Inlaid Coffee Table - design help

[Marchrider]

Started this a will ago for a friend (it was going to be for xmas) but we lost the plot with the design when we decided it looked like a fan blade (even though it was her idea)

got going again with it a couple of weeks ago (no chance for xmas now) tried to break it up with some Swifts, think its improved - but what should i do in the middle?

just a straight design of different types of wood, or just use the same two woods that already feature

Should I make the middle larger and may be feature another bird

should I use a different type of wood altogether, more pronounced grain all pointing to the centre, may be an Oak or something, maybe be a walnut swirly grain ?

 

[sheddy]

Are there any African symbols suitable, where swifts live for half the year ?

 

[Marchrider]

Are there any African symbols suitable, where swifts live for half the year ?

some sort of rune - interesting idea

 

[Marchrider]

I asked Ai to find or design a Rune for a Swift - it got itself confused and come up with a Swallow - god help us with this tech

but what a lovely design - could be my next challenge, although I have no idea how I coud get those fine lines into the wings

 

[T4tomo]

Maybe just drop a beermat in the hole and varnish over!

more seriously given all the other design is multi directional, you don't want another bird in there as that will be pointing in a single direction, you want a circular design that is the same viewed from any angle. Sun / moon?

 

[Tail End Charlie]

I'd agree about not having another bird in there, maybe some sort of ying yang symbol. Either way whatever you do it'll look superb, you are very talented.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Looking good.

Plain wood in the middle - will be too 'busy' imo with anything more.

No idea on colour though - sorry!

 

[Marchrider]

I'd agree about not having another bird in there, maybe some sort of ying yang symbol. Either way whatever you do it'll look superb, you are very talented.

I have access to a wonderful workshop full of quality machinery - I do quite a bit of the maintenance and my payment is a set of keys and as much access as I like, its a good deal


anyways, I was very boring with the centre, took me all day, but the top is now ready to be finished - still don't think it is right but that doesn't matter as it's not for me

and after mentioning above my access to some wonderful machinery - there in the picture is one of the best finishing tools, few people have ever even heard of them - a tradition cabinet makers scraper, far better finish than sandpaper, and a million times better than an orbital sander

 

[Marchrider]

and now for the leg
A chunk of Oak that I think I got out of the river a few years back, and some Teak that I got out of a skip (unwanted garden furniture)

cut it up, joined some of it together - soon starts to look like nice wood

and then all glued together and clamped with tourniquets

 

[annedonnelly]

I think I'd have been happy with the fan blade version at the start never mind the lovely version you have now. Don't forget to show us the final finished table.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

I could give you some ideas, but they'd be beyond your skill level.

Said nobody

Am impress!

 

[Marchrider]

I think I'd have been happy with the fan blade version at the start never mind the lovely version you have now. Don't forget to show us the final finished table.

thankyou - part of the reason for posting is to hurry myself along, if I think others are watching I will get on with it - I'm terrible at getting distracted and shelving stuff till next week, then the week after
And of course the other reason, there may be others who have a similar hobby, and there is so much to learn, and the true cabinet makers are mostly a thing of the past

 

[Marchrider]

All Glued up, alternative Oak then Teak

you will get the jist of what i am doing now, rubbed a bit of oi into part of it to see if I'm getting much of a contrast

mortises cut and feet cut

and got some danish oil rubbed into the top,

might look ok with a few more coats then buffed uo

 

[SpokeyDokey]

All Glued up, alternative Oak then Teak
View attachment 757081

you will get the jist of what i am doing now, rubbed a bit of oi into part of it to see if I'm getting much of a contrast
View attachment 757082

View attachment 757083

mortises cut and feet cut
View attachment 757084

View attachment 757086

and got some danish oil rubbed into the top,
View attachment 757088

Fantastic!

 

[Marchrider]

just to be clear - I havn't done all the leg thing today, (i'm not that quick a worker) that was done a few weeks back then the whole thing shelved as I was losing the plot with the top,
But have started the really difficult bit of fitting the feet to the pedestal - so difficult to get them all level