish feel. I think the tapered legs bring the piece closer to Shaker. When you build this piece what will you decide to do with the legs?

Shaping the curve in the front, top apron. The bow saw is the perfect tool for this.

Top apron complete.

Ripping small stock for the table top supports.

Chopping the mortise into the top apron for the table top support

I think these two supports, running front to back under the surface were somehow omitted from the book or weren’t very visible in the text; they’re attached to the top front and back apron with a simple lap joint and the table top is screwed to them. The holes in the supports are elongated to allow the top to move through the seasons.

Dry fitting the table top support into the front apron.

Joinery complete and waiting…

Planing the tapered legs. I wonder what this table would look like with gentle turned legs?

In this final shot I’m fitting the ineterior drawer runners and guides. The top still hasn’t been beveled and this is another area to adapt your own tastes and styles.