Galoots
Here I am, in the midst of a large project (that cherry table) and I started
something else. Another table. Sort of by accident. I was perusing the
Morgan Library website, flipping through one of the many Books of Hours
they have digitized, when I spotted this table.
http://galootopedia.com/old-tools_wiki/images/0/03/Manuscript.jpg
As a woodworker I recognized this right away. It's a knock-down
table. The top forms a tray that the frame parts sit in, and
the whole thing folds down into a nice neat flat-pack. Ideal
for our SCA camping experience.
And as a woodworker, I immediately see that this is pretty easy
to construct. Kind of. Sort of. I guess. Off I went to the
stash of cardboard, in search of something suitable for prototyping.
I cut out a circle big enough to hold two place settings, but not
so huge as to be difficult to store or transport. Then I cut out
a set of frame parts. I used a nice Douglass Mfg Co millwright's
chisel to cut the cardboard joinery. It was there, and it worked.
The mock-up looked like a reasonable approximation of the original.
That's all you can ask for when the artist knew nothing about
perspective, or scale, or woodworking.
http://galootopedia.com/old-tools_wiki/images/6/67/Cardboard_cutout.jpg
http://galootopedia.com/old-tools_wiki/images/thumb/4/48/Cardboard-
mockup.jpg/450px-Cardboard-mockup.jpg">http://galootopedia.com/old-
tools_wiki/images/thumb/4/48/Cardboard-mockup.jpg/450px-Cardboard-mockup.jpg
I had a pile of 2x4 shorts I acquired REALLY cheap from some poor guy in
Toronto last year. He was moving and was just disposing of this stuff, but
the City will not accept 'construction waste' for curbside pickup. You have to
take the stuff to the waste depot and pay extra to dispose of it. I got a whole
van-load for $10. It's used, but is old old and dry.
Step one was to resaw a pile of shorts to make the top and legs.
It happened, but I won't say how :^)
I glued up the top, planed it mostly smooth and flat, and cut out circle
about 16 inches in diameter. Then I had to decide on the splay for the legs.
I set a bevel gauge to about 1 in 8.5 or so. Doesn't matter, as long as it
stays set throughout the project.
http://galootopedia.com/old-tools_wiki/images/thumb/8/81/Bevel-
gauge.jpg/800px-Bevel-gauge.jpg">http://galootopedia.com/old-
tools_wiki/images/thumb/8/81/Bevel-gauge.jpg/800px-Bevel-gauge.jpg
Then I did some head scratching and figured out where to put the legs.
I used a bunch of layout tools for this. The large number of dividers I have
accumulated came in really handy. You set them for various measurements
and just re-use them as needed.
http://galootopedia.com/old-tools_wiki/images/thumb/d/d2/Head-
scratching.jpg/450px-Head-scratching.jpg">http://galootopedia.com/old-
tools_wiki/images/thumb/d/d2/Head-scratching.jpg/450px-Head-scratching.jpg
http://galootopedia.com/old-tools_wiki/images/thumb/c/cb/Same-angle-
everywhere.jpg/450px-Same-angle-everywhere.jpg">http://galootopedia.com/old-
tools_wiki/images/thumb/c/cb/Same-angle-everywhere.jpg/450px-Same-angle-
everywhere.jpg
The mortices in this SPF were bored and pared. Gack, this wood is awful stuff.
http://galootopedia.com/old-tools_wiki/images/thumb/e/e9/Boring-
stuff.jpg/450px-Boring-stuff.jpg">http://galootopedia.com/old-
tools_wiki/images/thumb/e/e9/Boring-stuff.jpg/450px-Boring-stuff.jpg
Eventually it all went together well enough for a dry-fit. I think this looks
like a fine interpretation.
http://galootopedia.com/old-tools_wiki/images/thumb/9/91/Joinery-
happens.jpg/450px-Joinery-happens.jpg">http://galootopedia.com/old-
tools_wiki/images/thumb/9/91/Joinery-happens.jpg/450px-Joinery-happens.jpg
Then it was a simple matter of some tusk tenons.
I set a gauge to match a chisel, and struck some lines on the tenons.
Then I struct some lines on some maple scrap and cut wedges.
When I set the chisel on the work to cut mortises, I stopped.
This ain't right. Oh. The mortises should be square to the SHOULDER
not to the side of the tenons. So there are two sets of layout lines
on each tenon. I just had to be careful to follow the correct lines.
http://galootopedia.com/old-tools_wiki/images/thumb/1/11/Double-
take.jpg/450px-Double-take.jpg">http://galootopedia.com/old-
tools_wiki/images/thumb/1/11/Double-take.jpg/450px-Double-take.jpg
It still looks the same as before, but now the frame is more stable.
I cut shallow mortises in the underside of the top and glued on some
support blocks. I think I can put retaining pins in them so the whole table
stays together and the top won't fall off when you set down your mug of
mead.
The most difficult part is going to be adding the rim to the top.
But I got time...
--
Darrell LaRue
Oakville ON
Wood Hoarder, Blade Sharpener, and Occasional Tool User
|
