Woodworker: Sean Connin

Connin built this table while participating in the New Hampshire Institute of Furniture Making’s Studio-Based Learning Program. He says the design was a collaborative effort between him and his instructor, Jon Brooks. Connin cut the legs as live green-ash saplings, air-dried them, and then refined their shapes using rasps, scrapers, and sandpaper. Fitting the legs to the table was an exercise in improvisation, requiring a number of mock-ups. The table is made of red maple and black walnut. The legs are finished with acrylics and varnish, and the top is finished with a mix of tung oil, spar varnish, and mineral spirits. The topcoat is wax.

Photo: Sean Connin