Round over decisions, and an oops

[Mtpisgah]

I am working on a new table to go between two of our couches. I bought the walnut crotch slab about five years ago with no idea what I would use it for. After moving houses, we arranged the couches differently and it became clear what I would use it for.

I made templates to guide me in cutting the curves. They are not perfect, but I will be the only person to likely notice. Today while doing the round over, I forgot to tape off the area where the back legs join the front. So not only did I expose a poorly placed domino, the legs do not meet correctly. I am probably going to glue it and then sand the mismatch the best I can to blend it. It will only be visible if you are laying on the floor, but it will bug me. I considered shortening the rear legs to where the curve would come down the match the front, but I am not sure how well that will work out and may make it worse if I mess up again. I will putty over the domino to hide it. Hopefully. Any other suggestions on how to fix it?

I am also trying to decide if I do a small round over on the top. I do not think I want to make it the same size as the legs, but I am not sure. What do you all think?


Temporary placement to get my wife’s approval.



Dry fit. Time to sand.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Nice slab! Great that you found a good fit for its shape.

I’d raise the curve on the two splayed legs to be above the visible domino. Another chance to perfect the curves. Also, I think the thick part of the curve on those legs comes down too close to the floor. Make them a little less like aprons and more like legs.

For the radius of the slab, I’m leaning towards making it a full bullnose, similar to the leg/aprins.

 

[Packard]

Find a location where the exposed domino is facing a wall.

It is not exactly a woodworking solution, but if the table is in a corner, the “error” is invisible.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

My suggestion for a fix is to shorten the apron portion of the rear legs, by enough to cut the mortises off completely.
Then change the arc of those aprons, to make them shorter, where they meet the front one.
One word of caution. Making the apron/leg units in that way cause very short sections of cross-grain. On a small, fairly light table, it might be ok. (be careful) Those legs are weak, in that state, though the thickness helps.
It looks cool, just don't drag it.

 

[flair woodworks]

I would patch the hole with a piece of carefully-chosen offcut from the project. If done well, only you will know where it is, and visitors to your house will never know unless you point it out.

 

[Mtpisgah]

Nice slab! Great that you found a good fit for its shape.

I’d raise the curve on the two splayed legs to be above the visible domino. Another chance to perfect the curves. Also, I think the thick part of the curve on those legs comes down too close to the floor. Make them a little less like aprons and more like legs.

For the radius of the slab, I’m leaning towards making it a full bullnose, similar to the leg/aprins.

I like that idea, but my wife said no. She likes them all coming in at the same bottom chord height.
I like the bullnose on the slab

 

[Mtpisgah]

Find a location where the exposed domino is facing a wall.

It is not exactly a woodworking solution, but if the table is in a corner, the “error” is invisible.

No one will see the exposed domino unless they are lying on the floor. But it is on a rear leg that ties to the front. So turning the table so it faces the wall would ruin the purpose of the table.

 

[Mtpisgah]

My suggestion for a fix is to shorten the apron portion of the rear legs, by enough to cut the mortises off completely.
Then change the arc of those aprons, to make them shorter, where they meet the front one.
One word of caution. Making the apron/leg units in that way cause very short sections of cross-grain. On a small, fairly light table, it might be ok. (be careful) Those legs are weak, in that state, though the thickness helps.
It looks cool, just don't drag it.

Shorten the lengths, not height, right? I considered that and it is the top contender at this time.
When I first made the templates, the legs had a bit more width to them where they touch the floor, But a couple of mistakes later, and they are very narrow. But very good point on the strength. This is why I am a hobbyist and not a pro. Ha.

 

[Mtpisgah]

I would patch the hole with a piece of carefully-chosen offcut from the project. If done well, only you will know where it is, and visitors to your house will never know unless you point it out.

Yes, I will either plug it or use putty. I do not think anyone will ever see it but me.

 

[Mtpisgah]

One other thought I has was to do a round over on the end of the legs where they should have met the front leg. Then it might not look like it was an accident, but done on purpose. Again, this is a part of the table no one will ever see after I put it in place. I am worrying too much.

I will post pictures in a couple of weeks when I get it finished. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.