| David
Collins, Warragul, Victoria
Hall Table
Tas myrtle, wenge
1200 x 800 x 300mm
Concept
There have already been five tables made
in this series that are similar to this
one. They are all unique with different
species of timber used each time, usually
as a particularly beautiful piece of material
becomes available. Small design changes
usually occur to for each piece of material
to shine at its best. I really love the
lines of the piece, from the long end
overhang to the curved rail and finely
tapered legs. The design lends itself
to a wide selection of materials and looks
good in lots of combinations. A detail
photo of the very first table I made in
this style has become the inspiration
for my business logo, which gives this
table design a very special place in my
work/design history.
Materials
I have had the bundles of Tasmanian myrtle
veneer leaves for about 6 to 7 years.
I knew from the first time I saw them
that beautiful pieces of furniture would
come from them and they have not disappointed.
It had a stunning burl type grain in a
wide and long leaf, unfortunately it also
had a defect smack in the centre of the
leaf. This always makes for very careful
planning and handling when using this
material. Timber for legs, rails etc is
solid Tasmanian myrtle. The inlays in
the top and legs are from a large piece
of wenge, which I’m gradually turning
into stringers, inlays and other small
decorative items. Very little of this
material gets wasted and it always provides
a beautiful contrast to other timbers.
Joinery
Various joints were used in constructing
this table. The legs were made from two
pieces of myrtle 800 x 150 x 38mm. By
ripping them at 45° I got four triangles
from each, then glued two together to
make a 45mm square, then with the saw
set at 45° I ripped a groove in opposing
edges to take the wenge inlay which was
pressed in. The legs were re-dressed square
and the tapers machined on my spindle
moulder on a template with a flush cutter
with bearing.
I used domino joiners for all rail to
leg joints. The front and side panels
are grooved into the rails and legs.
The curved rails were cut from a piece
of 75 x 38mm myrtle, dressed square, docked
to the exact length first and then carefully
bandsawed and sanded to the template.
The top was made by using a single piece
of 100 x 25mm myrtle 1600mm long and running
a 14 x 4mm groove along the centre and
pressing in a wenge strip. It was then
re-dressed down to 22mm thick and ripped
in half to give me two lengths 45mm wide
with a 5mm wide wenge edge. This was then
mitred around the 19mm thick centre panel.
Biscuits were used around the edges and
in the mitres of the top. All joints and
cutting was done by machine.
Glues
Two glues were used:
• For joining legs and inserting
wenge strips I used PVA – Titebond
Regular
• For the top and frame (rails to
legs) I used Bostic Urea Formaldehyde
AV203
Finishes
Lacquer used is from Sherwood Paint Industries
• Sovereign Sealer, two coats, then
• Durasilk topcoat, two coats.
Photos: Andrea Collins
|
