The ‘Salon Table’ is done!

Time to celebrate! My second true piece of furniture has been completed! The full album is HERE.

This was a fun project that included new techniques and new lessons learned…

Using a benchtop mortiser for the leg cross-pieces. Yes, you still have to chisel a bit to clean it out and leave a bit of extra space for the tenons.
Cutting tenons with a router table doesn’t give an even cut all the way around. More practice or a better approach is needed (multiple passes with the table saw?).
A harsh discovery on applying finish to maple (my earlier blog post).
Experimenting with finishing BEFORE assembly (my earlier blog post).
Getting creative with the stone top (I used a marble pastry board).
Extensive use of my jointer and planer, especially to shave down the 1/2″ shelf cross pieces at the bottom.
Getting creative in finding the larger metal insert for the oversized hair dryer (I used a round cookie cutter).
I’m still thrilled with using biscuits wherever wood comes together (miters, butt-joints, etc.). It keeps pieces aligned and it adds strength (I even use them in the legs). I’ll make a later post on using my biscuit cutter (plate joiner).
The legs include felt-feet threaded inserts to keep the wood off the floor.
I’m glad I have a lot of clamps (a subject for a future posting)!
All designs were on the whiteboard (my earlier blog post).