Time to take the two half-tops and get them glued into one big monster top....

First had to do some edge-jointing with a handplane on the adjoining edges to get them so they will clamp up flush. My Veritas low-angle jackplane did a fine job and is a real blessing...

Then it was time to cut some mortises in the adjoining edges to accommodate the Domino loose tenons that help with alignment...

Then it was time to do a glue-up-clamp-up into one big table top...

Next: Breadboard ends!

So, I've decided to split the dining table top glue-up into two parts because of the size and weight. Here's the first part all glued and clamped up.  I used biscuits and clamping cauls to help with alignment of the boards...

Here they are after glue has dried and joint lines scraped and sanded...

And here are the other top boards getting ready for glue-up...

Once I got the top boards and breadboards milled to final thickness and width, it was time to experiment with how to lay them all out. Need to take into account pleasing grain patterns, getting the edge grain directions alternated, etc.. Here's how it came out - look OK?  :)

With a project this large, there is a lot of work involved in just getting the pieces milled to size. Here are the results after doing the jointing, planing, and rip-cutting to final thickness and width on the pieces for the top...

I will soon be starting on a farmhouse table with breadboard ends for a family at church. We traveled up to Culpeper to procure all the white oak I will need (lot of 8/4 for the top). Had to cut to rough length out in the driveway before bringing it into the shop...

Drawer being glued and clamped in a nice, warm environment... :)

Notching the lower drawer guides with a legacy bandsaw I recently got from my brother-in-law, previously owned by my Dad...

Gluing in the side guide strips...

Gluing up the top...

Got the bevel on the underside done, scraped all the burn marks clean...

Gluing in the upper drawer glides after drilling through elongated holes for screws to mount the top, allowing for wood movement...

Drawer fits nicely...

Putting some finish on the inside parts and the drawer (customer will be finishing all the outside)...

Done!

Last Saturday, Hannah and I set up at the Holly Jolly Christmas Market show in downtown Staunton. Because of the colder weather the show was moved indoors (for which we were grateful :) ).  Thanks to all the friendly folks who came out to see us!

We are building another Shaker End Table out of cherry (unfinished) for some dear friends in Gloucester, VA. Got started today on the legs. Here are some progress pictures showing the joinery mortises and tapers cut...

Starting with raw lumber cut to rough size...

Cut the long and short mortises on the router table and the tapers on the table saw with a tapering jig ...

Can you see that taper?

All arranged, upside down...

Next up: the aprons and rails

It was a beautiful fall day for the 40th annual Dayton Days show. Pleasant View Soaps (daughter Hannah), Granny's Baskets (Deb's mom Mildred), and Pleasant View Woodworks were all there as a family affair. Thanks to all who stopped by to see us!

Setting up at 0:dark-hundred...

Aren't they nice?  :)