Early Access Video: Shaker End-Table (Pt. 1)
Added 2021-03-06 12:01:01 +0000 UTCFriends:
We are back to furniture projects with this lovely Shaker-inspired end-table! Tables might seem intimidating, but if you've practiced your mortise technique, then there's nothing holding you back. A simple table is just 9 pieces and 8 joints. That's it.
This week, we're trying something different and splitting the build into 2 parts. In this video, we'll make the components, cut the joints and test-assemble the piece. Next week, we'll refine the surfaces, do the glue-up, and attach the top.
I'm hoping that this slower pace will give me more time to share tricks and details and make a more accessible project for everyone. Just like the Six Board Chest, this is a reasonable piece that lots of people can build. I hope you'll give it a shot!
Happy Saturday!
--Rex
Comments
It's my pleasure! I'm so glad woodworking is giving you focus and direction. It's helped me!
Rex Krueger
2021-03-19 12:51:32 +0000 UTCHi Rex, I and Kenneth seem to have quite a few things in common like age, bones but I have had an heart attack and hen a bypas wh 5 grafts latest was as, troke. I was a piper so I have had to let that go I was sad to stop been playing 40 years and teaching the kids in the band. So I have turned to th woodwork which I love equally well so it's big tha k's muchly for this site
Michael Beck Wilkins
2021-03-15 14:09:49 +0000 UTCThat IS good to know!
Rex Krueger
2021-03-13 12:24:39 +0000 UTCThank you! That's so kind of you to say!
Rex Krueger
2021-03-13 12:24:20 +0000 UTCHey Rex been with you for six months or so. I have some physical limits because of age and wear and tear. Do hand stuff when I can. Anyway I think you are a gifted writer as well as builder. Just thought I’d let you know. Keep up the good work. I like your stage presence you know how to speak well. A lot of the folks seem very amateurish on these channels. You are an exception. Happy I found you !
Kenneth Sumner
2021-03-10 22:40:04 +0000 UTCFYI-I ordered the same split head mallet from Tyler Tools (NOT to be confused with Taylor Tools/Tay Tools) for $49.95. About $10 cheaper than the Amazon. Just thought I’d let you guys know.
Sean O'Neill
2021-03-10 22:17:43 +0000 UTCGreat video, Rex. I like the two part approach and it’s a great build. I wish I would have used mortise and tenons instead of dowels on the table I was building last fall, which I’m not completely finished, by the way. Still working on the Roubo. Look forward to Part 2!
Sean O'Neill
2021-03-09 15:23:20 +0000 UTCReally great video rex and looking forward to trying to make it. I recently had to glue 2 pieces of wood side by side and I saw a neat trick on youtube. Can't remember who it was unfortunately. Basically clamp the two flat faces together so the joint edge lines up. That way any angle you plane into the edge matches/cancels with the other board. Hope that makes some degree of sense and if there's a good reason not to do it that way I'd love to know (I will be very embarrassed if I learned this on your channel which is possible)
Phillip Kieran
2021-03-09 12:28:21 +0000 UTCThank you!
Donny Roberts
2021-03-07 21:20:07 +0000 UTCI totally agree. In fact, I'm supposed to build my daughter a night-stand later this year. But I cannot go straight to that project. I need to build my own skills in steps, so I'm using this project to get the structure worked out. Then I'll work on drawers and adding the shelf.
Rex Krueger
2021-03-07 13:30:03 +0000 UTCThen you are good to go!
Rex Krueger
2021-03-07 13:26:46 +0000 UTCSatisfying is the word I would choose, especially since you can make the table without any shortcuts. This is a totally legit piece of furniture.
Rex Krueger
2021-03-07 13:26:34 +0000 UTCI see that post-war enthusiasm as infectious and generally pretty good for America....but not great for furniture making. All those machines take up space and cost money all while minimizing skills and forcing you to walk around the shop rather than stay at your bench. There's a lot of inefficiency hidden in the machine-tool approach. Of course, if you're doing production work, then machines are great. My methods are for one-off projects.
Rex Krueger
2021-03-07 13:25:39 +0000 UTCGlad you like it.
Rex Krueger
2021-03-07 13:23:15 +0000 UTCYes, many times! Especially for maple, it's the only way to roll. I prefer powdered analine dye or Transtint.
Rex Krueger
2021-03-07 13:23:01 +0000 UTCI got lucky on the day I bought it. It was on sale, too.
Rex Krueger
2021-03-07 13:22:14 +0000 UTCNice video Rex. If it was twice as long it wouldn't bother me at all. This table is a great core piece for a number of modifications besides being a nice clean piece of furniture on its own. When you put the top on the frame the first thing that popped into my mind was leave the legs a 1/2' longer at the top and you have a floating top. Add a shelf or drawer and you have a completely different function and style. Nice pick. Thank you much and have a great week ahead. Looking forward to the next installment.
Matt Evans-Koch
2021-03-07 03:42:59 +0000 UTCNice! I just happen to have some scrap Maple and Cherry left over from Christmas gift making!
Timber Wizard Survival
2021-03-07 01:41:49 +0000 UTCShaker tables are really one of the easiest furniture projects for beginners to tackle, and when they see the results a most satisfying and confidence-building exercise. Good choice.
Michael Bennett
2021-03-07 01:40:41 +0000 UTCLooking forward to this. Lively wit Joss man!
Francis
2021-03-07 01:35:20 +0000 UTCGreat video. Very approachable and the podcast is great too. Your discussion with the hosts about selling power tools and comparing productivity in pre industrial styles was very interesting. Have you got John G. Shea's books Woodworking for Everybody and Plywood Working for Everybody? There's a real vibe of selling products of the day to the masses after WW2 with relentless optimism, including rather crude power tools, but still building mid century modern projects with mostly hand tools. You can find a bunch of Shea's books on the internet archive in full including plans and hilarious illustrated safety information. I was curious how you see that post war era of DIY woodworking now that you're evangelizing hand tools and pre industrial methods.
Robin Scarfe
2021-03-07 01:12:18 +0000 UTCI’m looking forward to this second part. It looks great imo
Jacob Downing
2021-03-07 00:21:25 +0000 UTCLooking ahead: Have you ever used wood dye? I am just finishing up an instrument made from figured maple. I used wood dye to bring out the figure, it looks like a violin.
Fred Gosbee
2021-03-07 00:04:52 +0000 UTCAnother great video! One of my future builds is an end table or two, but I was thinking of a different design (one my step-son and I built over the summer). I like this design much better. That Maple wood is absolutely stunning. Can't wait to see the finished project.
Matt Stalford
2021-03-06 21:11:20 +0000 UTCGood eye! I did do that for that reason. You see it in many historical tables. Just ran out of time in the video to discuss it.
Rex Krueger
2021-03-06 19:34:22 +0000 UTCI'm thinking about that for a nightstand I'm supposed to build for my daughter. I think pegs are fine. It would also work to notch the legs so the shelf fits into the notches. It's a light-duty application, so no need to get too wrapped up in it.
Rex Krueger
2021-03-06 19:33:39 +0000 UTCit's easy, you just write @rexkrueger in any post. Then I get a notification that I need to look at that thread. It works for anyone on the forum.
Rex Krueger
2021-03-06 19:31:39 +0000 UTCI noticed the beveled edge between your reference surfaces. Did you do it for the same reason as Peter Follansbee, to easily find the reference edge by touch? :-)
Daniel Bohrer
2021-03-06 19:26:46 +0000 UTCI had to look that up...
Thomas Danaher
2021-03-06 18:20:30 +0000 UTCI guess I don't know how to do that. It's in the Projects category with the title Six Board Chest.
Brian Taylor
2021-03-06 18:14:38 +0000 UTCRex does it again! I made my first shaker table about 2 months ago and wanted to do another one for the guest bathroom in the next coming weeks. This time I want to add a shelf underneath to store towels for my guests, but haven’t decided how exactly. Should I mortise and tenon it, or just pegs? Consider it a challenge! Oh and get out of my head!
Vasileios
2021-03-06 17:07:41 +0000 UTCI've already started filming part 2!
Rex Krueger
2021-03-06 16:48:36 +0000 UTCNone of these are my ideas, but when you work by hand, efficiency is king.
Rex Krueger
2021-03-06 16:48:14 +0000 UTCThe confidence part is just what I'm aiming for.
Rex Krueger
2021-03-06 16:47:45 +0000 UTCThank you! I strongly encourage you to build one out of whatever crap softwoods you can find. American history is LITERED with tables just like this made from pine. Cheap, easy practice.
Rex Krueger
2021-03-06 16:47:30 +0000 UTCI'm always delighted to hear that!
Rex Krueger
2021-03-06 16:46:26 +0000 UTCMy pleasure.
Rex Krueger
2021-03-06 16:46:13 +0000 UTCIt's funny with the mortises: when you're cutting the second one, you just suddenly break through into the first one....and nothing happens. It's a non-event.
Rex Krueger
2021-03-06 16:46:00 +0000 UTCI'm really glad to be your morning companion.
Rex Krueger
2021-03-06 16:45:07 +0000 UTCIf you can get over the hump and just make one project like this one, then you can do DOZENS of projects with the same skills.
Rex Krueger
2021-03-06 16:44:46 +0000 UTCHa! Tag me in!
Rex Krueger
2021-03-06 16:44:08 +0000 UTCThis will be my next project after I build 12 more Crokinole Boards... LOL Great video and I can't wait until next week Rex!
Marty Ford
2021-03-06 16:37:53 +0000 UTCRex, I think this is one of your best videos! I learnt a whole lot about how to think in terms of labor savings. Also, cutting the mortises before cutting the legs to length is a terrific idea that makes the whole project a lot easier.
Mike M
2021-03-06 15:17:38 +0000 UTCYour videos have a unique way of instilling confidence, educating, and entertaining in equal measure. Thank you for the work you do to help us and make us smile at the same time.
Doug
2021-03-06 14:21:57 +0000 UTCHaving posted on Discourse about making a table, for this to pop up three days later.... This is one of those projects that for me is going to have to wait (at least until I can get some decent hardwoods) but already I'm looking at it and thinking "There's nothing to fear here". That's because you break the skills down and have shown us how to do them, not because I imagine myself to be some sort of genius with tools - you've built not just some furniture, but our confidence.
Rob Weir
2021-03-06 14:20:24 +0000 UTCIt is now.
Brian Taylor
2021-03-06 14:06:50 +0000 UTCVery nice. I think this may be one of your best. Can't wait for next weeks video.
Thomas Danaher
2021-03-06 14:06:17 +0000 UTCThis old man appreciates you slowing it down and splitting into parts. Thanks Rex!
Mike Washburn
2021-03-06 14:01:01 +0000 UTCMark me down as another "I needed this plan". I like the two parts, and I'll be interested in how it's finished. I'll also say the video could be twice as long and I'd still enjoy it as much or more. Quick question- anything we need to worry about cutting those intersecting mortises?
Geoffrey Wilson
2021-03-06 13:48:55 +0000 UTCWeird to say but it’s great waking up after a long night shift to you Rex. Great content this morning with the shaker table. Looking forward to part two.
Jason Ransom
2021-03-06 13:47:16 +0000 UTCRex, this is great! I have restored the tools, am building the bench, and craving the projects. I’m behind on the bench, but the techniques you’re demonstrating help with the build. Great Video!
Pete seddon
2021-03-06 13:45:31 +0000 UTCThat's what I was hoping for!
Rex Krueger
2021-03-06 13:39:44 +0000 UTCIs that up on the Discourse? I'd like to see it.
Rex Krueger
2021-03-06 13:39:35 +0000 UTCIt would be good for that, but you'd have to give a little thought to hanging it. The way I attached the back, it won't take any load. I think you could hang it by the sides, especially if you supported the middle of the bottom some way. It's an interesting problem.
Rex Krueger
2021-03-06 13:39:07 +0000 UTCThanks, I am new to making joints and this helps a lot.
Denis Dionne
2021-03-06 13:25:12 +0000 UTCI made the six board chest and gave it to a friend who absolutely loves it. With that inspiration, I have just completed a 2nd version using box joints at the corners. Of course the grain orientation of the end panels had to be rotated 90 degrees to avoid splitting. Thanks for the videos, and thanks for the inspiration.
Brian Taylor
2021-03-06 13:07:20 +0000 UTCI did enjoy the multi-part series you did on building cabinets last year. Starting to think I might try a variation on it as a wall-hanging cabinet for my workshop.
Martin Hartley
2021-03-06 13:02:10 +0000 UTCMe neither!
Rex Krueger
2021-03-06 12:58:54 +0000 UTCGood. I want this to be approachable.
Rex Krueger
2021-03-06 12:58:47 +0000 UTCI'm psychic!
Rex Krueger
2021-03-06 12:58:36 +0000 UTCI'm glad you think so!
Rex Krueger
2021-03-06 12:58:27 +0000 UTCI can't wait to see these tables popping up on the discourse forum!
Nic Beurskens
2021-03-06 12:56:36 +0000 UTCBreaking the project into two parts is an Excellent approach. Very nicely presented!!
Michael Nix
2021-03-06 12:50:38 +0000 UTCOMG! I was literally just about to ask for this exact project!
Martin Hartley
2021-03-06 12:35:33 +0000 UTCFabulous. I like your breaking it into 2 parts. I get so many tips but you can keep it short (and approachable).
Robert Bullock
2021-03-06 12:33:49 +0000 UTC
