Coffee Table
This coffee table was built using traditional Japanese carpentry methods.The top is a single piece of Port Orford cedar. It was purchased straight from a saw mill, rough sawn, about 3’ x 5’ x 4 1/2” thick. It was cut from the base of a large tree. The center of the tree can be seen on one end of the table top but not the other end due to how the wood was milled. I took a slight twist out of it and cut the ends and sides to be square to each other. All of this was done by hand, first with a northwest coast adze followed by more refining tools.
The base is made of Port Orford cedar with black locust pegs and white oak wedges.The base is held together with square pegs for the leg braces and wedges for the trestle piece. The table top simply sits on the legs, held in place by a tendon at the top of each leg which is inserted into a mortice on the underside of the top. One nice feature of the trestle being wedged is that when the wood shrinks due to age or hot dry weather, the wedge can be driven in a little bit. The base is then as tight as when first built. No glue, nails or screws were used in the construction of this table.
The whole table was finished using Japanese hand planes. I do not use sandpaper to finish any wood furniture I make. I applied a light coat of tung oil followed by wax on the table top. The base is hand-planed with no finish.
Port Orford Cedar
4'7" x 2'7" x 1'3"
NFS
This piece is no longer available, however a similar but unique piece can be commissioned. Contact the artist.