Christmas in June…an incredible table

James’ beautiful table…

Accomplished woodworker and loving husband James Dunlap wanted to make his wife a beautiful wooden table as a Christmas present. Eight months and a lot of hard work later, it’s happily sitting in his dining room. Here’s James with the details: 

The table is made of black limba, with accents of ironwood, cocobolo, and purple heart. There is no metal, fasteners or other hardware, in the table at all. I started the table in November, but soon realized that I needed more practice to do the dovetail keys and other joinery involved to produce what I had in mind.

The dowels for the table top, for example, are made out of cocobolo, which I couldn’t source and had to make in the shop. There was also much hemming and hawing as to what finish to put on it. At last it is where it belongs; in the dining room, covered with my daughter’s tofu lasagna.

I plan on building more furniture in the future and aspire to one day do it for a living. You will probably see more of my future projects on my business Facebook page.

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