I am fortunate that I live a short distance from Tommy's new shop and have been able to work with him and Eli on my federal table. These guys are masters and are truly passionate about their work and it's nice that they're just fun regular guys. I think between the pod casts, those incredibly detailed written procedures, and the forum this is going to be a great project. From behind the scenes I'll tell you there is a ton of work that Tommy and Eli put into these things for squat.
To be honest I was not originally psyched about making a table with different legs and some with banding and others without. I have a limited amount of woodworking time and am more "end product" oriented. This project is about the process and there are a ton of things to learn from building it and by the way the "end product" is pretty cool.
I got caught up in the construction of the table. My advise (I think Tommy would agree)just build it and move on. There is a lot of stuff that Tommy covers in this project like stringing/banding, bell flowers,a blow your mind away oval and beautiful draw front. I was amazed that once I learned the techniques I was able to make some pretty cool stuff (maybe not as well as Tommy and Eli)
If your psyched about the project you should be and if your on the fence about it, like I was at first, do it! Whether your a beginner or advanced woodworker your woodworking skills will be taken to a much higher level.
(Make me sick--When I read what I have written I sound like a cheerleader or some nauseating TV commercial but it is hard not be pumped about this project).
I look forward to hearing how other people are doing when they get started.
Brian

PS Neil early in these blogs you said I should change my username and cut out "hack" from it. Now I will.
Brian

Brian........them's are some fine words. I gotta calm down....you got me juiced, gotta pace myself.

I'm so excited about hearing and seeing what we do as a group, the whole idea is very forward thinking. Your comment on raising ones woodworking level is spot on.

I'm jealous you are hangin out in the shop.

here's to earning the "Badge".....Neil

Hey, guys! I just wrote a whole message, but then I got timed out and lost it. Oh, well. I've been down at Tommy's shop working on the sand-shaded fan for the past couple of days. As you may have noticed, it's amazing. Brian's came out great, too, AND it was his first attempt. It's been really fun hanging out with him and Tommy and seeing Brian improve so quickly. Hopefully, we can all get together for some classes this summer, fingers crossed.

Anyway, just posting this as an incentive to keep moving once the project gets going. Don't worry about getting a perfect result from each step. The idea is to learn the process and move on, because things just get better and better. Just look at that fan.

Eli

P.S. Great blog entry about the project, Neil. You hit the nail right on the head.

NBSS Student

Way to keep us posted Eli...Love it!!

Man, sand shading is one of many techniques I've always wanted to do but never had a need.

So many things on "my woodworking list" are going to get checked off.

yup...looks awesome...funny thing is...its only 1/2 way done....the next set of steps really change it into a 3 dimensional

I think the 1/2 done fan looks great!

Got my lumber... I'll let it get happy for a little while in the shop and then start milling this weekend... I can't wait to get started

... oh... the table thing still isn't done... I've been neglecting it a little bit lately and spending more time working out and doing other stuff.... the dovetails cleaned up pretty good... for my first two joints that I've ever cut and glued, I'm happy with them..... not the first time cutting with the saw... I bet I cut over 100 lines first... practice, practice, practice with the saw... then chop chop...

later guys

Those dovetails look like a professional cut them. You should be very proud of those.

Chuck

Well, I am also going to start this weekend. I have a piece I need to get out of the way for and by the weekend I should be done with it. Then onto the wacky leg table. Cant wait. I have all this new stuff just waiting to be put to use.

Neil,
It like you said, you see things you want to do but never really have the need to really mess around with doing them. This little table is going to fulfill a lot of them wishes for me I think.

Guys thinks again for taking the time and making this happen for all of us.

Justin

Justin

Hey guys,

I started on the table tonight. All the material is milled to the finished dimensions and I should start working on the joinery tomorrow night. I figure I need a head start since Ive never made anything like this.

On that note, I have a few questions about what pieces go where. Are the doublers the pieces that hold the runner out from the side rail? Also, about the 4 kickers, do two of them go on the top and two on the bottom? Sorry for all the basic questions.

Rob

First off -

Hey Dave.......you're like a Big-T protege lifting weights and slamm'in some nice dovetails....thingy look'in nice!!!

Rob.........those questions aren't basic, they're very good. There are 2 or 3 names for the same part in furniture, I'll be waiting for the answers myself along with alot of other guys, some that are building and don't post. Keep ask'in man. It's like Chuck and his Bosch Colt question, I was thinking the same thing before I picked up the dremel for ulterior motives. Let's just suck it all in. Wasn't it kinda fun cutting wondering about the forum. I'm waiting for the shop photo of the gruesome-two some: Chuckie Mids and Kenny Walnuts.

Now for my first Federal table experience last night.... I'm using this table to go into woodworking areas I rarely or never venture into, so last thing last evening I decide to rough cut my lengths.....Guys....I went for my cross-cut hand saw, an old tool with a very new looking handle, pull my tape along my 8/4, chalk it out with my try-square and grab my saw. I found my "proper stance", index finger pointing the way, elbow square, and started cutting away......and cutting, and still cutting and finally said, "screw it". Grabbed my sabre saw cut the lumber to rough lengths went in and had dinner. So much for my entre' into hand sawyering, must be my saw, right??. I decided I'll save my patience for the fun stuff like that fan and the rest of the inlay work.