O.G.

What's better than the original? Not much.

well,,, there is Phil Collins' version of "You Can't Hurry Love" Maybe the best cover in the history of music??? not joking.

Work continues on the Stanley table. From the onset, The Stanley's wanted a simple, clean, modern table with a little rustic character. Modern Farm table (yeah,,, I said that last post). But simple, clean, modern is anything but simple. If it's simple... it has to be perfect because you'll notice if it isn't.

So... this leads me to Phil

I've been agonizing over the legs for the last few days. The original drawings (refer to 1st Stanley Table post) show a very simple design. Maybe too simple. While trying to figure out the leg placement, I angled them out very slightly. It looked good. Gave the legs just enough umpf?

but not too much. We'll see. The original is still talking to me. Thanks Sussudio.

Legs aside. Here are some shots of the base. Since there will be a horizontal board in the middle of the legs, I decided to have the rails on the flat vs a more traditional style on edge. Half lap joints. The ends are awaiting approval to stay square or get a bevel. You can definitely see some Mission in it. Which... Is fine. Mission is simple but I want to stay away from any particular "style." So, keeping the ends square would probably look less mission. Even so,,, this will be upside down so you will only ever see 6" of the boards. OK... Photos. I threw some fancy edge blur in there for you all. enjoy.

8/4" leg stock. (8/4 is 2" in lumber yard talk. these were milled to 1 3/4")

Laying out the base rails.

Finishing up the half laps. Cut most of the waste out using the dado.

Fit almost there. About 1/32" proud.

Everybody together. Nice fits. I am going to peg these with some white oak dowels for a little added strength.

The now mandatory Milo shot. Was taking some shots of different leg orientations on a mocked up base. When I was downloading theses I noticed my boy relieving himself on his water table. My son for sure!!!

Elbow Grease.

Work on the Stanley table is rolling. Glued up the table top this week. I have done a few larger tables in the past and always used biscuits to join the individual boards for a little added strength and alignment. I decided to try the Domino in lieu of the biscuit joiner for this top.

2 reasons:

First- the top is 1 1/8" quarter-sawn white oak. Super heavy. The Domino adds a little more strength. Maybe its overkill you say??? Well.... maybe. But this table is going to be sturdy. I'm thinking of it as the modern farm table so I want the Stanley's kids, kids, kids to eat at it. (if we still even have to eat in the future. Alex P. Keaton could operate a time machine on banana peels)

Second: just wanted to use the Domino. It worked well. Instantly aligned and no slipping like biscuits tend to do. Also, individual boards remained virtually flush with few exceptions. I was pleased.

Getting a large top flat is always a good time. Lot's of elbow grease. My friend Scott knows all about it.... well... he will. Love you Scotty!

Here are some progress shots: Have I said how good white oak smells? Still loving it.

Trying to get the layout right. A few of the boards had some sapwood on the edges. I wanted to use it to break up the monotony of a large table top but it had to flow. Wound up with two symmetrical "stripes." Super cool. (I say super a ton).

SQUEEZE OUT!!!!!

Filling little cracks/checks/wormholes with epoxy colored with wood dust.

Knocking down any higher spots with the belt sander

Scraping the entire surface with a... well... scraper. I also draw lines with chalk so I know where I have been. I also periodically shoot a straight edge across to make sure everything is getting flat. This part is labor intensive. Would probably be easier with a Stanley #81... but alas... I haven't one.... my thumbs are sore to say the least. Still have to do the underside... ugh...

Top scraped and cut to size. I like the sapwood... a lot. And last but not least........

My glue scraper... isn't that a Fugazi song? wait... Glue Man... my bad.

Lift it.

Took a trip recently to The Hardwood Store in Gibsonville, NC. Right in between Greensboro and Chapel Thrill. Normally I patronize Steve Wall Lumber but the last time I was there I made a note to check on their 5/4 quarter-sawn white oak (lots of quarters in this post) supply since the upcoming Stanley Table would require quite a bit. They only had about 100 board feet at the time. When I called to check their supplies again... it was still the same. Called The Hardwood store, they had about 2000. Their supply of exotic stock is not what Steve Wall's is, but I stick to domestic hardwoods grown sustainably anyway. They had some beautiful white oak that had been roughly surfaced in order to see the grain clearly. I spent about 2 hours going through every board and picked their best. I was looking for very straight grain with some ray flecking typical in quarter-sawn oak, but not so much that it is overwhelming. I guess I really wanted rift sawn. But when the flecks come up, they will stand out and give some serious character to the table.

I have been to The Hardwood Store a few times and the people there have always been super friendly and helpful. Prices were similar to Wall Lumber and in the case of Q-sawn white oak... cheaper. I will make my visits more frequent.

Oh yeah... white oak is heavy... ridiculously. I was tired. But the shop has smelled sooooooo good since its arrival. May be the best smell on earth. Seriously. Like Christmas and Thanksgiving wrapped in new baby smell. Love it. I want to make an air freshener. Call it Quarter-sawn White Oak. Yes.

Just enough flecks to give some character but not over power. Beautiful.

nice straight grain.

going nowhere.

Here's the "time out" chair at the lumber yard. In his defense... we were there for 2 hours... but sometimes you just gotta drop the hammer.