Ornamental table

[Bob]

I had posted a picture of a table on a thread a while back and some wanted to know how to build one so I did a build-a-long. These tables now take me about half a day to build and sell for some pretty serious money as they are artsy, one of a kind and totally custom. I know I`m just a welder, I work on anything thats metal but people dont say they want you to build a table for them. They want to commission you to build a table. You get to charge more then. These tables are well within the realm of the newer guys in the craft and like I said, the moneys good. I hope you all enjoy

For legs you get extended lambs tongues from King Architectural Metals. A section will need to be cut out to make legs for the height you need. You can see an uncut one and our recut and welded leg.

[Bob]

The weld should be ground and sanded as it needs to be perfect, good money is being paid for this and it`s in someones house.
The bend may need to be adjusted or bent more to work. I use a piece of square tubing and slide it back and forth and hit it with a hammer.

[Bob]

Next draw out the size of the table on the welding table. Weld flat strap to two of the legs, the same thickness as the legs. This is 2"X3/8". Our table is 23"X26" as this is the size of the piece of granite that the customer has. Use a square to make the curve of the leg even with the scrolled foot.

[Bob]

Setting them in the drawing you can tell where to cut your flat strap so that your other legs will be right. After welding all legs on we go to our scrolls that will be our side trim and is also added support for the legs. I buy scrolls that are a little long as finding them the exact length is impossible. Cut and weld, grind and sand. weld in place.

[Bob]

Weve built the table upside down and how level the legs are is only as good as our accuracy in cutting and splicing the lambs tongues. To level the table,decide which leg is high,place table on welding table with the long leg off the welding table. Take a grinder and dust it across the bottom of the leg. Try to push it onto the welding table. Wont go-dust a little more on the bottom of the leg. When the table slides onto the welding table it is now setting on all four legs and should also be level. Heres a picture of the leveling and all welding done, ready to go to the powder coaters. Textured black for this one.

[Bob]

It`s back from the powder coaters so we glue the granite top on with construction adhesive like PL 400 or Liquid Nails. It`s finished.

[Bob]

I`ve built over sixty tables and have never built two exactly alike. Your imagination can take you far with these. Heres some more to give you guys some ideas.

[stevinator]

Those are real nice,great work.

[Mark...]

Very good, Bob

Thanks for the pics.

[MEWelding.com]

Good article. Nice tables.

What is the typical price or range one of your tables sells for?

[LA Weld]

Very nice work and inspitation to make something.

[denrep]

Wow Bob,

Commissioned... I like that.
Look at all those duplicate bends! Maybe a WeldingWeb bending lesson is in order.

Very nice work, thanks for the post.



Next time the discussion among the poets, artists, and philosophers gets a little heated; I know which table I'm grabbing. ...and I'm not passing out this time!

[Thrash]

Nice looking tables.
Good Ideas.
I am trying to build all of my own home furniture tired of buying junk.

[ed mac]

nice work how do you get the word out
to buyers, do you do the wood work

[flatbustedbroke]

Thanks for including the source. I have been looking for a good source have you been dealing with these guys for a while and do they treat you fairly? Oh and they look great really like the different types of surfaces

[Supe]

Originally Posted by flatbustedbroke

Thanks for including the source. I have been looking for a good source have you been dealing with these guys for a while and do they treat you fairly? Oh and they look great really like the different types of surfaces

King is pretty much the go-to source for all things decorative in the metal world. Finials, scrolls, you name it. And they're as easy to deal with as some of the reputable mail order places.

[flatbustedbroke]

One question about the legs. Wouldn't it be quicker easier to just cut them to length and bend them than to cut, weld, grind, sand? Just asking as the bend doesn't look to severe and that seems like a lot of additional work to do all of that.

[farmersamm]

Your metal working, and wood working are flawless. (as always)

I like the way you and the wife have your store set up. The rugs really set off the tables.

My favorites are the ones with the dark wood tops

[Thrash]

do you have a website or where do you sell?
how much do you charge for a table.

[Annamel]

nice looking work bob.

[Oldtimer]

Really nice.

[specter]

VERY nice work. Nice combo of wood to metal

[lugweld]

What is the wood inlay?
I am thinking of doing some in Pecan.

[rookie_steve]

VERY NICE! Thanks for sharing Bob. I have plans for a basic table without bends and will be getting a taste of making 90-degree angles with level table top, which I am sure is a learning experience itself. So it will be a while before I try tackling a project like yours but am saving the thread on my hard-drive for quick future reference. If you think ya ever need a website "commissioned" ... sorry about the blatant self-promotion.

Thanks again,
Steve

[Stampeder]

Bob:

I really like your work. They finish up very nicely.

One thing when your taking pictures to post, blur out your license plates. You never know who's looking at you postings. I notice it's being done a lot these days and you can never be too careful.

Thanks for sharing you knowledge and skills with us.

Cheers.