Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 19

Thread: Claro Walnut Dining Table

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Fort Worth, TX
    Posts
    1,389

    Claro Walnut Dining Table

    I had someone ask for a walnut slab table to sit 8-10 people for a new house they are moving in to. After shopping around and looking and contacting a few dozen sawmills we finally found one we liked that was the right size. A big claro walnut table has been on my bucket list for a while, so I was glad when they wanted one and I would have the chance to do it.


    The slab delivered, cracks and all:

    Lots of Epoxy and marks where I planned to butterfly dovetail cracks:

    Scraping epoxy and leveling it a bit. There was about 1/8" of a cup on the lower end of the slab that had to be planed out.

    First Coat of Shellac on:

    Some great grain at the top end where it looks like the tree split in to three large branches:

    Many coats of varnish later:

    The base design. The trestle style allows maximum flexibility in seating, and I really like the swept style of the arch and the end pieces. It all breaks down by 4 bolts which connect to threaded inserts on the underside of the slab. The end pieces connect to the stretchers with some bed frame hardware I adapt for uses like this and can be assembled tool free. The upper stretcher doesnt connect to the top slab, but it does let the middle spanner rest on it so the slab won't sag in the middle. This slab was about 1.5" thick, but most slabs this size are 2.5-3" thick, so they don't have much concern about sag. But it also cost half of what 3" thick slab would run, which was a huge consideration.



    Base in progress. This is black walnut and had some sapwood in it. I didn't want it to distract too much from the top, so I dyed the sapwood some to blend the color to an even tone and help it look more uniform.



    End view of finished table:

    All finished:



    I always try to do a little extra, so I had a piece of claro walnut crotch grain and made a bowl to go along with the new table. I really enjoy doing these kinds of projects, and it takes a lot of trust for someone to spend as much on a table like this, so I always try to go above and beyond.
    Grady - "Thelma, we found Dean's finger"
    Thelma - "Where is the rest of him?!"

  2. #2
    Magnificent! Love the swept legs - they work so well. Your finish is perfect. And I like the bowl - a very classy touch to deliver along with the table.

    This is a fine piece of work Alex.
    Fred
    "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

    “If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    SE Michigan
    Posts
    3,222
    Wow. Beautiful work, Alex.

  4. #4
    That is just beautiful!! I also like the trestle base design - very nice and complements the top. The bowl, I agree, is a nice and classy touch.
    David
    CurlyWoodShop on Etsy, David Falkner on YouTube, difalkner on Instagram

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
    Posts
    65,638
    Really beautiful table!
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    MT
    Posts
    698
    Very nice work.
    Regards,

    Kris

  7. #7
    A work of art. Excellent design on the base.
    Mike Null

    St. Louis Laser, Inc.

    Trotec Speedy 300, 80 watt
    Gravograph IS400
    Woodworking shop CLTT and Laser Sublimation
    Dye Sublimation
    CorelDraw X5, X7

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Bee Cave, TX
    Posts
    39
    Blown away by this build. Very nice work! Well done sir.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Brewster, New York
    Posts
    167
    Beautiful table! I really like the design for the base. Nicely done.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Posts
    1,561
    Blog Entries
    1
    Absolutely gorgious.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    9,599
    One of the nicest bases I've ever seen under a slab. I really like that. Very, very well done.

    John

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    South West Ontario
    Posts
    1,502
    Lovely table. The lower stretcher seems straight on the table saw shot but then it gets curved in he final shot. How so?

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    1,950
    That looks absolutely stunning. Thanks for sharing the pictures. It's inspiring to keep me trying harder.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    North -Eastern Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    271
    Very nice... I wish I had access to walnut like that up here.
    Andrew J. Coholic

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Crozet, VA
    Posts
    638
    Holy crap, that's gorgeous. You really did justice to that beautiful claro walnut slab.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •