Christian Dunbar: Dual Cherry Slab Cocktail Table

Using various modelling tools in Rhino, I designed 16 different sculptural table bases. These were all based on using steel as the base material, and 2 existing cherry slabs as the table top. The bases evolved in a linear path, in terms of design work flow, starting with the top left version and ending with the final version, located in the center of the grid.

Final version: Cantilevered slabs, joined by five connector rods, and suspended over five pairs of legs, aligned with rods corresponding above. All are to be made of 7/8" square steel pipe, and will be welded to a 1" thick steel "plate" resting flat on the ground.

Shaded rendering of table, showing shadow/reflection pattern of table top down onto base plate. Table top is to be very ornamental, with 1" high base plate serving as potential surface storage for books, magazines, etc.

Cherry slabs, after leveling, thickness planing, and initial sanding.

Detail of termite/wormholes, decay.

Beginning of hole filling.

Filling, filling, filling. This process took over 3 weeks.

Final fills and top-offs.

Slabs shown in book-matched positions. Holes are filled, and 1st coat of finish sealer has been applied.

Beginning fabrication of steel elements.

Surface texture of base plate. Final version was designed to look like something old, polished to look new again. This sentiment was the overall design concept of the entire piece.

Welding of the legs.

Dual slabs, with second coat of finish.

Connector rods being applied into first slab.

Second slab being applied.

Table top being connected to base. Top connector rods above aligned with legs below.

Four coats of finish.

Table shown in real world context, paired with Candice Olsen brown velvet sofa w/ nailheads.

Christian Dunbar: Walnut Flame Process

Using various modeling tools and scale to design a piece at the specific dims for the space that I was hoping to fill.

Registration rods: Pink from upper plate, green from lower plate.

Using "contour" command to produce cut lines 8/10" apart, to be mapped onto walnut boards (shown in magenta) for laser cutting on BEAM cutter.

Placing first walnut board into BEAM cutter.

BIG Beam laser cutting.

Lower registration plate, parts 1 - 10.

Continued glue up, day two.

Walnut dowels as registration rods.

Glue up, day 4.

Negotiating registration rods from upper plate.

Glue up day 5: top cap piece!

Interesting study of vertical rods defining a curved plane within an undulating 3 dimensional space.

Beginning to sculpt.

Moving through walnut like butter!

Smoothed transitions...kinda.

Beginning of sanding.

Smoother...

Close-up view of registration rods.

Crotch needing to be sculpted out. This would be tricky.

Top cap piece, showing wood grain.

Smooth, pretty good curve lines. People thought it looked like MDF at this point...not good. Continued sanding up to 2000 grit.

Figuring out cantilevered placement on steel plate.

Pre-drilling for bolts from underneath.

Application of secret finish.

Two coats of finish. Looks liquid... woo hooo!