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- Mahogany Table
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- Mahogany dining table
This custom table has leaves on the ends and made in solid African Mahogany.
Mahogany table
Tables
Star detail
Oak and Iron
More tables in the works. I just finished up two new ones and their respective owners have received them. My Blacksmith made the base for me. The Oak top fit very nicely with the iron base.
Tables
I have been making tables for the last little while here and thought a picture or two would be in order. This one I made in Red Oak and our blacksmith made the base for me. I drew it up with the client and did several different sketches till we got it just right. The Walnut stain works nicely with the Iron and it all balances well.
Oak and Iron Table
Star detail with wrapped joint
Long Harvest Table
The Finished Table Top
Here I am with the finished table. You can see the Turquoise inlay in the top. The top is 22′ long and about 44″ wide. I peeled off the bark and burnished the wood to leave the original log texture.
From the end of the table it’s a long way to the other end! The gentleman is sitting at the center point of the table.
Real Turquoise stone inlay
To get this shot I stood up on a 6′ stepladder.
I cut the clients tree into boards for the top. I had it kiln dried and then assembled the top. Our Blacksmith hand forged the 18′ iron base that the table top sits on. Let us know if you have a special tree you would like to have milled and made into a fine piece. This table top weighs about 1600 Lbs, and took 20 men to carry it inside!
Hand cut Dovetails and Craft Village
Here is a link to a video of one of our craftsmen making a hand cut dovetail. If you have never visited us here on the Ploughshare Campus we invite you to visit us in person. We are open Monday through Saturday, you can take a tour of the shops here where we both make custom items and teach hand skills to people wanting to learn. We also have a wonderful Cafe’ where you can get some really good food and Saturday’s breakfast is best enjoyed with Eggs, Sausage links, and a Waffle topped with Maple Pecan Ice cream and Maple syrup. See you soon!
Texas Mesquite
Here are a couple of real Texas Mesquite tables. These custom tables have real Turquoise inlaid in the tops. They will be going to San Antonio in a few days. I was able to find some really nice red Texas Mesquite for them. The Danish oil finish being applied here is a really great finish, it goes in the wood instead of being thick and plasticky and is easy to fix if you have a scratch or ding.
Mesquite with Turquiose inlay
Hand rubbing with Deft Oil
A Texas Sized Table
I am working on a Texas sized table! This custom dining table will be 48″ wide and 22′ long for a Texas residence. We are cutting the Live Oak log from a downed tree on the clients property and then will build the long table specifically for their application. I took one of my helpers along to help cut the tree and had him hop up on the log for a picture. The saw in the photo has a 42″ long bar! the root ball on the tree is about 8′ tall.
Joel on the log
I started by cutting an alignment cut along one side of the log and then began ripping the log with the chainsaw. After making two rips, using an entire gallon of chainsaw fuel ( 🙂 we did not spill it either) and a good bit bit of perspiration, we had a slab 13″ thick ready for setting onto the trailer. A skid steer was perfect for the moving task.
The slab
Here this large Live Oak slab pretty well fills the trailer. I am figuring that being wet, it weighs close to 3,000 lbs.
On the trailer
I took the log down to Austin to visit Brandon Berdoll and his sawmill. Brandon and crew were able to help me resaw the slab into two 4″ sections. Here is a shot of the slab from the bottom side. The tree was hit by lightning at some point and most of the wood inside the void was charred.
I currently have the slabs being vacuum kiln dried so we can begin the process of assembling the table top. Our Blacksmith here in the Homestead Heritage Craft Village is building the base for me. I’ll post again as we move along with it.
Burmese Teak Countertop
I have been running to keep up with orders for furniture. We just delivered and installed a Burmese Teak Countertop in a local residence last week and I am going afield tomorrow to mill a large tree up to build a custom table. The table coming will be 48″ wide and 22′ long with a hand forged Iron base. I will be cutting the plank from an Oak tree that a storm blew over. The root ball is about 8′ tall laying on its side! The trunk is about 48″ across and 13′ long. I will add pictures of it when I get back.
-Mark
Our recent Cherry Cabinet Project
View our recent cherry cabinet project here
Welcome to our traditional furniture blog
Welcome to our new handmade furniture blog. Check back soon for articles on fine hand tool woodworking, unique traditional furniture and more!