DIY Nakashima-Esque Table

Whoah. We got tipped off to this great DIY project for making your own Nakashima-esque table and we're totally impressed (and think we might actually be able to pull this one off).

We found the project on Casa Sugar where one of their readers sent in how she made this table. Judging by the results, the amount of sanding is totally worth it:

I recently embarked on a DIY project where I crafted a large Nakashima-style (live-edge) coffee table myself. In short, here's what I did. I purchased an Acacia wood slab on eBay. Nakashima routinely used Black Walnut for his projects — but Acacia is actually heavier/stronger than Black Walnut and, from what I've seen, it's more economical. It also has a beautiful grain. I sanded the table down with a random orbit sander in the direction of the grain. (For this particular project, I used a RIDGID 5 In. Random Orbit Sander. It's a tool that's generally well reviewed and I highly recommend it.) I started sanding the wood with 40-grit sandpaper, and worked myself up to 60, 80, 120, 150, and 220.

You can read the rest of her directions on the Casa Sugar site.

Comments (11)

Wow, gorgeous!

posted by visualingual on June 5th 2008 at 4:15pm
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I am in love with this. My husband must make it for me!

posted by mizmaggieb on June 5th 2008 at 4:22pm
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So chic - I can imagine this table with so many different type of chairs getting along. Impressive.

posted by frombuenosaires on June 5th 2008 at 4:45pm
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thank you, Laure!! i LOVE this idea

posted by little flower on June 5th 2008 at 7:01pm
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Hey - I'm the same user that posted this on CasaSugar. I uploaded additional pics here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27151932@N03/sets/72157605382643949

posted by hazelnut_spread on June 5th 2008 at 8:04pm
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Wow, that table is amazing! Props to you hazelnut_spread! I wish I had the patience for something like that!

posted by uisceros on June 6th 2008 at 4:05am
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Pieces of wood like that are also known as flitches, in case anyone is searching online.

posted by alexarc on June 6th 2008 at 6:10am
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As someone who does woodworking as a hobby, I'm a big fan of Nakashima's work. Last year, I made a similar bench for my front hall with a big flitch of ash that I picked up at a local Mennonite Mill. Like yours, it has waney edges all around with a beautiful knotty gouge.
I floated it on two posts in front of a standing mirror, so you can see both the front and back live edges.

Yours is very nice -- awesome shape and grain pattern!

posted by lightspeed on June 6th 2008 at 7:56am
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soooo cool!

posted by cooper_black on June 6th 2008 at 9:53am
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Unfortunately, a live edge flitch does not a "Nakashima-style" make. His work is extremely well thought out and detailed.

posted by Jos on June 7th 2008 at 5:14am
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Hence the quotation marks and suffix, Jos.

posted by hazelnut_spread on June 8th 2008 at 2:17pm
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