Before my friend Ken left on an extended vacation, he stopped by at the shop and dropped of 16 solid Black Walnut blocks to be integrated into a unique end table design. We discussed the details, and I started the process of CAD drawfting the table bases. This week, Ken approved the drawings, and I was able to order materials and start fabricating components for these tables. Here are some pictures!
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Here are the 4″ by 4″ solid Black Walnut blocks after Ken dropped them of at my shop. -
These blocks are to be held in place and properly spaced by a grid. Here are the first pieces of the grid after plasma cutting. -
After cleaning the pieces I slid them into each other, aligned and squared them on my welding table, and tack welded them together. -
Here is the first test, and the blocks fit nicely in there. Now I felt comfortable to cut the remaining pieces for the other two table base grids. -
Here are all three welded together, after finish grinding. -
Today I cut the frame parts on my dry cut saw, and prepped them for welding. Ready to go! -
All flat frames welded! -
Finish grinding all the welds! -
Welding the center frames together with one of my weldings squares as a jig. -
This is what the finished top frame looks like after all three frames are welded together. -
Getting the first grid ready to be inserted into the top frame. -
After grinding a minimal amount of the ends, I was able to pound the grid into the frame with a rubber mallet. The spacers in this picture help me to get the grid to the correct height inside the frame. -
Done! -
I set up the frame on some spacers to test all the blocks! -
Here are the outside blocks all in place. -
Right now it is upside down, but helpful to check it all out! -
I added the taller center blocks into the grid, and it all fits really well. -
Another view from a little further back. -
And another one! That’s all for today! To be continued on Monday! 🙂