DIY Network

Nesting Tables: The Finishing Touches From "Freeform Furniture" episode DFFF-101

In this final segment for "Nesting Tables," host Amy Devers finishes veneering the table and shows you how to vacuum seal it to help the glue bond.

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	Host Amy Devers puts all the finishing touches on the bendable wood nesting table.
	Nesting Tables

Materials --

2 sheets of 4"x 8" plywood
Pencil
Tape measure
Yellow glue
Dry wall screws
2 sheets of 1/8" thick Italian bending plywood
Wood filler
One 4" x 8" sheet of paper-backed Wenge veneer
Scissors
Band clamps
White glue
Low-tack blue tape
Wooden cauls
Double stick tape
180-grit sandpaper
220-grit sandpaper
Wipe on polyurethane
Rags

Tools --

Jigsaw
Router
Flush trim router bit
Table saw
Miter saw
Hand planer
Orbital sander
Vacuum press
Roller

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

Finishing Touches

1. The large pieces of veneer now have to be attached on the top and bottom. To begin, cut the piece of veneer a little oversized (figure A).

2. Use a roller to apply the glue because the surface is so large. Spread the glue until you get a good even coat of glue on the skin.

3. Make two cauls for the bottom of the feet and two that are the same profile as the edge of the table. Cauls offer support when clamping. Give each one of the cauls a good coat of paste wax so that the glue won't stick to them.

   Note: A caul is a plate or pad used as a spacer between your clamp jaws and the item that you are clamping. They distribute pressure and will prevent the jaws of the clamp from forming an imprint on the wood. You can make cauls out of scrap wood.

4. Once the glue is applied, tape the cauls in place (figure B)

5. Position the veneer on the top of the table using center marks to make sure it is lined up (figure C).

6. Secure everything in place with blue tape. Then, the veneer needs to be worked down on each side of the table to make sure there is a good bond (figure D).

7. Once the veneer is on it is time for the vacuum press. The vacuum press will create a good glue bond for the veneer.

   Note: A vacuum press is basically a polypropylene bag that is hooked up to a vacuum pump.

   Safety Tip: Never leave children unattended near a vacuum press.

8. Put the table in the bag and seal up the open end of the bag and turn on the vacuum. This will suck out all the air and pull the bag tightly against the entire surface of the table essentially acting as an overall clamp.

9. As the pump pulls the air out of the bag, straighten out the surface of the bag to get even pressure (figure E).

10. After the glue sets up, unseal the vacuum bag and trim off the excess veneer with the laminate trimmer.

11. Repeat the entire veneering process for the bottom of the table.

12. Once the table has been veneered, hand sand it with 320-grit sandpaper to smooth out the surface.

13. Finish the process with three coats of polyurethane to give it a strong durable finish.

RESOURCES :

Delta Woodworking Power Tools
Website: www.deltawoodworking.com

Festool
Website: www.festoolusa.com

Gladiator Garageworks by Whirlpool
Website: www.gladiatorgw.com

Lie-Nielsen Toolworks, Inc.
Website: www.lie-nielsen.com

WMH Tool Group
Website: www.wmhtoolgroup.com

Power Tools (Porter Cable)
Porter Cable Power Tools
Website: www.portercable.com

Hand Tools
Garrett Wade Co., Inc.
Website: www.garrettwade.com

The Peck Tool Company
Website: www.pecktool.com

Biesemeyer
Website: www.biesemeyer.com

Saw Blades
Forrest Manufacturing Company
Website: www.vacupress.com

Vacuum Bag
Vacuum Pressing Systems, Inc.
553 River Rd.
Brunswick, ME 04011

Jogensen Adjustable Clamp Company
Website: www.adjustableclamp.com

Adhesives, Abrasives and Safety Equipment
The 3M Company
Website: www.3m.com

Woodcraft
Website: www.woodcraft.com

GUESTS :

Eric Diaz
Acrylic Fabricator
Phone: 310-990-8101