Were working on a new table project with a client in Connecticut. We went back and forth on the design a bit and explored various shaped tops and base options ... Yesterday we finalized the shape and size of the top and we glued up the planks today .... The grain matched nicely, and its going to be an interesting looking table ... Its our first time for English elm, but it wont be the last Im sure .... Berkshire Products in Sheffield, Mass. has a good supply of wide, interesting and reasonably priced slabs .... Check them out on the internet, or check them out in person ... Very cool wood source ....
The English elm has a really nice natural brown color, quite different from any of our domestic hardwoods... The table will have a polished steel base similar to a table we finished recently ....
I actually made the trip to Sheffield to meet the client and select the wood ... I thought I might find some other interesting slabs, and they had plenty to choose from. I came home only with the two for this project, an unusual display of restraint for me ...
The client has a built in banquette and we explored various shapes for the top ... Here we were thinking about trying to use the natural edge of the bookmatched slabs
and various shapes for the steel base. Below is an inspiration sketch from the client from which we made a quick model on the cnc ...
It was cool, and I may revisit it later on, but for now, we have moved on ...
We also explored several oval variations, but in the end settled on a regular 42 x 78 oval ...
This was a photoshopped fatted oval, a shape we sometimes use to add width to the ends ... In the end, the real oval shape was the most pleasing ...
Glued up now, ready to cut to shape ...
Update .. Trevor cut the oval shape on the cnc and routed the cut piece to receive the base ...
We had some cracks that we filled with eboxy tinted with aniline dye ...
All together now
The client decided the natural elm was a little too light so we made a board with various color/dye strength options ...
Its not a Pink Floyd project, but it is a wall for sure ... about 18 long and 8 high ... A couple little pieces and a touch up on the paint were all set ... This ones been going on for a while and at the end of the day yesterday, the shop seemed quite a bit bigger than it has for the past couple of weeks .... Ron and Jackie and Buddy (see the previous post) were on hand to pass out the beer at the end of the day ... Weve been working with them off and on since 1983 ... Well go back in and finish it up today .... It was a total room transformer ... Click the photos to enlarge them ....
This was a discussion drawing that shows the basic elements but not all the details. Some of the proportions and measurements changed after we got to this point, but rather than spend more time drawing went from here to full size layout sticks that we made on site. We have done all these elements in other pieces before so everyone is already familiar with the basics and detailed drawings werent necessary.
Taking shape in the shop ...
We managed to set it up temporarily in the shop to check everything and cut the crown molding in the shop .... If youre not a carpenter, on site crown work is a total pain .... 
We had to rent a 14 U-Hual, which was an incredibly good deal at $67. It all fit in there with space left over ...
Getting close ... Will and Jim attach the last piece of the shelves ...
Since the fireplace is 99% decorative, I made a few sketches for a fireplace screen that Sam will construct later .... Beutiful day ... Lake Paran Bluegrass Festival starts tonight and Wills band will be closing the show ... Set up for yet another Guild furniture show tomorrow ...
The power of paint .... heres a before shot early in the design process ...
