Unclejake Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 I built my fist ever table for a friend last year, and quite enjoyed it, so I thought I'd build an outdoor table for home. I dunno anything about tables, but we live by the sea and I don't like rusty screws, so can't trust anything store bought not to contain inferior fasteners... off I went. I am retarded BTW, but you probably all know that already. First there was the timber. Some elm slabs and a ludicrous LVL post. I borrowed a mate's rail saw to attack the elm slabs. It was pretty choice. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclejake Posted June 23, 2015 Author Share Posted June 23, 2015 A table needs leg, which is what the LVL was for, but I was dumb and ordered LVL so big I couldn't cut it with any of my saws properly so I chopped it up into bits and took it to a mate who has access to a big mother planer. I gave him a drawing which my dear friend Mathers helped me with, and here's a leg. I like it. After the legs was done it was time to cut up some rails and dummy assemble the table base. Ummm, yeah. It's pretty big. Ooops 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Unclejake Posted June 23, 2015 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 23, 2015 I took the longest bits of elm and made them a pretty shape. Now that this 'picture framing' is done I just have to finish cutting up the rest of the elm to make a top. Perhaps in May Most of the rest of it looks shit, but if you squint a bit this corner looks OK 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Sprung for hidden stainless fasteners UJ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclejake Posted June 23, 2015 Author Share Posted June 23, 2015 All of the fasteners (except for the timber dowels) are 316 SS, and all are hidden. The big rafter screws I've used are expensive! (~$1 each) The elm came from a windfallen tree on a farm near Masteron. It's quite nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyteler Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Why didn't you dowel, dove-tail and glue? No fasteners required. PS. It looks alright, I guess. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steelies Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 lookin good U-Jah. will you be in the shed weds/tonight/thurs night this week? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shizzl Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 wow, looks great almost like the makings of a pool table Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xsspeed Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 that elm sure is nice uj, and I like what you have done with the LVL legs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclejake Posted June 23, 2015 Author Share Posted June 23, 2015 Why didn't you dowel, dove-tail and glue? No fasteners required. The whole thing is glued and screwed, and the frame is all rebated. I trust mechanical fastenings more than chemicals, and dove tails wouldn't have been useful. will you be in the shed weds/tonight/thurs night this week? Yup, but not until after 8pm./ I'll be screwing in screws, but if that's a PITA for you I can do it another time? Thanks for the kind words everyone. It's been a therapeutic project Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steelies Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 cool cheers. i'll pop in with the ute at some stage but should be no probs at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rot808 Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Oh my this looks excellent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ned Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 So am i adding another May calendar event? looks good UJ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicklm Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 This is awesome! Great use of laminated posts for the legs can't wait to see this done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixx Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Nicely done SIR! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Unclejake Posted June 25, 2015 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2015 Thank you for the encouragement everyone. Here's tonight's glueing and screwing efforts. There's lots of sanding still to come as I've made a few mistakes, but it's still better than watching TV 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thminiman Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 Top Job mate, looks lush AF. I think you mentioned it's going to be outside? What sort of coating do you plan for it? An oil or more of a varnish? What are your thoughts on coating the faces of parts that mate up so as to protect from rot in those areas? Over the top? I have no idea what I'm talking about, but interested in your processes as I wouldn't mind a dabble into the wooden furniture world. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shizzl Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 beautiful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclejake Posted June 26, 2015 Author Share Posted June 26, 2015 I think you mentioned it's going to be outside? What sort of coating do you plan for it? An oil or more of a varnish? What are your thoughts on coating the faces of parts that mate up so as to protect from rot in those areas? Over the top? I think the smartest thing to do is to leave a 2 or 3mm gap between each of the top boards to allow water to fall through and not get trapped. That had been my plan until I chose to fillet between the elm boards with redwood strips. I couldn't work out a way to have drainage gaps and still make it look good, so the new plan is to oil the top heavily with an oil based timber preservative, and repeat that every six months or so. The trick is finding an oil that has good UV properties as the oil I've been using for the last couple of years has been breaking down, turning black and is able to be scraped off with a fingernail after less than a year. I'm a bit lucky as the air at home is heavily laden with salt - which is a timber preservative. Once this table settles a bit I expect to find water pooling on it somewhere, so I'll drill some discreet holes in that location to help it drain. I haven't oiled the side edges of the boards as I've glued them on the bottom and both sides. An oil based polyurethane is the best barrier to water ingress, but it's a PITA to sand off when it starts to fail - which is why I'm going to use oil for the top Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyteler Posted June 26, 2015 Share Posted June 26, 2015 Probably a lot of work for not much gain but have you considered ~1mm between each slat? Edit: You've already glued haven't you? Ignore me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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