Oak Coffee Table

[Imperial]

Made this Coffee Table from offcuts of Oak which were taking up space under the Chopsaw at work. Still has to have a bit of smoked glass fitted to the space in the top.

 

[Mr Ed]

Very nice.

Always satisfying to make something out of offcuts - it almost feels free.

Can I suggest you go for sandblasted glass rather than smoked, as the green hue of it looks good with the oak. Smoked/tinted is a bit 70's I think.

Cheers, Ed

 

[Oryxdesign]

Very nice, I'd concur with the sandblasted glass idea or possibly fit an etched film to a plain piece of glass. The film goes on the underside and if you use the right grade you don't need to use toughened glass as it works as a safety backing.

 

[Imperial]

Good idea Ed, thanks!

 

[PowerTool]

Lovely looking piece of furniture
Particularly like the style of the legs - the way they look "chunky",but aren't really.

Andrew

 

[maltrout512]

I like that a lot. The slight curve on the legs complements the square of the top. As for the glass I'm sure the others will say it's down to your preference. Very pleasing to the eye.

 

[Woodmagnet]

8)

 

[Paul Chapman]

Very nice - doing the legs like that has given it a lightness and avoided it looking too chunky.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Imperial]

Thanks for the comments, here's another few pics, would make the legs narrower at the bottom and continue the curve slightly into the rail on the next one!

The legs are 2 pieces mitred and biscuit'd together down their length, and an MDF template screwed to the back with the shape of the leg trimmed off on a router table using bearing guided bit.

 

[Chris Head]

Nice, very relaxed style.

 

[Mr Ed]

You could curve the rail, although personally I like the transition from the top of the leg to the rail as it is. I think the point where the straight meets the curve gives some nice definition between horizontal and vertical planes.

Cheers, Ed

 

[Imperial]

I like the look of rails which are curved and blend into the leg, like these on another table I made, even though they are turned.

 

[GrahamB]

This looks great and is very similar to something that I am planning to have a go at (hope it looks as good!)

Can I ask, how did you fix the top to the base? If the top is not solid do you still need to worry about wood movement? Sorry bit of a newbie question

Cheers

Graham

 

[Imperial]

The top is screwed to the base through some oak triangles, which are attached to the top part of the legs and rails, through a larger hole than the screw and using a washer between it and the surface of the triangle. The triangles also stiffen the base. The glue used was extramite which should :!: stop the movement at the joint sides of the top but it may move along the outer edge, time will tell.
Hope that makes sense

 

[woodbloke]

It's possible to get a completely smooth transition between the leg and rail:

It can either be done as in this pic, with a 'birds mouth' shouldered tenon or by allowing a lot of extra material on the leg which is then removed in the shaping process. Either way, the essential thing to do is prevent short grain - Rob

 

[Rknott2007]

very nice indeed, i especially like the top, how each end joins onto a side.