Last weekend, I met with some of my fellow Artwalk participants and showed them the yellow cedar chair that I'd built to hang in the tree outside The Bistro Gallery where I will be showing my work. They loved the concept and encouraged me to make another piece for a second tree. So, that's what … Continue reading Table in a Tree
I recently completed this pair of coffee tables for a patient customer. They were made from a local fruit cherry tree. The client wanted two tables that could be used together or independently. Both tables were physically identical, with minor character differences. The design was the client's, but I was allowed creative license. One of … Continue reading Cherry Coffee Tables
Some of my recent designs have involved complex angled joinery, such as the base of this table inspired by a sketch by Vic Hubbard. I was having a hard time visualizing in my head how the joinery would work, so I built a prototype to help me understand. Since it's only a prototype to explore the mechanics … Continue reading The Value of Prototyping
My goal this Christmas season was not to buy anything mass-produced. I half-succeeded. For my family, I made a sculptural clock, wooden vases, and turned fridge magnets; each of the items required something mass-produced. For my brother, I made a clock using black locust for the upright and phenolic, grained to look like ebony, for the face. … Continue reading Christmas 2012 Recap
I've just added a new item to the Store. Yes, Relationship Study, the trestle table made of Western maple is now for sale and I think I have priced it very fairly. Let me know if you are interested in acquiring this piece, or any of my other work. I'll be both happy and sad … Continue reading New Item Added to Store
In Part I and Part II, I built this prototype table which was to be mounted on a wall. The next step in the design and construction of the table was to install hardware that would allow it to be mounted to a wall. The simplest way to attach the table would have been a pair of big … Continue reading Black Locust Wall Table, Part III: Testing Blind Mounting Hardware
In Part I - Visualizing in Wood, I selected and prepared the table components. Part II - Putting it Together covers everything else - joinery, sculpting, and assembly. To facilitate laying out and cutting the long tusk tenon, I first flattened one face of the upright. I used three round, wooden bench dogs to immobilize … Continue reading Black Locust Wall Table, Part II: Putting it Together
This table was inspired by a coffee table design of Brian VanVreede with a daring cantilevered top. I worked out my design in my head over the next five months until I built the first wall-mounted version. How I Chose My Materials The entire table was made of black locust because it was hard and strong enough, and … Continue reading Black Locust Wall Table, Part I: Visualizing in Wood
The first day I started construction of the table, I needed a name for reference. Logically, I chose Maple Trestle Table. While accurate, I feel that the name is lacking in depth. It is too simple and does not even encourage a pause. I have named the table Relationship Study. I created a short video … Continue reading Maple Trestle Table Has a Name
Yesterday, I moved Maple Trestle Table out of the shop into a larger room that was transformed into a photo studio. Today, I took a number of pictures and have begun sorting through them to find the best. One of my favourite detail shots is of an epoxy resin-filled fissure in the beautifully figured top. … Continue reading Second Picture of Maple Trestle Table, Finished!
