With the straight portions of The Deck assembled and the leaf patterns drawn, it was time to start cutting the pieces for the first of the leaves. Elga, who is a fabulous woodworker, suggested I cut the outer walnut frame in pieces, keeping the grain lengthwise as much as possible. I marked the outer frame into five pieces and cut them from the paper pattern.
I traced them onto the 1/16″ thick walnut sheet and then started cutting along the guidelines.
Here’s the cut outer frame with the center vein and walnut cross boards.
Then I cut the bass wood cross boards to fit. Each one is marked with a number so I can reassemble them easily.
The first leaf is now cut…two more to go and then the support frames need to be built.
Here’s the second leaf started.
Already, I am getting better at cutting and fitting. I’ll likely go back and re-cut a few of the boards from the first leaf that don’t fit as well as I’d like. :]
