Table legs for cedar slab ideas???

[MikeMcCoy]

My creativity seems to be lacking lately so I'm here looking for ideas again.. I just milled this cedar piece for some friends so they could turn it into a weather station with clock insert. Sometime over the weekend, they changed their minds and now want me to come up with a way to make turn it into an end table for their enclosed porch. Any ideas out there about what to do for legs on this thing? This thing was originally rough cut at a severe taper so it started at 4" on one end tapering down to 1 1/2" at the other. I was finally able to even it out at an 1 1/4". As you can see from the pic, my planing bench is a little less than traditional.

[LCHIEN]

looks to me like its aching for some turned legs, with round tenons set into the bottom at splayed angles for the mortise holes.

[MikeMcCoy]

Splayed legs are definitely an option. I haven't worked with cedar - Any stability problems if I just epoxy directly into the mortise?

[Black wallnut]

looks to me like its aching for some turned legs, with round tenons set into the bottom at splayed angles for the mortise holes.

My exact thoughts!

[JSUPreston]

Splayed legs also came to mind. Another thought that might be easier: what about a smaller section of trunk as a base? Sort of like a pedastle.

[Pappy]

Through, wedged tenons in a contrasting hardwood.

[Russianwolf]

I had a large natural edge slab that I wanted to make less rustic. So I went a different direction on the legs to even out the styles.

[LCHIEN]

that turned out looking pretty cool, RW.

[Russianwolf]

Yeah, I was pretty happy with the results. You never really know if using two different styles will work on a piece until you try it and look at the result. This time it worked well.


Mike: I know you've already done the work, but thinking about it, I would have left the taper in the slab and made the top level by differing the leg heights to accomodate it. That way you could use either end as the front and get differing looks based on the thickness of the top.

[Daryl]

Good job planing, I am sure I would of wrecked it trying.
I suggest you go rustic with the legs, use some 4inch branches and peel the bark
and another smaller piece for the stretcher.

[MikeMcCoy]

Yeah, I was pretty happy with the results. You never really know if using two different styles will work on a piece until you try it and look at the result. This time it worked well.


Mike: I know you've already done the work, but thinking about it, I would have left the taper in the slab and made the top level by differing the leg heights to accomodate it. That way you could use either end as the front and get differing looks based on the thickness of the top.

That was the original idea but once I started on it, there was way too much soft material and I don't think it would have had much longevity. I originally tried soaking some of the more porous areas with CA glue and it helped ... but not enough. It looks like they want to go with the through mortise, splayed legs. I'll turn some legs and see what it looks like and if not, I have a humongous slab of natural edge walnut that might make for an interesting look.