Pinwheel table

davidheim1

art deco pinwheel table.skpI was cruising the 1stdibs auction site tonight, because I wasn't that interested in what was on TV. Came across this Art Deco side table; placing tenons on the upper and lower rails was a moderate challenge. If I owned a Festool Domino, I might try to build one of these tables for real.
dh

Dave R

Nice work. I was cruising there yesterday and saw several pieces I thought you'd like. I'll have to see if I can find them for you.

You're right about the tenons on the top rails. It would make more sense to use loose tenons. At least as drawn, you'd have to make the rail blanks at least an 1/8 in. thicker and plane off most of it.

I'm sure you know that a simple router jig and an upcut spiral bit would make quick work of the mortises.

davidheim1

Dave,
Thanks for the good words. You're right about a router jig and spiral upcut bit, but a Festool Domino is way cooler. Too bad I didn't lobby for one for Father's Day.

And, now that I think about it, the original table was probably assembled with dowels.

Best,
dh

Dave R

I was going to suggest that it might have been dowels that were used. Based on the time frame of the table, they'd have been commonly used.

Maybe you could ask for a Domino as a 4th of July gift.

slbaumgartner

A Domino would make it easier to cut the mortises in the ends of the rails, though you'd have to be careful to get the fence flat against the end of the curved rail. However, you'd have to get creative to cut the ones in the round center post. The flat there is not wide enough to register the fence of the domino. A couple of ideas occur to me:

You could initially make the post triangular cross section and mill the slots extra deep, then turn it to final size.
You could make a jig that would sit on the flat but span wider than the rail and again mill the slot through it extra deep.

Steve

Dave R

A Jig for the Domino would be easy enough. I'd use my Router Boss to cut all the mortises.

davidheim1

Dave, Steve,
Good suggestions; thanks. If I were building this piece for real (and if I did get a Domino for a July 4 present), I think I'd try the auxiliary fence to cut the mortises.
Best,
dh

Dave R

Do you want me to put in a good word with your bride?

davidheim1

Dave,
I appreciate the offer, but convincing her of the value of a Domino would be completely futile.
Best,
dh

Dave R

Understood.