| Peter
Young, Brookfield, Qld
Cedar Demilune
Table
1900 x 930 x 750mm h
Materials
The table is made entirely of Australian
red cedar (Toona ciliata var australis)
purchased as a 1.4 cubic metre pack from
Richard Coles of Rivergum Timbers.
Joinery
The tabletop was made from two 55mm boards
which were bandsawn in half and then edge
joined in a bookmatch. One of the boards
in particular has some spectacular figure.
Each of the two triangular legs was also
sourced from one board, sliced into three
on the bandsaw and the triangular shapes
cut out to preserve the flame-like figure.
Each of the triangular sides is about
15mm thick and edge glued (clamping up
was tricky!). The third curved leg was
coopered to give the same curved shape
as the top but I was not happy with the
resultant disruption to the grain pattern
so I veneered each side with three bandsaw
cut veneers.
Glues
Waterproof PVA glue was used throughout,
including the curved leg veneers which
were glued-up in a vacuum press.
Finishes
To bring up the figure I rubbed in an
oil (Organoil Woodsheen fine buffing oil)
followed by several padded-on coats of
dewaxed white shellac (U Beaut Finishes)
which did not darken the colour excessively.
I left the shellac for two days to harden
up and then flattened it with 800 grit
paper before applying a coat of Feast
Watson Fine Buffing Oil. Cedar has an
open grain which I have left it unfilled
so as to avoid a plastic look to the finished
product.
Concept
The original design concept was for a
desk to fit into the corner of a room.
I eventually settled on a fusion of geometric
shapes, and I wanted it to look as though
the straight side of the table was balanced
on the tips of two pyramids. I did consider
adding stringing and inlays to both the
tabletop and the legs but I think they
would have detracted from the strong simple
shapes and would also have detracted from
the timber grain. To my eye the table
looks good from both sides and would work
equally well as a corner desk or, with
the straight side against a wall, as either
a hall table or as a two-seater dining
table for a small apartment.
Photos: Andrew Porfyri
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