These two 9/16″ thick, bookmatched quilted maple tops were resawn, thickness sanded and stored for 8 years and finally it was their turn to be glorious.

Both tables are 24″ high but they are different sizes. 22″x24″ and 21″x14″. I think different sizes, yet being styled identical, breaks up the monotonious common end table look in a room. While maple tops are being just above 1/2″ thick, lower shelves are just under 1″ thick. This not only provides visual contrast, but also makes the tables more stable by lowering the center of gravity, especially when the drawers are in use.

Wenge bases’ legs have 4 different angled surfaces on them, which made the assembly a bit challenging. Exposed tenons are done with Festool Domino, as well as all other joints. Drawer sides are flame birch and they are wood on wood movement. Drawer runners are teak with corked stops for quiter and gentler closing sound and action. Drawer bottoms are solid lesser figured Western maple. Drawer joints are doweled lap joints.

Handles are 2 pieces of wenge, sandwiching maple veneer. Handle posts are done with plug cutters from Lee Valley, including the 3/8″ tenons, slitted and wedged with wenge for locking them in the butterfly handles. Maple veneer also preventing the handles from splitting.

Tops are gradually sended to 1000 grit. Figured maple really likes this treatment which brings out the maximum chatoyance of the figure. Finish is a new German product called “Oil Natura”. I suspect it’s a linseed oil with high solid contents of poly/varnish. It came out beautiful after applying 5 coats with 3M’s steel wool pads and buffed very vigoriously. No waxing!

Thanks for viewing. As usual, questions, suggestions and critiques are welcome.

HC Sakman – www.sakmanfinewoodworks.com

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