Thursday, October 17, 2013

Tea table with ball and claw feet


I found myself needing a nice little table to display my pipe box for my ebay listing. So I decided to make one. I chose a Queen Anne tea table. It is carved from cherry wood and is "home grown" as a friend nearby cut some trees and gave me a bunch of beautiful wood.


After researching these tables, I drew up my plan. 
I love cutting cabriole legs, and carving them was alot of fun.


I drew my pattern on the wood then cut them out on my scroll saw. I make a template out of thin wood to transfer the leg pattern to the blank.

It's so fun after the last cut to "unwrap" the leg. Like finding a prize in a cracker jack. Here are all 4 legs, they came out real nice right off the saw!  I was pleased.


I used my home made tools for this project, but what was my favorite tool? I made it from a hypodermic needle!








The lip or edge on the table top was made by routing the profile on a strip of wood, then ripping it on the table saw. I use my Dremel saw for the ripping.


Then I made a jig for my little Jarmac saw to miter the ends. This jig is very accurate and everything went smoothly.





The ball and claw feet were my favorite, since I am an animal carver.




I used Michael Walton's finishing kit on the table. It is wonderful! 















26 comments:

  1. This is an exquisite piece. I love the way you made the legs. I'd like to think I will be able to make items like this one day with a bit of practise and the right equipment.

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  2. You completely captured the essence of the style. The legs are so superbly, elegantly wrought! I just cant get over your talent. You make it look so easy.

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  3. Just beautiful. Thank you for showing the steps - I love to see how a humble piece of timber can be transformed into something so delicate.

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  4. Hi Linda, I love your table and admire your skill. On a sadder note, I have only just read about your real Miracle Chicken, the story is almost unbelievable and so funny and sad at the same time. What a wonderful little companion you had for those years, who knew chickens could be so playful. I witnessed birds 'messing about' for the first time a couple of years ago and if only I had been able to use my phone camera properly I would have had it recorded. Several young magpies were rolling around on their backs kicking at each other then rolling down a slight hill. Two of them then chased each other around a tree, one of them with a twig in its beak. They looked so funny. I loved reading your story.

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    1. Margaret thank you so much for reading little Miracle's story! I really appreciate that. She was my little baby, I brought her into the world so I was truly her mother. So special, she was.
      How wonderful you got to see those magpies playing :) What an experience that must have been! I am a total bird person, birds are awesome! And yes that includes chickens They are also very snuggly! Me and Girl (a beautiful black hen with crest and full beard) were absolutely joined at the hip for 15 years. We would snuggle, she would wrap her neck around mine and I would cradle her head in my neck.....
      Thanks again---

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    2. Oh now I want a chook (Australian for chicken), that sounds so lovely I want a chook to wrap its neck around mine too!

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  5. Wonderful work, Linda, your table is gorgeous!

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  6. Hi Linda, your table is beautifully made and wonderfully elegant i love that you decided to use cherry wood for this piece and in my eyes makes it that little bit more precious.

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  7. It is just BEAUTIFUL Linda! I love the elegant curve of the leg. I can see the knuckles on the claw and even the talons. The fact that it is cherry makes it all the more special. I am so happy to see you making furniture. I hope we will be seeing more. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  8. Hi Linda!

    Just lovely! You can see the love that was incorporated into this piece. I would love to have just a teeny fraction of your skill and artistic nature. So impressive.

    Susan

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  9. This is a masterpiece!
    Greetings, Faby

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  10. Impresionante trabajo, tienes unas manos maravillosas, un artista.
    Un abrazo.
    Yolanda

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  11. Your table is exquisite and I adored seeing the process you went through to make make it....I love it!!!!

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  12. Hi Linda, this is exquisite work, awesome! A real art work.
    Ilona

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  13. What a delightful surprise to see this terrific piece of classic furniture come out of your workshop. Way to go and here is hoping for many more wunderous adventures in miniature making! I love the little scalpel!

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  14. So delicate! Your carving tool is so cool! Unfortunately syringes are very hard to get in the UK.

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  15. Linda ,
    I'm sorry, I realized that I hadn 'read long messages. I have finally caught my delay. the table is beautiful. I discovered how you do your legs. it has the extraordinary open air and discover inside the leg. I look at the pictures several times but I'm not sure I understand how you get to do that. I have tried once to see if I can finally understand how it works. I am fascinated by your work with the tools. I read all about them and I do not understand! but nothing! haha! the pictures are good, simple explanations but I do not have all the same brain you! I suddenly feel I find myself as "a chicken in front of a knife" is what for? I am very impressed with the way you work. it is amazing to work with both big tools and then work with tiny tools. I love your table. the legs are so thin. I really must try it. it's a shame for the forest that he will have to cut before I got to have four identical legs! I hope google translation will be good.

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    1. Oui Google traduction est douteux, au mieux! Je pense que vous demandez comment couper les jambes et "déballer" eux? Vous faites un gabarit en bois mince (parce que le papier cartonné est trop fragile) et tracer autour du modèle pour dessiner le motif, les genoux serrés. Vous devez avoir assez de bois épais pour laisser un peu autour de chaque jambe. Ensuite, vous faites la première coupe et enroulez un morceau de scotch autour de la place. Sur la seconde coupe, et un autre morceau de ruban adhésif. Ensuite, sur le deuxième côté et répétez. Après la dernière coupe, vous "déballer" la jambe, qui est en plein milieu de la pièce. Séjour soit directement sur la ligne de découpe ou juste à côté des déchets de celui-ci. Et puis il suffit de pratiquer! :)

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    2. thank you for your detailed explanation. I'll try because I know how this dream. I know at first I'll miss a lot of legs, but I think I have figured out how to do it. thank you very much.

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  16. Very elegant! I love finishing. Hugs, Natalia

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  17. Oh I do love a good English tea table! This one is beautiful Linda.
    I enjoy seeing some of your progress. I tried cutting cabriole legs on my scroll saw (I have cut them by hand saw before but that takes me a long time) but somehow the scroll saw and I just can't seem to get along...
    Love your home-made carving tool...unfortunately these needles are very difficult to get a hold of here in Holland.

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  18. PS: a quick question: did you age the cherry before you used it? I have cut down a fruit tree which I'd like to use for my miniatures, but wonder what to do with it. Do I cut it up now (it has been outside for a few months now) and let the wood dry indoors?

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    1. Yes I dry the wood for at least a year. This cherry came to me as big boards, (my friend/neighbor cut the tree and had it milled down) So I left it on my porch for a year or more, but if I cut little trees, I leave it as logs to dry. Cut it into manageable pieces and bring them inside. Then after a year or so I will mill it down. Probably can do it sooner if needed, with the smaller stuff.

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