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Another Coffee Table: Building the Base



We are at the stage where the base - rail with tapered and splayed legs - is to be done next. This is the photo of the model ...





I like this base, and have chosen to replicate it. The two relevant items are the angle of the splay (which I estimated as 10 degrees), and the positioning of the ends of the legs (these appear to end in line with the carcase).


I get my Jarrah these days from an urban salvage yard, but some of it is ex-roofing beams, like this ...





It is a wonderful moment when it comes out the other end ...





I planed up a couple of these to find 4 blanks that would make the legs. Each is 450mm long. The legs will taper in the round from 40mm at the top to 25mm at the bottom. 


The mortices were marked out ...





... and routed out (I have a great jig for this - just made for hard, hard woods) ..





.. leaving ...





The ends of the mortices are squared up ...





.. and then onto the lathe ...





A little tinted epoxy is needed to repair some of the resin holes ...








Next step is to determine the length of the rails. This is a no-math process that simply involves laying out the parts, with the legs at 10 degrees ...








Sawing the tenons is easy enough. The rails are 19mm (3/4") and the tenon/mortice is 1/4" wide ..





The tenon shoulder needs to be fitted flush with the leg ...





The easiest way is to use blue tape to mark the shoulders ...








The shoulder of the mortice is levelled with a chisel and rasp ..





... until each is a good fit ..





Finally, the glue up begins ...








I pulled off the clamps a short while ago ...





I'll clean it up in the morning.


Regards from Perth


Derek


January 2019