This is my first piece of furniture with hand-cut mortise-and-tenon joinery. It’s far from perfect, but I managed to hide most of the imperfections inside the frame.

I finished it with 50/50 beeswax and mineral oil.

I think the table top and long aprons are cherry, with two strips of what may be oak in the table top? It was in the miscellaneous pile at my community workshop, so your guys is as good as mine. The legs and short apron are sapele, which is probably my favorite wood when it’s finished, it’s unbelievably lustrous in person.

Happy to answer an questions, otherwise, I just wanted to share the first thing I’ve ever made that I didn’t finish and immediately tear apart all the mistakes I made, I’m genuinely pleased with this one!

  • sneekee_snek_17@lemmy.worldOP
    18·
    6 months ago

    Another point of pride I forgot to mention, this was an impulse project, so I didn’t have a plan, just kinda fumbled my way through it, making decisions as necessary. I’m especially pleased with the taper on the legs, think that adds a bit of grace to an otherwise chunky table

    • Captain Aggravated@sh.itjust.works
      4·
      6 months ago

      Yeah tapering legs definitely gives it a certain lightness, if they were square it would be a bit much.

      Mad props to doing the joinery on the tapered surface, that adds a lot of complexity.

      • sneekee_snek_17@lemmy.worldOP
        6·
        6 months ago

        If I remember correctly, I chopped the mortises on the tapered face, then cut the tenons with square shoulders, then transferred the angle of the taper to the shoulders and cut off the tiny bit of excess. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected

        • Pheral@lemmy.world
          1·
          6 months ago

          I just recently learned the words “mortise” and “tenon” on my recent woodworking video binge. I saw your table and was instantly giddy with excitement! I’m not a carpenter, but I can see what I would call artistry in your work. And excellence. This table exudes excellence. Be so proud!!!

          If you ever need inspiration for more impulse projects, I recommend looking up videos from Blacktail Studio. That’s what got a painter like me started on a mild obsession with carpentry.

          • sneekee_snek_17@lemmy.worldOP
            2·
            6 months ago

            I’m really glad to hear you like it! I’m glad it gives off that impression, because a not insignificant amount of time was spent finessing each individual joint

      • sneekee_snek_17@lemmy.worldOP
        1·
        6 months ago

        I’m glad you like it, I feel like the color and grain pattern of the two stripes down the table slightly detract from the polished look, though. That’s probably my biggest gripe

    • sneekee_snek_17@lemmy.worldOP
      5·
      6 months ago

      Hammer and mortise chisels I got from Amazon

      As for the tenons, I’ve got a trash little craftsman saw that’s probably like seven bucks at home depot, I just had to score cuts well and be careful not to go outside my marks, LOTS of cleaning up with a paring chisel was necessary

    • sneekee_snek_17@lemmy.worldOP
      9·
      6 months ago

      Also, if you think those corners are bad, look at this torture device I made earlier this year

      It’s hard maple, and those real thin edges are basically blades if you’re walking by. It’s a genuine hazard

    • sneekee_snek_17@lemmy.worldOP
      5·
      6 months ago

      This feels like a conversation I have with my wife about me placing everyday objects around the house in places where they would logically be, then she runs straight into them anyway

      “Darling, I cannot protect you from what is right in front of your eyeballs”

      • Etterra@lemmy.world
        4·
        6 months ago

        Hey some of us are just more clumsy than others.

        Also I’m my cramped apartment I have to regularly remind my fiancee that I’m way larger than her and that having to turn sideways to maneuver through my own home is a real damn nuisance lol