Walnut Slab Coffee Table

[Mark Ketelsen]

This project started in the grove on my farm. I harvested several trees that were near the end of their lives and kept a walnut crotch and some cherry for myself. The slabs were too big for my machine tools, so most of the work was with hand tools. The slabs were 12/4 when sawn and distorted a lot during drying. So by the time they were flat, they ended up about 1-1/2" thick. There is a slide show of some of the construction details at:

http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/l...view=slideshow

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[Jack Camillo]

That's some beautiful wood there, Mark, and a gorgeous piece of furniture. Can you share what you used to finish it?

[Keith Starosta]

Mark, that is a beautiful piece of furniture! Thanks for documenting the process.

[Rick Thom]

Mark, that's a very attractive table you've made. I'm of two minds about benefits of using hand tools vs machines. Perhaps you did yourself a big favour in this case, just based on the future stability of the table. By progressively working the slabs to thickness, they would be acclimating and relieving internal stresses. I don't know what your elapse time was in thicknessing, but it must have been considerable and laborious. I think the speed of processing has a lot to do with the final outcome on special pieces like this.
I've never attempted anything like this but your outcome is surely inspirational.

[Sam Layton]

Mark,

Your coffee table looks great. How long did it take for the wood to dry, and what type of finish did you use?

[gary Zimmel]

Nice work on the walnut for the table top Mark. At 1 1/2" it sure has some heft.
Having the wood born and raised on your farm sure adds to the piece.

[Mark Ketelsen]

Can you share what you used to finish it?

This sounds more complicated than it is. It's a Jeff Jewitt formula, and I've used it for years with good results:

1) golden brown Transtint dye (1/2 oz : 1qt water which is 1/2 the normal concentration)
2) garnet shellac (2# cut)

3) home-made glaze (1/4 C BLO + 1/4 C gel varnish + artists oils: 1/2 t vandyke brown, 1/2 t burnt umber, 1/4 t deep azo red) brush on, wipe off.
4) Waterlox - 6 thin coats wiped

[Abi Parris]

Very nice! I really like pieces that include what some would think of as defects in the wood.

Your table has a very "organic" look reminiscent of Nakashima.

[Mark Ketelsen]

How long did it take for the wood to dry, and what type of finish did you use?

The guy who sawed the log dried it in a kiln he made out of a tractor trailer. It was a forced hot air (no steam) system. It took several months and the wood was allegedly 8% MC when it came out of the kiln. These pieces then sat stickered in my shop for a couple years.

(See other reply for finishing schedule.)

[Jim Becker]

Mark, I really, really like that piece. Bravo!

[bill schmoott]

Very handsome table.

[Jerry Olexa]

Very well done!! Love the wood and your joints!!!

[Jason Tuinstra]

Perfect spot for it. The walnut matches everything just right. And nice choice of lumber. Very nice.

[travis howe]

That's awesome! I love this type of work... I could stare at this all day long! Great work!