So the design is finished, the wood has arrived and I have started a new course. How to build a coffee table.
This is going to be a multi part course, with a cut down version on you tube.
This is a beautiful table made of American Oak, standing 500mm high, just over 1200mm long, 700mm wide with four dovetailed drawers.
This will challenge our skills, but will be well worth the effort.

Lesson 1 will be live on Friday 6th September 2019 with a new lesson published every Friday.
Can’t wait, then check out the mini series on you tube that looks at the design of this table.
Really looking forward to this build, hope you enjoy the content.
Cheers
Andy
Hi Andy, I have enjoyed the series ! Thank you for putting it all together to this point and am looking forward to seeing the breakdown of the pile of wood that has been acclimating in you shop.
Thank you,
So just finished editing the YouTube video that will also be out on Friday that has a very quick look at that.
The second lesson on the course will look at breaking down the stock in detail.
The next challenge is to try and work out what I publish in you tube v what I publish on the site.
Cheers
A
Must jump in an say the same, the first part of the series was very interesting seeing what goes into planning a build like this from idea to full set of plans. Cant wait to see more 🙂
Thank you, more goes in than you would think.
Wait until I start to talking about photo realistic rendering……
Great job on the videos and on breaking down the wood! We can see your worktop again ?. You made Sketchup, the cutlist and breaking down the wood look deceptively easy. Thank you for taking the time to demonstrate it all. I am looking forward to the rest. My issue when breaking down wood is that when I get a nice large piece to make a bunch of small parts I always procrastinate on breaking it down. I always want to keep the wood in as large as piece as possible, but I also want the matching wood tone and grain to flow across pieces. It becomes one of those just do it and follow the plan to get going. I know it’s a weird quirk of mine.
Hi,
Thanks for the feedback, I will go into more detail on breaking down the wood in the course – as there are some decisions that we can make as we carry out the first stage.
On some pieces you absolutely want that run of grain, for example in the draw fronts, but that wide slab on the top will look great on day one – but revisit it in a year’s time and have a look at that awesome cup.
But there are techniques we can have to make the top look nice and still be stable. Almost making a feature out of the grain contrast.
And you are not alone – it just feels wrong to cut that beautiful slab – but needs must.
Cheers
A
Hi Andy, enjoying the content keep it going been following the coffee table series and gradually trying to get to grips with sketch-up.
Hi George,
Thanks for the feedback, I will be creating a course on Sketchup in the near future.
Cheers
Andy
Hi Andy,
Great video series!
Thanks Sam
Hi Sam,
Thank you – yes it’s coming along nicely.
Cheers
Andy