Round Bistro Table
Instead of bent lamination for the curved aprons, try the centuries-old method of making a brick-laid, circular core and veneering it.
I occasionally do repair work on antiques, which has given me the opportunity to examine up close the construction techniques used centuries ago. One that really intrigues me is the old method for making curved table aprons. These days, with modern power tools, vacuum systems, and high-tech adhesives, curved work is often accomplished using bent lamination. Without the benefit of these modern methods, the craftsmen of yesteryear used a straightforward bricklaying process to form curved aprons; then they applied beautiful veneers on the show side to hide the brick wall. I’ve used this process on circular and elliptical aprons, and it can even be used in forming compound curves. In this article, I’ll show you how I’ve modernized this traditional technique using a router and router table, plus a little MDF, to build a circular table apron. I’ll also show you how I cut the bridle joinery to attach the…
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Comments
AnY tips on safely using the router with the template? I got kickback a couple of times because I was keeping a safe distance from the ring so it raised enough off the table to create the kickback.
I did this method out of curiosity on two round tables after making aprons on other tables of the same design by gluing bending ply around curved forms. Final results of the "brick" method are fine, but there was lots of wastage, more construction steps, and yes the pattern routing can be intimidating. Bandsaw close to the line so the router bit isn't removing too much material at one time, hold the apron firmly and go in the correct direction. I prefer the bending ply method myself, although I had to join four arcs instead of having complete hoops.
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