It's an interesting table. It is hard to see from the photos, but it would appear that you could cut down the top a little bit, maybe an inch or so and still leave the top larger than the base.
It's an interesting table. It is hard to see from the photos, but it would appear that you could cut down the top a little bit, maybe an inch or so and still leave the top larger than the base.
Lee Schierer
USNA '71
Go Navy!
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Moderator
I like the design of your legs and apron for sure...that was a VERY successful project for you. Relative to the top, you have to "throw out" supposed "conventions" like the top shouldn't be smaller than the base because in the end, it's about visual proportion and the splayed base affects that. Suggestion: Remove the top and set it aside. Get some cardboard or inexpensive MDF and made several sample tops of various sizes so you can zero in on the size that looks the best to you. I strongly suspect you're going to be happier with smaller; probably something that's more along the size of the base at about 50-65% of the height rather than at the floor. Keep making test pieces and then change the size of the actual top to match your decision
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
Moderator
Jim's suggestion about cardboard mockups is a good one. Trust your eyes. They will tell you when you have it right.
Dave Anderson
Chester, NH
Contributor
It's an interesting design and somewhat intriguing for it's unusual shape. The two woods play well together.
Ken
So much to learn, so little time.....
Moderator
I'll add one more thing for you to experiment with on this particular design...the angles that the splayed legs bring to the eye might provide an opportunity to have a variable thickness top once you have the size zeroed in...with a taper on the underside from full thickness at the borders of the base that the top sits on tapering to thinner at the edge. It brings the visual of the base angles onto the top design. You can mock that kind of thing up, too, to see if you like it.
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
[OP]
Contributor
Good ideas, thank you.
As for convention or rule of thumb I agree that making it look better is more important. I guess I'll redo it, just put it in the queue as I process wood for other things. I definitely have 4/4 ash, not sure if I have any thicker.
In some cases I don't like something and figure nobody will notice or it's not worth messing with. Then in some cases it's "That's gonna upset me every time I look at it".
Moderator
Can't you just resize the existing top once you determine the size that looks the best?
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
Contributor
Declare it a learning experience and move on.
Moderator
Why? It's a great table design that the OP just needs to zero in on a proportional top size.Originally Posted by Tom Bender
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
[OP]
Contributor
I think I'll rework it. It's eating at me more than a gappy dovetail or something lesser.
As for redoing the top I guess I was hesitant for two reasons. One is the underside is chamfered and would have to be redone, which seemed like a hassle to get right. But no more than starting from scratch I guess. Second is it's lacquered with minwax spray lacquer and I'd have to rework that, too, which I've never done.
I'll give it a try and update whenever I get a break.
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