I chose to make this table when I saw David Marks build it on WoodWorks. He built it in cherry. I built it in mesquite, for the grain and inlay challenges. I bought a copy of his design, resawing video, and the project video to help me visualize the techniques I needed to learn.

The first activity was to make a full size drawing, on a sheet of 1/4″ MDF. I then used that drawing to build the stretcher form.

I found it easier to build (and move) the bending form, using the technique shown by watching Michael Fortune build his laminated Garden Chair on Fine Woodworking’s video site.

Since I had a lot of experience with the wood slicer blade, I knew that cutting mesquite would dull it too quickly. So I chose a bimetal Lennox Band Saw Blade for the laminations (recommended by David), and was quite happy with the results.

Working with rough bookmatched boards, I glued up the table top taking advantage of the grain direction to hide the glue line.

Cutting recesses for the stone inlays, and smoothing the stone and wood evenly did present a challenge. 

Although it does not show in the photos, I hand shaped the edges to an unusual profile to highlight my handwork on the piece, and make it somewhat my own.

My hat is off to David Marks, whose design this is, for his generosity in helping me when I ran into an angle matching snafu.

Launch Gallery