My new project - Woodworking Talk

JMendez035 · 05-14-2008, 02:19 PM

This is a low coffee table i am currently working on up at school. the top and legs are both walnut. the top is all hand carved. the legs were turned on the lathe

KJWoodworking · 05-14-2008, 08:36 PM

Hi Jake, good job on the table. I like the grain in the top.

The legs look even. If I had turned them, I would have four different sized legs for sure. I haven't done any turning before. Want to, just haven't had the chance.

Looks real good.

JMendez035 · 05-14-2008, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJWoodworking

I would have four different sized legs for sure.
Looks real good.

KJ what would be the need for 4 different size legs?

**Daren** · 05-14-2008, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMendez035

KJ what would be the need for 4 different size legs?

The top is freeform/handcarved. Perfectly symmetrical legs look like they are just holding it up, not integral to the piece. Why not carved or rived and sanded legs? Just my opinion.

JMendez035 · 05-14-2008, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daren

The top is freeform/handcarved. Perfectly symmetrical legs look like they are just holding it up, not integral to the piece. Why not carved or rived and sanded legs? Just my opinion.

well the top was first roughly cut on the band saw but the rest was handshapped with a spokeshave. the only reason for the legs were 2 thing...
a. height, i made them short to complement the table
b. and since this was a school project i only had a certain amount of time to finish it. otherwise hand carved legs would have been my first route

**Daren** · 05-14-2008, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMendez035

b. and since this was a school project i only had a certain amount of time to finish it. otherwise hand carved legs would have been my first route

Well that is a beauty slab top, once you get out of school maybe you will have more time.

JMendez035 · 05-14-2008, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daren

Well that is a beauty slab top, once you get out of school maybe you will have more time.

since being up at school i am a huge fan of the whole hand shaping thing. so i def forsee myself school making another one of these with hand shaped legs. thanks for the comments

leejb · 05-15-2008, 02:33 AM

Jake the table top is nice, but like Daren said, the legs do not go with the top.

JMendez035 · 05-15-2008, 09:41 AM

well here my opinion on my legs....

i believe the legs add an extra element to this table. at first glance your going to look at it and think there is no way those legs will hold that slab. this then draws people into the piece to examine it. once oyu get up close you realize how sturdy it is. thats partialy why i did the legs that way... to draw people into my work make them think make them examine it

KJWoodworking · 05-15-2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

If I had turned them, I would have four different sized legs for sure. I haven't done any turning before. Want to, just haven't had the chance.

I was not critisizing the legs. I meant if I had tried to make legs on a lathe they would be very messed up uneven, who knows what.

I do really like the top.

The table looks great!!!!!

Not Critisizing your work, again the table looks cooooool.

**Daren** · 05-15-2008, 11:02 AM

I was not knocking your work either Jake, just expressing my opinion to get yours. For me personally table legs are often a hard call. I have such cool slabs to work with I sometimes give myself fits trying to decide on legs because I am working with free form or live edge pieces. I have seen many pieces with killer tops and very simple legs just for the reason you mentioned for your legs. In fact there is a company (I won't link them, no free ads from me) that has some of the most impressive table tops I have ever seen and they just put them on a metal base. The only wood part is the top so you are forced to focus on it's appearance.
I can't find a picture of the live edge burl slab this set of legs went under

(computer crash since then) The small table looked like a creature that crawled out of the woods. I really don't take many pictures of my work period for some reason ?

JMendez035 · 05-15-2008, 01:01 PM

i was not getting mad at anyone for expressing their opinions on my work, dont even think my comments had that type of tone. all i did was just epxress why i choice to do the legs the way they are.