Replies

1. 
   jackplane | Apr 16, 2004 10:52pm | #1

   Take a standard dining table with leaves and slides.Cut out a circle in the leaf(s).

     Then, invite me over for fondue- I haven't had that since 1975...

1. 
   Elcoholic | Apr 16, 2004 11:41pm | #2

   Just say fondon't.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking

   Life is tough.  It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne

2. 
   Sprucegum | Apr 17, 2004 09:34pm | #7

   Early 70's was the heyday of fonduing and now they are coming back.

   My dining table is round with a single pedestal in the middle , Grandma bought it in 1914. I have refinished it twice , in 72 and again in 94 but I don't think I can get away with cutting a  hole  in any part of it.

   Time for an all-new unit.Yes,I made it. No,not hard. Yes, a long time.

1. 
   jackplane | Apr 19, 2004 04:47pm | #15

   If you're not looking forward to that labor, I'd suggest finding a dining table at a thrift store and refurbishing it to your needs.

    Also it helps while fondueing to listen to ABBA's Greatest Hits at high volume....

2. 
   Curtis | Apr 17, 2004 12:47am | #3

   I saw a table that had a poker table under some fold up sleeves, you can use it as a normal table,or open it up to play poker.

   Why not use the same idea. only have your dish inside. Just an idea?

   Good luck.

   sincerely.  

   C.A.G.
1. 
   Sprucegum | Apr 17, 2004 09:48pm | #8

   Poker is good , sharpens the mind and lightens the pocket. A friendly game between fondues might help defray the costs. . . not!haha

   An insert to fill the center would make it a versatile table that could be used every day rather than folding for storage.

   Now you've got me thinking.Yes,I made it. No,not hard. Yes, a long time.

3. 
   darbywoods | Apr 17, 2004 12:49am | #4

   thanks for the laugh

   now i have to go build the trundle bed for my daughter.  That is the one when i said to my wife "what should i do with my extra cherry".  Open mouth insert foot.

   on to your problem.  if you have leaves for the table, could you cut a hole in one and then use figure 8 to put back in when not having fondue.  or could you just build another leaf with a whole in the center?

   david

   http://www.darbynwoods.com

1. 
   DougF | Apr 19, 2004 09:41pm | #16

   Caught the reference to the trundle bed.  I'm in the process of gathering plans and ideas to build a bed with a trundle for my granddaughter.  I've seen several designs that harken back to the 1600's that use wooden wheels and there is current a mission style plan that uses the same basic wheel design.  I'm not fond of the bed design but that can be changed.  If you have drawn your own plan, could you share some of your joinery concepts for the trundle bed.

   Thanks - Doug

1. 
   darbywoods | Apr 19, 2004 10:48pm | #17

   Doug

   I am not a fan of wood wheels. in the past I have had issues with them scratching my hardwood floors. I want to use is a hard rubber 3" wheel with a ball bearings so that it will move easy. this way my wife will be able to move and rotate the bed without my help. I plan to make the bottom out of cherry plywood with birch plywood for the bottom.  only plan to use a bed there.  in addition it can be used for storage if I do not get a bed.  on the from I will have some sort of drop front for the face to go down .  this way I have easy access to the stuff under the bed. for the bed I will do a modified post design for the legs.  the back will be a curved headboard with a square footboard.  I will use mortis and tenet for the attachment of the head and foot boards for the rail I will use from woodcraft the bed rail fastener.  this way I can take the bed apart and move it.

   this is my idea but I have to discuss it with the wife.  this way when I buy new tools I can actually say I use my tools to make thing for the house. 

   I do everything on my own design.

   David

   http://www.darbynwoods.com

1. 
   DougF | Apr 20, 2004 12:20am | #18

   David,

   Thanks for the response.  I agree about wood wheels on hardwood.  On carpet, I think the larger diameter wheels would actually work better.  Good luck with your project. 

   I'm looking at bent wood head and foot board with either slats or spindles.  I found the design in a bed construction book and while;e it looks like a lot of work, it really had a simple elegance that appealed to me.  I guess that is the beauty of doing "free" work, I get to make most of the design decisions.

   Doug

1. 
   darbywoods | Apr 20, 2004 06:09am | #19

   Doug

   if you look at the main background of my website you will see the headboard I made for my wife.  it is all the woods put together to make a solid panel.

   David

   http://www.darbynwoods.com

2. 
   ian | Apr 20, 2004 03:49pm | #20

   Doug

   the trundle I built to go under my son's bed is a simple wooden box with butt joints.  It's supported on six 2in fixed acrylic casters – one in each corner and a pair in the middle of the long sides.  I chose fixed rather than rotating casters because they tend to roll in a straight line while rotating casters have a tendency to go at different angles – i.e. fixed casters make rolling the box easier.  I sized the box to easily fit under the bed and used a foam rubber matress because it will only get used about twice a month. 

   He's asleep, so now is not a good time to get a photo.  I'll try and post a few later.

   Ian

4. 
   creations | Apr 17, 2004 07:28pm | #5

   Sprucegum:

   Would you not be concerned about heat getting trapped in the recess (fire potential).

   Bob

1. 
   Sprucegum | Apr 17, 2004 09:56pm | #9

   Fire hazards have always concerned us when fonduing so we use electric rather than open flame type pots.

   I am picturing an open sided recess with the base attached to the table legs or suspended on 4 rods from the table top. This would allow the power cord to snake out under the table as well as free air flow around the pot.

   You've got me thinking harder. . . Yes,I made it. No,not hard. Yes, a long time.

5. 
   jazzdogg | Apr 17, 2004 08:40pm | #6

   Sprucegum,

   Ah, the fragrance of molten cheese, bubbling chocolate, and hot oil - brings back memories of an overpriced meal in a restaurant specializing in fondue in the Los Angeles area several years ago.

   Have you considered a lazy-Susan carousel that would sit on top of your table instead of cutting a recess? The carousel would enable diners to position the bubbling cauldron of greatest interest directly in front of them, rather than reaching across the bubbling, spattering, oil to reach the molten cheese. Besides, having a lazy-Susan on the table would enable your family to re-live episodes of the old "My Three Sons" TV show!

   Have fun,

   -Jazzdogg-

   Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.

1. 
   Sprucegum | Apr 17, 2004 10:05pm | #10

   Three pots at once!? You must be rich!

   We only do one type at a time but the idea of a lazy-susan intrigued me - until I realized one brother would never wait patiently while the other brother spun the wheel.Yes,I made it. No,not hard. Yes, a long time.

2. 
   dirtstirrer | Apr 18, 2004 07:52am | #12

   Ah yes, fondue.  Sickest I've ever been, well... nevermind. 

   Can't believe people still do this to perfectly good cheese.Steve

1. 
   jazzdogg | Apr 19, 2004 12:35am | #13

   "Ah yes, fondue.  Sickest I've ever been, well... nevermind. "

   Steve,

   I remember the first time I tried to make it from scratch. Three kinds of cheese, white wine, constant stirring. Thick glop of cheese at the bottom of the pot, winey mess floating on top. That's gotta be about 25 years ago and the laughs keep on coming. Ha, ha.

   As for sick, that honor seems to go to underwarmed soup served by disinterested servers: bacteria du jour! You won't catch me eating any soup nowadays unless it's piping hot!

   We live, we learn, and if we're lucky, we have a few laughs along the way...

   -Jazzdogg-

   Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.

1. 
   dirtstirrer | Apr 19, 2004 07:43am | #14

   Jazz,

   We live, we learn, and if we're lucky, we have a few laughs along the way...

   Well said, and your winey goop just earned another.  I can just imagine that concoction.  Do I even need to bring up the fact that not only was good cheese ruined, but also decent wine???  These things are meant to be enjoyed seperatly, not stewed. :)  Have a good evening,Steve

6. 
   stancalow | Apr 17, 2004 11:00pm | #11

   Sprucegum

   Just a thought, but how about covering the surface where the pot will be with inlaid ceramic tile, both for heat protection and easier clean-up.  The fondues I've seen can get pretty sloppy.