Card Table Hump Day

With a six-day class at Kelly Mehler’s School of Woodworking, Wednesday means we’ve just ended the third day , the hump day. Photos may not adequately show the progress, but it is huge. And everyone is on track to wrap things up on Saturday.

Since we began the class, the guys have tapered the table legs, built up the brick front apron and separated the apron from the bricked assembly (shown in the photo at left) are the remains of the first day’s efforts. Afterward they attached the back apron to the bricking. That connection is no small feat. Due to the fragility of the bricks, the dovetails that join the back apron to the front are most difficult. More than one brick-laid apron developed an issue as the dovetail sockets were cut. One thing the guys have learned is how to overcome problems , and that is a great lesson to learn.

After the apron was complete and the medial stretcher installed, it was on to routing a wide dado as part of the bridle-joint-joined front legs. A couple guys wondered why we took the time to create this joint until after the leg slid in position and the added strength was discovered. These nine card tables will not show signs of racking in the future.

We ended the day by installing the front veneer. Most everyone had the veneer trimmed before Kelly and his wife Teri arrived back at the shop with trays of sandwiches and other goodies. What else would 10 woodworkers do but sit around talking shop and enjoying the good eats?

And what’s an instructor to do while all the handwork is being done? It’s no hammock, but life is good.

– Glen D. Huey