Woodworker: Dave Boykin

Furniture designers Boykin and Pearce (the latter now retired) knew the book-matched walnut boards used for this cantilevered coffee table were special when they first laid eyes on them. So they bought them, right away. That was more than 25 years ago. “Typically we buy materials for each project and don’t stockpile lumber, but in this case I bought them immediately,” Boykin said. “I thought about the boards off and on all those years but never felt the right project had come along.” Finally, during a slow period for commissions, Boykin decided to build the table that he wanted—one that exists to display the boards, following the example of George Nakashima. This cantilevered table (25 in. deep by 62. in wide by 18 in. tall) is the result. While some makers build scale or full-size mockups of their pieces, Boykin designed this table completely in CAD. “We rarely do mockups, preferring to work out design and engineering issues with a CAD program. Once the design and engineering are complete, shop drawings are printed and executed in the shop.” Boykin used the VectorWorks CAD program to work out the design and engineering issues in this table before even touching his prized walnut boards. Employee Jim Price, a North Bennet Street School graduate, built the table. It is finished with oil. Boykin has designed a few other tables using the same cantilevered base construction, but he feels this table (the first) is still the best. For moreinformation, go to boykinpearce.com.

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