If there was a single most impactful project in my hobbyist career (so far), this is it. The idea was simple – to make a C-shaped side table that would slide over the couch for snacks, laptops, etc. I was riding high off building these Youtube floating shelves and ready to tackle anything with my circular saw, $30 orbital sander, speed square and handful of clamps.
The design was minimal. I dreamt of all different elaborate joinery for the corners of the frame but quickly realised this was totally unfeasible – with only a jigsaw, orbital sander, speed square and handful of clamps. Material was minimal – it would take only one 2x2x8 from the big box store and an oak panel cut to length and laminated to make the tabletop. I opted to simply but the corners and screw the joints together.
Design and planning went well, I had my dimensions and broke down all the stock into the required components. I laminated the tabletop which went surprisingly well. But when it came to assembling the frame which I assumed would be a quick and simple operation to screw the pieces together, I met a nasty opponent. This 2×2, as anyone who has purchased lumber at the home centre probably already knows (yes, I was green, I was naive, I learned valuable lessons), was twisted like Goldilocks’ curls and bowed to boot. I missed the fairly important stage of stock prep, meaning I was wrestling with twisted, not flat, not square, not straight lumber for every which component. This did not make for a fun time.
First I didn’t have any workholding on my basic bench so I mostly had to physically struggle to get the components in position to drill and screw. Next they were so twisted I had to wrestle each one into position to connect it to the next. I didn’t realise how bad twist could be over such a short distance. For all of the dreams and romanticising of peaceful sunkissed woodworking, this was a nightmare.
My wife and I had planned to watch a movie that evening and wanted to use our new table for popcorn. I was determined to eat popcorn that day off this table. There was no plan B, no regrouping, I was getting this done. I couldn’t bear the thought of a) quitting and b) having to come back to it the next day
Eventually, I did. It got screwed together and I attached the top. With screws. It had taken shape, not without some blood, sweat and swearing. We ate our popcorn but I was a broken man and needed some help.
This prompted searching about working by hand in a small space – like I mentioned before I thought woodworking was all about power tools and machines. I couldn’t possibly fit machines on my balcony. My logic was – surely people have done this before without machines and I guess I was correct.
The next day as I processed the trauma, I began searching around for how to straighten boards by hand. When I came across flattening boards by hand it all clicked. I was obsessed. Hand planes. It all made sense.
The table got assembled and put to use that Saturday. The next day I sanded it down with the orbital sander which smoothed the rough surfaces somewhat – removed the risk of splinters etc – but it was still fairly rough and ready. I used a spray polyurethane to finish it and applied two coats. It was a nightmare to build but honestly the result has been excellent. The table is still around, holding up and in use. I’m pleasantly surprised. It’s not built like a tank but it’s as good as it was when it was made a few years ago, the wonky screws held up. It’s still twisted though, if nothing else an excellent example of how twist can and will manifest in your piece:
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