As I wrapped up the final coat of finish on the white oak trestle-style dining room table, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride and satisfaction. This custom piece was designed to bring Kara and Floki’s family and friends together, and I envisioned it as the heart of their home – a gathering place for laughter, conversation, and countless memories. With its sturdy trestle legs and expansive table top, this table is perfectly suited to seat up to ten people comfortably, making it an ideal spot for dinner parties, family meals, and even homework sessions. Its narrower profile was carefully crafted to fit into the dining area without overcrowding, ensuring a sense of flow and functionality. I hope that this beautiful table will become a treasured part of Kara and Floki’s home, a place where they can create and connect with each other for years to come.
This custom table was designed to fit comfortably into Kara & Floki’s dining area
This custom table was designed to fit comfortably into Kara & Floki’s dining area
The project began with the selection and arrangement of eight-foot-long riftsawn white oak boards
The project began with the selection and arrangement of eight-foot-long riftsawn white oak boards
Milling the rough board to their final thickness
Milling the rough board to their final thickness
Milled boards showing their beautiful grain patterns
Milled boards showing their beautiful grain patterns
Each board received many biscuits to keep its top surface aligned during glue-up
Each board received many biscuits to keep its top surface aligned during glue-up
The first three boards ready for biscuits, glue, and clamps
The first three boards ready for biscuits, glue, and clamps
First three boards glued up and ready for the final two boards to be added after they cure overnight
First three boards glued up and ready for the final two boards to be added after they cure overnight
Two boards ready to be added
Two boards ready to be added
The full table top glued up and curing in parallel clamps
The full table top glued up and curing in parallel clamps
Two narrow boards ready to be glued up for a built-up edge
Two narrow boards ready to be glued up for a built-up edge
Edge boards glued up and curing
Edge boards glued up and curing
For the built-up ends, care was taken to arrange the grain direction with the existing table top
For the built-up ends, care was taken to arrange the grain direction with the existing table top
The tracksaw was used to trim the edges of the table to get its final width
The tracksaw was used to trim the edges of the table to get its final width
Built-up end boards glued up and ready to be applied to the table top ends
Built-up end boards glued up and ready to be applied to the table top ends
The matching grain direction should prevent warpage with seasonal expansion and contraction – sadly didn’t work out that way
The matching grain direction should prevent warpage with seasonal expansion and contraction – sadly didn’t work out that way
The finished table top, ready to sit and wait for its trestle base to be fabricated
The finished table top, ready to sit and wait for its trestle base to be fabricated
Jeff kindly contributed more riftsawn white oak for the table base
Jeff kindly contributed more riftsawn white oak for the table base
Table base trestle and stretcher parts roughed out
Table base trestle and stretcher parts roughed out
Large dadoes were formed in the trestle parts by cutting dadoes in the halves first, then gluing them together
Large dadoes were formed in the trestle parts by cutting dadoes in the halves first, then gluing them together
Setup for cutting dadoes on one side of the sub-assembly
Setup for cutting dadoes on one side of the sub-assembly
Quick dry fit check with the trestle horizontal and vertical components
Quick dry fit check with the trestle horizontal and vertical components
A custom angle-cutting sled made short work of all the required angle cuts
A custom angle-cutting sled made short work of all the required angle cuts
Dry fit of the two trestle assemblies
Dry fit of the two trestle assemblies
Shop drawings were created from a SketchUp 3D model in LayOut
Shop drawings were created from a SketchUp 3D model in LayOut
Angled dadoes being cut into the halves of the two long stretchers
Angled dadoes being cut into the halves of the two long stretchers
With the dadoes cut in the top stretcher, it was used to assist with laying out the dado locations for the bottom stretcher
With the dadoes cut in the top stretcher, it was used to assist with laying out the dado locations for the bottom stretcher
Top and bottom stretchers being glued up
Top and bottom stretchers being glued up
Top and bottom stretchers clamped up and curing
Top and bottom stretchers clamped up and curing
Additional pockets to receive the stretcher ends had to be cut before the trestle members were all glued together
Additional pockets to receive the stretcher ends had to be cut before the trestle members were all glued together
First dry fit of the entire base allowed for the location and layout of the bottom stretcher pockets
First dry fit of the entire base allowed for the location and layout of the bottom stretcher pockets
Carefully laying out the bottom stretcher pockets to be cut with a custom template and router
Carefully laying out the bottom stretcher pockets to be cut with a custom template and router
Dry fit of table base sub-assemblies
Dry fit of table base sub-assemblies
Palm router and bearing flush trim bit extended the pocket into the vertical trestle member
Palm router and bearing flush trim bit extended the pocket into the vertical trestle member
A custom router jig was fit to the end of the lower stretcher for routing a perfect pocket to receive it
A custom router jig was fit to the end of the lower stretcher for routing a perfect pocket to receive it
Custom router jig
Custom router jig
Routing pockets with the custom jig
Routing pockets with the custom jig
Fit check for the stretcher pocket locations
Fit check for the stretcher pocket locations
A nice fit was obtained by using a custom router jig, sized to the end of the lower stretcher
A nice fit was obtained by using a custom router jig, sized to the end of the lower stretcher
The tracksaw helped make scoring cuts in the trestle base to provide relief for three glue blocks attached to the bottom of the table top
The tracksaw helped make scoring cuts in the trestle base to provide relief for three glue blocks attached to the bottom of the table top
Top stretcher scored for three glue block relief locations
Top stretcher scored for three glue block relief locations
Scoring cuts detail
Scoring cuts detail
A quick drill jig positioned the main mounting holes in the centers of the glue block relief areas
A quick drill jig positioned the main mounting holes in the centers of the glue block relief areas
A shoulder plane fine-tuned the trestle mortises for the final fitting around the vertical members
A shoulder plane fine-tuned the trestle mortises for the final fitting around the vertical members
The two trestle assemblies are finally ready for final glue-up
The two trestle assemblies are finally ready for final glue-up
Trestle assemblies glued up and cooking in the clamps
Trestle assemblies glued up and cooking in the clamps
Table base assembled with timber screws
Table base assembled with timber screws
The completed table base ready for finishing
The completed table base ready for finishing
First view of table top sitting on its base … and a disappointing discovery
First view of table top sitting on its base … and a disappointing discovery
I misted the underside of the table top with water to see if the warpage would relax
I misted the underside of the table top with water to see if the warpage would relax
Table base ready to accept the table top with two fastening systems, 3 #12 screws on the centerline, and Z-clips from each trestle top should accommodate seasonal expansion and contraction
Table base ready to accept the table top with two fastening systems, 3 #12 screws on the centerline, and Z-clips from each trestle top should accommodate seasonal expansion and contraction
Even with the grain aligned properly, the additional thickness on the ends of the table top allowed non-uniform stresses to occur
Even with the grain aligned properly, the additional thickness on the ends of the table top allowed non-uniform stresses to occur
The tracksaw was used to make a series of relief cuts in both end doublers, which would allow the table top to regain its flatness
The tracksaw was used to make a series of relief cuts in both end doublers, which would allow the table top to regain its flatness
Relief cuts will not be very noticeable once the table top is right side up
Relief cuts will not be very noticeable once the table top is right side up
With the relief cuts in place, very little clamping pressure was needed to bring the top back to flat
With the relief cuts in place, very little clamping pressure was needed to bring the top back to flat
Three glue blocks were glued and screwed to the underside of the table top to provide more thickness for the #12 attachment screws
Three glue blocks were glued and screwed to the underside of the table top to provide more thickness for the #12 attachment screws
The two end #12 screws were installed through large clearance holes and snugged up using fender washers
The two end #12 screws were installed through large clearance holes and snugged up using fender washers
View showing both the #12 attachment screw on the table centerline, and the Z-clips perpendicular to that centerline
View showing both the #12 attachment screw on the table centerline, and the Z-clips perpendicular to that centerline
With the table base temporarily installed, it was a relief to see the table top back to its original, flat condition
With the table base temporarily installed, it was a relief to see the table top back to its original, flat condition
Final fit check before a little more sanding then staining and polyurethane clear coats
Final fit check before a little more sanding then staining and polyurethane clear coats
Samples of white oak for comparison to the existing banquettes, which used the same Provincial stain, but were made of white ash
Samples of white oak for comparison to the existing banquettes, which used the same Provincial stain, but were made of white ash
Stain applied to the table base
Stain applied to the table base
Stain applied to the underside of the table top
Stain applied to the underside of the table top
Table top right side up, ready to be stained
Table top right side up, ready to be stained
Table top after staining, which really enhanced the beautiful white oak grain structure
Table top after staining, which really enhanced the beautiful white oak grain structure
MinWax Provincial was used, but I switched away from the water-based polyurethane to an oil-based polyurethane because the water-based product could create warping issues on large, flat surfaces
MinWax Provincial was used, but I switched away from the water-based polyurethane to an oil-based polyurethane because the water-based product could create warping issues on large, flat surfaces
Table top with one, still wet coat of polyurethane
Table top with one, still wet coat of polyurethane
Fully dry, the first coat of satin sheen polyurethane was ready to receive two additional coats for maximum protection
Fully dry, the first coat of satin sheen polyurethane was ready to receive two additional coats for maximum protection
MinWax oil-based polyurethane in a warm satin sheen
MinWax oil-based polyurethane in a warm satin sheen
The final finishing step was to apply two coats of polyurethane to the underside of the table top
The final finishing step was to apply two coats of polyurethane to the underside of the table top
Delivery began with loading the table top upside down
Delivery began with loading the table top upside down
The table base was loosely attached to the top for the most stable ride configuration
The table base was loosely attached to the top for the most stable ride configuration
Protected and secured, Kara and Floki’s dining room table was about to see its forever home
Protected and secured, Kara and Floki’s dining room table was about to see its forever home
Kara and Floki’s custom dining room table next to the two custom storage banquettes
Kara and Floki’s custom dining room table next to the two custom storage banquettes