After 6 months, working almost daily between 7 and 8am before going to work in my small garage shop, I finally put the finishing touches on the Federal Card Table project.
This project was inspired by a Fine Woodworking article titled “Federal Demilune Card Table” (Steve Latta, issue #180.) I met Steve at the Fine Woodworking Live conference last August in New Haven, CT, and he gave me a few great tips he had learned since writing that article about the best ways to build and veneer the apron. I made sure to follow his advice.
The last step was to take a few photographs of the finished project. To achieve this, I turned to an excellent Fine Woodworking article titled “A Woodworker’s Guide to Photography” (Michael Pekovich, issue #213.) Overall I am extremely pleased with the result:
As you can see, this table is not a reproduction, but rather an interpretation of a period form. I am not a huge fan of bell flower inlay, and I replaced the oval inlays found on most period pieces with a slightly more modern curly maple diamond inlay on each leg.
I chose this project not only based on the esthetics of the table, but also because it has taught me the following skills:
- How to prepare and use hot hide glue
- How to make and apply holly stringing
- How to make a knuckle joint
- How to install card table hinges
- How to drawbore a mortise and tenon joint
- Hammer veneering
- French polishing
Nowadays, this table sits in my living room, and is used as a decorative piece of furniture sporting picture frames and flower bouquets.
I hope you like it!