Took me about 6 months to finish this entry way table (I also raised a 9 month old in that time, which seems necessary to mention). It was a labor of love. Original blueprints, I call the style “mid century mission”. I started with rough (really rough) hewn ash that had been sitting in a shed for 25 years. Short of chopping down the tree myself this was a ground up build. Very satisfying process though it tested my patience many times. Things I learned:

1. My Ridgid 6 1/8 inch standing jointer is my favorite tool. Would recommend to anyone wanting to take their shop to the next level. I did not have this tool when I started the project. Bought it halfway through and it made a world of difference. Wish I would have spent the money on it sooner. When working with rough hewn warped/cupped boards, a jointer is a must.

2. Dove tail drawers are NOT as hard as you think. If you have a decent router (1 hp) and a budget jig, you can do this. Little practice on scraps and you’re ready to go. This was my FIRST attempt at dovetails. The strength and overall ease of doing dovetails makes them an easy decision going forward.

3. If you have never heard of Rubio Monocoat as a finish, I would look into it. Seems pricey at first glance ($60+ for a small can), but it takes the place of pre stain, stain, and all those layers of poly. Hell, it may be cheaper than all of that. This project didn’t even use half of that can and I rubbed it on everything. Furthermore, you can apply in a dusty shop which is something most of us have. The finishing process with Rubio is uber simple. Color and feel are natural and I couldn’t be happier with the result

4. I need more practice with hand planing. It is not as easy as the YouTube videos make it look. Invested in blade sharpening kit to get a better edge next time. Plan on watching more videos on technique and assessing grain patterns for next time. 

5. You can never have enough clamps. Perennial advice.