Federal sideboard

[mouppe]

I put the finishing touches to the first of my pair of Federal console tables today. Solid sapele top and legs with sapele veneered aprons and sides inlaid with Scandinavian birch and sycamore strings.

In all it took me about four months to make and it was a heck of a learning curve. It's the first time I have undertaken such detailed inlay work, and also curved laminations too.

All domino joinery. I used all my Festools- special mention goes out to the peerless OF1400- and a bunch of hand tools.

Finish is French polish on the top, and shellac and wax on the remainder.

Thanks for looking and I hope you enjoy.
Richard.

 

[ossietim]

WOW [eek]
Richard that is some exceptional work! Beautiful.

 

[woodguy7]

Richard,

Are those the same legs that you showed on the thread about the scraping plane ?  If so they turned out beautifully & nice Finnish on the top, did you apply it yourself ?
If i was to be picky i would say i am not keen on the inlay in the centre of the front rail but apart from that a very elegant piece.

Woodguy.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Very nice work indeed. This table looks like it just walked out of the 18th century. I agree with woodguy though that the big front inlay is not the best looking solution.

 

[mouppe]

Thanks. Yes, they are the same legs, and I did all the finishing. Was really very easy to apply, and only took a couple of hours spread over three or four days.

Re the front oval. NOW YOU TELL ME?!!!!  :

 

[tiralie]

I put the finishing touches to the first of my pair of Federal console tables today. Solid sapele top and legs with sapele veneered aprons and sides inlaid with Scandinavian birch and sycamore strings.

Very, very nice Richard!
Why did you build two? will you use both in your house?
Tim

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Lovely piece Richard.  I can see that it must have been a fun project!

How did you install the stringing?  Router or scratch stick?

I love the aprons, very graceful.

 

[mouppe]

I put the finishing touches to the first of my pair of Federal console tables today. Solid sapele top and legs with sapele veneered aprons and sides inlaid with Scandinavian birch and sycamore strings.

Very, very nice Richard!
Why did you build two? will you use both in your house?
Tim

Thanks Tim, I always planned to make a pair of console tables to go in the dining room. Because they are quite small pieces, I was worried that a single table could have been drowned out by large pieces of furniture in the room such as the dining table, whereas with two tables they can frame the room nicely.

Also, practically, because I spent so long creating the curved templates for the sides and front and the angled template for the legs, it was very little extra effort to push out double the parts.

Thanks Jesse,

Yes, it was fun. Very little stress and I sort of winged it when I was shaping the curves. Just went with what felt right in terms of size and proportions. First, I used my OF1400 router for the string on the legs but then on the curved parts I used the Veritas beading tool. The router wouldn't ride the curves. Because the beading tool was so straightforward to use, when I had to go back and re-cut some of the grooves on the legs, I used the beading tool. In future, I will just turn to the beading tool for this type of project. I looked at the Lie Nielsen beading tool as well, but I'm really happy with the Veritas tool and can really recommend it.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?cat=51&p=62030

 

[kfitzsimons]

Richard, really nice project. I'm ok with the inlaid oval. A bit different from a carved shell or something. Perfect adaptation of using a modern machine (Domino) for joinery on a traditional piece. If they'd have had one, they'd have used it just as you have.

 

[dltflt]

Richard the table is beautiful.  How many hours did it take you for both tables?

Don

 

[nclemmons]

Richard

REALLY nice job on the table.  I want to try french polishing at some point.  It really pops the top.

Nice inlay work.  Adds a nice element to the Sapele.

neil

 

[mouppe]

Thanks, the tables took me about three to four months, maybe on average an hour a day, so 100 hours or so? Not bad for two tables and considering I had to learn a lot of new techniques on the way.

On the other hand, using the domino probably saved me about 15 hours of mortise and tenon cutting!

Thumbs up to the french polish finish. I think it is the best finish for fine furniture and when you move your hand over it, it has a wonderfully smooth feel. It's also easily repaired.

 

[mouppe]

Here are some more pictures of the two finished tables in my office. There are some close-ups of the inlay too. (I built the two aeroplanes as well a couple of years ago.)

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[PaulMarcel]

I did miss this the first time through! d'oh!

Exceptional table, Richard!  Maybe the oval isn't traditional, but I agree with other comments that I like the break from tradition here.  The curves on the top and apron really enhance the look.

 

[atogrf1]

Absolutely INCREDIBLE.
Nice work.
I am officially jealous!!!!

 

[ajones]

future antique that's what they are.

 

[ScotF]

Richard,

This is a stunning project!!  Very, very nice!  Thanks for sharing....

Scot

 

[stvrowe]

Very nice work indeed.  Congratulations on finishing such a fine project.