On the morning of Sunday, April 15th, Morton and I exchanged ideas about trestle tables, spurred on by a recent sketch of a table on which he was working. That got me yearning to build a trestle table.
I documented my progress live on Twitter which was useful because each update had a time stamp so followers could see the rate at which I progressed. Here is a list of the previous Sessions:
Session 1 – Flat Boards are Boring;
Session 2 – Playing with Slabs;
Session 3 – From Two Slabs to One Table Top; and
Session 4 – Clamping Odd Shapes and Sketching on Wood.
(If you are not familiar with the format used on Twitter, every update, or “tweet” below starts with a username, being the author of that tweet. Sometimes, you see two or more usernames in a tweet. The second (and third, etc) usernames are preceded by a @ symbol and are people to whom the author is talking. The other symbol you see is #, which serves as a category. I try to remember to categorize all my tweets pertaining to this project under #flairww.)
FlairWoodworks I’m back in the shop and starting off by routing the edge with a template bit to make the table’s edge square and even. #flairww -10:40 AM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks The danger of bits with shank-mounted bearing is that the bit can be tipped into the workpiece. #flairww -10:42 AM Apr 22nd, 2012
atully1 @FlairWoodworks what’d you decide on the cavity? -10:43 AM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks Nothing yet. RT @atully1: @FlairWoodworks what’d you decide on the cavity? -10:47 AM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks I’ll leave that gouge alone for now because I still haven’t decided how I’m going to profile the edge. #flairww -10:47 AM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks It’s amazing how the grain glows! #flairww-11:04 AM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks I’ve turned the slabs over and planed away some of the rough surface to see what’s underneath. #flairww -11:33 AM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks I’ve decided that I’ll use countertop connectors to hold the two slabs together and allow the table to be taken apart for ease of moving. #flairww -11:35 AM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks I want to establish two flat areas on the bottom for battens to keep the tabletop flat. #flairww -11:36 AM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks Lunch time! #flairww -11:54 AM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks Back from lunch. Today, lunch meant mowing the front lawn, repairing a bicycle tire, visiting with my uncle, and eating a cookie. #flairww -2:24 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
GenWoodworks @FlairWoodworks well at least you got to eat something … Lol -2:26 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks That was a good cookie! #flairww RT @GenWoodworks: @FlairWoodworks well at least you got to eat something … Lol -2:26 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks I want to make a template from this piece of plywood to rout the flat surface for the batten. #flairww -2:30 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks I installed a template guide and straight bit in my router and measured the offset. #flairww -2:40 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks With this dimension known, I can figure out how much wider to make the template. #flairww -2:40 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks I ripped the plywood into three strips, the middle one being the width of the slot, then cut off the ends. #flairww -2:51 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks I installed a 6mm bit and cut mortises for Domino tenons. #flairww -3:03 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks I like how the Domino tenons fit snugly so I don’t even have to glue the template together. #flairww -3:04 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks Pocket holes would also work. *GASP!* #flairww -3:04 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
Tooltutor what IS the stigma with pocket holes? Is it “cheating”? RT“@FlairWoodworks: Pocket holes would also work. *GASP!* #flairww” -3:06 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks Well, it’s not Festool. It’s also not wood joinery. RT@Tooltutor: what IS the stigma with pocket holes? Is it “cheating”? #flairww”-3:07 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
DyamiPlotke @Tooltutor @FlairWoodworks let there be no shame with pocket screws. -3:12 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks I’ve got the jig set up and placed shims under the router before bottoming the bit to set the depth. #flairww -3:14 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks Here’s the first pocket done. #flairww-3:20 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
DyamiPlotke: @FlairWoodworks what’s the pocket for? -3:25 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks It’s for a batten on the underside of the table. The legs attach to it too. #flairww RT @DyamiPlotke: what’s the pocket for? -3:26 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
DyamiPlotke @FlairWoodworks ah. You’re recessing the batten for aesthetics? -3:29 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks Mostly to get a truly flat surface. #flairww RT @DyamiPlotke: @FlairWoodworks ah. You’re recessing the batten for aesthetics? -3:29 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks The two battens may actually be the most important part of this table. #flairww -3:31 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks I needed to roughly flatten the area before clamping down the template. #flairww http://t.co/1lof2pNE -3:35 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks Okay, I need some actual lunch now. #flairww -3:47 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
prevailingcity @FlairWoodworks I’m loving seeing this thing come together. -10:26 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks Thanks for that, Jake! RT @prevailingcity: @FlairWoodworks I’m loving seeing this thing come together. -10:26 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
WVWoodshed This is excellent! I am really enjoying the tweets, blog entries and project photos a lot!!! Thanks!!!!! -11:23 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
FlairWoodworks Glad to hear it! RT @WVWoodshed: This is excellent! I am really enjoying the tweets, blog entries and project photos a lot!!! Thanks!!!!! -11:24 PM Apr 22nd, 2012
What’s next? Why, Session 6 of course!
Sculptural Woodwork by Chris Wong 
Okay, I’ll ask… what type of cookie? Prolly a good Canadian cookie, like molasses cookies. Dammit, now I want a cookie.
Mocha chocolate chip… my specialty!
Now I want a cookie! I ate the last ones this afternoon…