Ash Slab Coffee Table
(August-September 2023)
The Ash Slab Coffee Table is one of my favorite projects. Starting at the beginning of my senior year, this table was an opportunity for me to build something to fit the style of my living space. This project allowed me to work in an independent manner, and further develop my design language outside of the usual constraints I work under.
The only major constraint in my design process was my desire to preserve as much of the natural shape of the 4 foot ash slab as possible in my final design. My process began ideation sketches, followed by cutting out templates of the slab, and iterating upon the leg design to affix to the tabletop.
The only major constraint in my design process was my desire to preserve as much of the natural shape of the 4 foot ash slab as possible in my final design. My process began ideation sketches, followed by cutting out templates of the slab, and iterating upon the leg design to affix to the tabletop.
These iterations allowed me to think further about what layout the final table would take. Of the two above models, I decided upon pursuing a hybrid of the two leg layouts while flipping the orientation of the slab on the final table. the quadrilateral shape of the legs remained consistent beyond the initial sketch phase. With a design in mind, and my materials already at hand, I began on fabrication.
I was able to cut the blanks for the legs in an afternoon, though I left the third leg long in order to leave room to determine its angle and how long it would be to fit the style on the final table design. I additionally utilized a router sled and extensive sanding in order to level the tabletop slab, alongside cutting off an inch from the front and back of the slab to remove the lumberyard coatings and clean up the edges. Subsequent to this, I made a final selection on the orientation of the slab, and marked out measurements for where the legs would fit, along with the spacing for the C channel to prevent the slab from cupping.
I set aside an entire day for the routing work I needed to do. I first started off giving the legs their final shape, and began checking the layout to confirm it was what I wanted. I then began on routing the C channel slots, ensuring the metal fit perfectly. As soon as the channel cutout and mounting was complete, I was then able to move forward with permanently securing the third leg in place, while fitting the aluminum support rod to ensure stability.
In order to secure the legs, I settled on a two dowel joint while utilizing a portable hand drill press. This allowed me to easily navigate around the slab's dimensions and bring the work to the piece. I secured the front legs first, drilled the holes for the back leg, routed and affixed the C channel, and then calculated and set the third leg in place along with the aluminum support rod after it had been painted. Once fabrication was complete, I moved on to finishing.
For my finish, I decided to highlight the natural character of the wood using boiled linseed oil. I applied a base coat, did a pass of high grit sanding, and added two final coats after that. Once all the finish had dried and cured, I was able to move it into my living room.
This design allowed me to refine my process outside of the usual constraints of my designs. I found that designing for an existing space and around existing materials I already had in my possession allowed a concept to emerge much more quickly for me than it might have had I chosen to incorporate more materials. I now have a beautiful piece of furniture that fits the space in the exact way I intended.