Dining Table

If you need to construct a dining table you would be hard pressed to require a design or construction technique not found in this book.

The introduction covers design criteria specific to dining tables: space required per person, height requirements, and seating arrangements.

The first chapter covers a basic kitchen table using mortise and teno joinery with solid wood. The author then moves through a variety of designs including trestle, circular, queen anne, expanding, and "boat shaped" (i.e. conference) tables, among others. The vineyard table is quite unique.

In addition to the designs a variety of construction and decorative techniques are presented. Mortising machines are discussed side-by-side with mortising chisels. Veneering is in three chapters and curved and circular work comes up in several chapters.

Most of the ideas can be adapted to other types of tables, and the discussion on veneering alone is worthwhile to almost any project. I found it one of the better... Read more

I've purchased numerous woodworking books and found this one of the more useful. The photos are excellent and coupled with the text and tips are close to looking over the craftsman's shoulder as he completes each technique.
The book covers a wide range of table styles and techniques. It is useful to the range of woodworkers from beginner to advanced.
Basic operations such as jointing, gluing, mortising are covered as are pattern cutting and veneering. Design, dimension, structural considerations and material selection are discussed in detail. The several chapters are veneering are especially helpful. The table projects themselves range from a basic kitchen table to Queen Anne to torsion box veneered conference tables to veneered circular table. The book is helpful for some one designing a table and uncertain of the size, design or materials to use.
Some good general shop and tool information is also available on K. Carleton Graves web site.

Tables...design, techniques, joinery, finishes....it is all covered in this book. I have looked for a book on tables for a long time and I finally found this one by Kim Carleton Graves. If you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced woodworker, you will learn something from this excellent book. This book is clear, concise and to the point for all skill levels. Even if you are just wanting to learn something about tables, this is still the book to buy. I very highly recommend it to anyone interested in designing, building or learning about tables. You won't be sorry you bought this book!!!!