walnut slab coffee table

[Nato]

Hi guys, hope all things are well. Just got this thing done this weekend. This is my first attempt at slab top furnature, it didn't turn out to bad for building this in the driveway. I just wanted to say thanks for the many ideas and inspiration that have come from reading and seeing your posts and recomendations to other sites too. I figured this was milling related so...enjoy. thanks n8.

 

[lone wolf]

Hi guys, hope all things are well. Just got this thing done this weekend. This is my first attempt at slab top furnature, it didn't turn out to bad for building this in the driveway. I just wanted to say thanks for the many ideas and inspiration that have come from reading and seeing your posts and recomendations to other sites too. I figured this was milling related so...enjoy. thanks n8.

Got to love Walnut , nice work.

 

[Nato]

and a few more...

 

[lone wolf]

View attachment 281207

 

[hanniedog]

Nice job on the slab. Can you smell the Smuckers from Orrville?

 

[lone wolf]

and a few more...

What wood is the base?

 

[excess650]

What wood is the base?

Judging from the grain, I'll say its oak.

 

[Nato]

The base is red oak. Ah nothing like some raspberry preserves on break while milling!

 

[Nato]

Those walnut slabs are awsome!

 

[Ax-man]

Nice work i like it. I swiped your pic for my library of slab furniture in case I do something similar in the furture. Hope you don't mind.

Question if you don't mind answering. Those butterfly's, I think that is what they are called to control the splits from opening up. Did you make those or buy them somewhere??? Did you put them in with a router or a chiesel???

I have some slabs I might have to do the same thing. I have been looking on line but really can't find out much as to how to go about it. I can figure out how to do it but can't find any wood for the joint.

 

[Nato]

Hi ax-man, any picture i have is yours man. i'm all about sharing ideas, besides i got this idea from another persons site. The butterflies in the picture are lacewood and i used a template and router to remove the wood. I bought a Whiteside inlay kit (something like $28) It works really well for this stuff.I used 2 routers. One plunge style outfitted with the inlay setup, and another with a collar and a 1/2 inch router bit to remove the baulk. I use the 1/2 inch bit first then i use the inlay bit. This way seems to decrease tearout, then chisel out the corners. I sand the sides of the butterflies with an orbital sander and 220 grit. (sand the sides on a slight bevel so to create a tight fit at the top) and thats about it. It really wasn't that hard.

 

[mikeb1079]

nice work nato. looks great.

btw i really like those 2 cherries chisels!

 

[andrethegiant70]

Sweet

That's a great piece and your workmanship looks first-rate. Looking forward to your future projects.

 

[Dave Boyt]

My wife saw the photos... my honeydo list got got longer. Thanks a lot! I like the contrast between the oak & walnut. Very nice design and construction.

 

[Ax-man]

Thanks Nato, I was using the wrong keywords while doing my searches . Using the words "butterfly inlay kit" got me the results to find what I was looking for.

 

[Nato]

yeah mike those chisels really are nice. Mama is pretty cool about my tool fetish. I will say this though, she did flip her wig a little bit when i got the 880 with a 72 incher, but i'm slowly bringing her around!

 

[Nato]

ax man this is my inlay setup. hope this helps.

 

[Ax-man]

It sure does help , Thanks

 

[cityslicker]

Nato,

Can you tell us what surfacing bit you are using on your router? It looks like it has replaceable blades. Also what type of router and how much material you remove with it in a pass? Thanks! Sweet table!!!

 

[Nato]

The router bit is sold by Her-saf. (I remember someone else commenting and using these here, but i can't remember their name.) It is their 1 3/8" model and yes the knives are replacable. I used it in my porter cable 1 1/2hp router. All i can say is hersaf was great to deal with and the bit worked very well. I was only taking less than 1/2 the width of the bit in one pass and maybe up to 3/16" in depth. I will say you have to be carefull and HANG ON TO THE ROUTER if your milling by hand.( I had two close calls and stopped and counted my fingers he he.) If your like me and are going to need to machine a couple slabs, these router bits will pay for themselves. The p/c 1 1/2 hp is a little under powered for production work like this though. I have a new big milwakee sitting in the garage just waiting to get some dust on it!