I built the federal card table featured in Fine Woodworking Magazine. The project wasn't as hard as I first thought. Tommy's blanket chest with the carvings is much harder. I am working on that project now.

I want to put some oval inlays in the upper part of the legs, but I can't find any anywhere. If someone knows a source for Paterae type oval inlays, please, let me know.

I used a Lie Nielsen beading tool to make the bead on the table top. One upper and one lower bead. That was quite a bit of grunt work.

-- Ron in Maine -- still looking for inlay.....

Make your own paterea's their not that difficult. Check out this thread on the forum viewtopic.php?f=39&t=386&start=75

Your table look great...you did a nice job on it.

I second the motion to make them yourself! I've just started doing marquetry and it's not as hard as I thought, plus I find it extremely interesting and fun.

try it, you might like it!

That table is outta sight, man! Great job!

Paul
the little guy

Great looking table.

Beautiful table, Ron. The top looks great, where did you get your lumber? Is the secondary wood ash or hickory? If you aren't looking to "experiment" with inlays just yet you may want to contact these two fellow members of the 207, Freddy Roman and Rob Millard. Both do fantastic work and are quite helpful! If you choose to "experiment" their guidance is invaluable.
Chris

Your table is really nice, and deserves good quality inlay.

I also suggest you try making your own (more below) but if you decide to buy there are several sources. The Inlays.com look like the best quality, but also more expensive.

1. http://inlays.com/default.asp
(click on Furniture Products then Marquetry - about $25 each)

2. Dover Designs - http://www.doverdesignsllc.com/

3. Acute Marquetry - http://www.acutemarquetry.com/
A lot less expensive, but maybe lower quality?

Also, Freddy Roman, one of the moderators on this forum, makes, or used to make, custom paterae and banding. I imagine you'll pay well for the hand work he does, but it will be highest quality work and historically accurate for your table. Freddy is one of the founders of the New England chapter of the Society of American Period Furniture Makers.

But you really ought to at least have a try at making your own first. The best source of info was a video made by Tommy Mac and Eli for the "crazy leg" federal table, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to have made the cut when the web site was revamped for the Roughcut show (or at least I can't find it). Maybe Tommy will resurrect it if enough of us ask nicely. You'll see a lot of references to it as "ATM 15" on this forum.

Using the video, I learned to make sunbursts and installed them on a Federal tea caddy, which I chronicled in the Play by Play section. While my postings don't go into the detail the video did (because at the time the video was still available) you might check it out.

viewtopic.php?f=39&t=1348

If you decide to try them, I'll be glad to clear up anything that's not clear in my how-to. And I'm sure Freddy Roman, who's the real expert, will also chime in.

If marquetry interests you, may I suggest this web site's tutorials?

www.redbridgemarquetrygroup.org

The best step by step tutorials I've seen. They even have instructions on a shop built "donkey" of sorts that looks like a great addition to the inlay cutter's shop.

Paul
the little guy