As an avid woodworker, the task of precisely cutting thin strips of wood is a frequent necessity. My recent acquisition of the advanced GRR-RIPPER 3D Pushblock from MICROJIG presented the perfect opportunity to put these innovative tools to the test. To truly challenge them, I envisioned a project requiring a multitude of thin strips, opting to integrate the visually striking Blue Stained Pine I recently discovered at my local lumberyard. For just $15, I secured three 2×6 planks, setting the stage for a unique and captivating entryway console table.
The story behind Blue Stained Pine is as fascinating as its appearance. This distinctive coloration is not a conventional stain but a natural phenomenon resulting from the Mountain Pine Beetle’s activities. When these beetles attack a pine tree, they introduce blue stain fungal spores. These spores germinate and spread throughout the sapwood, obstructing the tree’s vital sap flow, ultimately leading to its demise. To prevent waste, these affected trees are then harvested, revealing the beautiful blue-grey streaks that make this wood so appealing for crafting unique furniture pieces. It’s a natural marvel that adds incredible character without the need for artificial coloring.
Crafting a Striped Wood Console Table: A DIY Guide
My vision for this console table was to achieve a dynamic striped effect using only the natural beauty of wood, eschewing traditional stains or paints. The discovery of Blue Stained Pine, with its stunning natural variations, was a game-changer. Complementing it with standard pine allowed for a striking contrast, making the design possibilities limitless. The first crucial step was to precisely cut an abundance of strips of varying widths from both wood types. This variety would provide ample design options, allowing for creative freedom in arranging the perfect striped pattern for my table.
Unleashing Precision: The GRR-RIPPER 3D Pushblock in Action
The key to achieving such consistent and accurate thin strips lies in having the right tools and mastering their use. This project served as the perfect proving ground for the GRR-RIPPER 3D Pushblock, a tool that truly revolutionizes table saw safety and precision. Its innovative design, particularly the L-shaped adjustable balance support, proved invaluable. This support drops down to the table saw’s surface, ensuring the pushblock remains perfectly level even when ripping extremely small or thin pieces of wood. This feature eliminates any tilting or rocking, providing unparalleled stability and a solid, steady push – a detail I particularly appreciate for maintaining consistent cut quality.
This “drop arm” feature became especially critical when executing beveled cuts. When a saw blade is tilted for a bevel, it inherently creates a tendency for the workpiece to pull away from the fence, making it challenging to maintain accurate, straight cuts. The GRR-RIPPER brilliantly counters this. By providing consistent, multi-directional pressure, it kept the wood firmly against the fence and precisely aligned with the blade. This capability allowed me to confidently utilize both sides of my beveled cuts, maximizing material efficiency and ensuring impeccable joint fit-up.
Beyond precision, the GRR-RIPPER also significantly enhances safety. In contrast to a traditional push stick, which primarily serves to push the wood into the blade, the GRR-RIPPER excels at applying crucial downward pressure directly over the blade. This is particularly vital for smaller workpieces where kickback is a greater risk. Without it, one would typically need a featherboard to apply this downward force. However, many fences don’t readily accommodate featherboards, and custom-making one is often a time-consuming endeavor. The GRR-RIPPER elegantly solves this problem, acting as a dynamic featherboard and push stick in one integrated unit. The GRR-RIPPER not only pushes the wood through the cut but simultaneously applies essential downward pressure, significantly improving both safety and the quality of the cut.
Designing and Assembling the Striped Tabletop
With an ample supply of precisely cut thin strips from both the natural pine and the striking Blue Stained Pine, the creative phase began. I meticulously sorted through the strips, playing with various configurations of widths and colors until I landed on a design that perfectly captured the rustic contemporary aesthetic I envisioned. This iterative process of arranging and rearranging is one of the most enjoyable aspects of woodworking, allowing the material to dictate its most beautiful presentation.
Once the final configuration was decided, it was time for the glue-up. To manage the process effectively, I assembled the strips into two more manageable sections before joining them together. This segmented approach helps prevent excessive slipping and sliding that can occur with a large, single glue-up. Despite careful clamping, glue-ups often result in some surface irregularities and the inevitable squeeze-out. Traditionally, this would necessitate extensive scraping and hours of sanding to achieve a perfectly level surface. However, having recently invested in a jointer, I was eager to employ this powerful machine for a much more efficient and precise flattening process.
Achieving a Flawless Surface: Jointer and Planer Work
My new jointer proved to be an absolute game-changer for flattening the glued-up panels. The initial push blocks that came with the jointer, however, were a disappointment – they simply slid across the wood surface, failing to provide the necessary grip and control. Without hesitation, I replaced them with the superior GRR-RIP BLOCKs that MICROJIG had also sent my way. These specialized push blocks offered dramatically improved grip and control, making the jointing process smooth, safe, and efficient. They worked 100 times better than the flimsy alternatives, allowing me to achieve perfectly flat surfaces with ease. (I also later discovered their exceptional utility on my router table for routing face-frame beads, but that’s a story for another time!)
After jointing both sections to ensure perfectly flat faces and edges, I then ran all my wood through the planer. This crucial step brought every piece to a consistent, uniform thickness, which is paramount for a professional-looking finish and robust joinery. Only after achieving this level of precision did I proceed with the final glue-up to create the full width of the table. While I dream of owning a jointer and planer wide enough to handle the entire 14-inch width in one pass (a million-dollar dream, perhaps!), I am absolutely thrilled with the capabilities of my current setup and the results it delivers.
The final full-width glue-up requires a solid array of clamps to ensure even pressure across the entire surface. With the combined efforts of the jointer and planer, the panels fit together seamlessly, ready for the next stage of construction.
Constructing the Table Base and Joinery
For the tabletop and legs, I opted for mitered corners to create a clean, elegant look. To ensure robust and long-lasting joints, I reinforced them with loose tenons. While a biscuit joiner or dowels are perfectly viable alternatives, or even more technical joinery methods, my Festool Domino proved to be the ideal tool for precise and strong mortise and tenon joints. When gluing, I apply adhesive to all mating surfaces – inside, outside, and on the tenons – before clamping everything together with ample pressure. Clamp, baby, clamp!
As the images reveal, I attached the legs in stages, which, in hindsight, was not the most efficient approach. However, this particular project underwent a significant pivot. My initial intention was to build a bench. Yet, I became so engrossed in the capabilities of my new jointer and planer that I inadvertently planed my material too thin for a sturdy bench! In the spirit of transparency and sharing real-world woodworking experiences – the good, the bad, and the ugly – I decided to adapt. A console table, requiring less structural strength than a bench, became the new goal.
This design change meant I couldn’t simply cut a single bench leg in half. Instead, I had to cut more thin strips, painstakingly trying to match the existing widths and colors as closely as possible. It was a less-than-ideal workaround, but a necessary one. Ideally, for such a design, one would create the full width of the table, then cut it into three main parts, bevel the joints, and assemble. However, working with 11-foot-long pieces of lumber in a typical home shop environment presents considerable logistical challenges. My table is 5 feet long with legs approximately 32 inches tall. I chose to cut my lumber to just over the finished length before the ripping, stripping, and gluing process. I find working with shorter, more manageable pieces far easier, even if it adds a bit more complexity at the later stages of the project.
The Art of Finishing: Enhancing Natural Wood Beauty
For the initial finish, I chose a simple wax application. While wax doesn’t offer the most durable protection against daily wear and tear, it provides a quick and beautiful way to enhance the wood’s natural grain and color. My primary goal with the wax was to visualize how the Blue Stained Pine and natural pine would look if I were to apply an oil finish. I was also contemplating whether to darken the wood first, and the wax allowed me to test the waters without a permanent commitment.
Should I decide on a more robust finish, I can easily remove the wax with mineral spirits and proceed with tung oil, which is my preferred durable finish for many projects. After the tung oil, I might even apply another layer of wax for added depth and luster. For those interested in delving deeper into the world of wood finishes, this insightful article from Woodworkers Journal on understanding oil and wax finishes offers a wealth of valuable information. Enjoy expanding your woodworking knowledge!
Final Thoughts on the Rustic Contemporary Console Table
This project, from conception to completion, was an incredibly rewarding experience. It allowed me to explore new tools like the GRR-RIPPER and my new jointer, pushing my woodworking skills and problem-solving abilities. Despite the unexpected mid-project pivot from a bench to a table, I am immensely satisfied with the final outcome. The console table, with its distinctive striped top of natural and Blue Stained Pine, stands as a testament to the beauty of natural materials and the joy of hands-on creation. It’s a rustic yet contemporary piece that would enhance any entryway or living space, and a proud addition to my portfolio of handcrafted furniture.
