I finally got my “new” shop set up enough to make my first really fine furniture project.I have always admired Garrett Hack’s work and watched his spinner table video (https://www.finewoodworking.com/item/57005/build-an-elegant-side-table) about a million times.We needed some bedside tables and I had some hoarded wood so thought, “why not?”It was a great learning experience though I made some changes due to re-dimensioning.

I formed the legs just as he describes with a story stick, the mortises and also the ebony inlay. I cut the aprons, drawer fronts and tenons as he teaches but realized once I narrowed the table to fit our space, the spinner drawer wouldn’t be practical.Reassured and inspired by his older splay-leg table article (https://www.finewoodworking.com/woodworking-plans/article/splay-legged-table.aspx), I made a simple drawer instead.Chris Becksvoort’s articles came just in time for my first hand cut dovetails (https://www.finewoodworking.com/how-to/article/dont-fear-the-hand-cut-dovetail-part-1.aspx).The top is claro walnut from the cut offs of two wide boards I used to make our dining table years ago.I flattened the tops by hand as they had bad cupping but cut the underbevel on the table saw: I kept tearing out the figure.

Dark cuffs and dark top pushed me to dispense with the rosewood cockbead and drawer pull and cut pulls of ebony to match the leg cuffs and pull that color higher onto the piece.(Again, perfect article timing with Mr Becksvoort’s article to help those of us without a lathe https://www.finewoodworking.com/how-to/article/how-to-turn-pulls-without-a-lathe.aspx).I also left off the inlay behind the knob as it would have clashed with the highly figured walnut top.So much for building the spinner table, but I learned a ton.Thank you Mr Hack and Mr Becksvoort!

Finish is a wash of de-waxed shellac followed by Joinery oil (http://www.thejoinery.com).

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