Bending wood… the hard way

Y'all know I love me a good collab. So I traveled to the UK to meet up with my buddy Andy and do just that--collaborate on a new coffee table.
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[@LeeWeiler]

“Andy’s shop, reasonably well-equipped” camera pans to show every conceivable weapon in Andy’s dojo 😂

[@andybrook-dobson726]

I’m an “enthusiastic hobbyist“!!! What can I say.

[@ENCurtis]

Haha like I said… reasonably well equipped 😂

[@AyresHaxton]

Serious tool envy over here!

[@winfinit]

I came here to drop a very similar comment: “reasonably well”? Haha

[@Edd030427]

Mate my shop is nowhere near 'reasonably' well equipped. I thought it was, now I need £50,000 more.

[@velvettedelaney]

I would’ve never thought it made sense to spend 4.5 of the 5 days testing and planning! I would’ve been stressed that we wouldn’t get it done. Thanks for sharing the process of testing and planning. This helps my nerves calm down a bit when thinking about limited timeframes!😂

[@ENCurtis]

Sometimes all the planning pays off and it comes together quickly!

[@mwoody4560]

This is one my favorite build videos.

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you!

[@ronboe6325]

This brings back, from decades ago; freshman sculpture class: Sculpture in the round. Well done!

[@ENCurtis]

Yessss!

[@MLSteffel]

Thanks for walking through the process of bent lamination, the tapered pieces, and the half lap jointing! Well explained and easy to follow which makes for a great learning experience for those of us starting out. Always a pleasure to see your clever mind working through a design. Cheers!

[@ENCurtis]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful for you!

[@chrisbrockman8122]

As a carpenter / furniture maker myself I understand the reasons why you would do a mock up first. So many variables. Also the better quality would is also more expensive to make mistakes on. Keep up the great work guys 🤩

[@ENCurtis]

Thanks man 🤘

[@chrisbrockman8122]

@@ENCurtis Your welcome i can appreciate the effort and attention you put into your work.

[@joebass5]

Ok, please create the cool version a tv show about woodworking where you create using famous and not so famous techniques and people. ( I’m sure April Wilkerson would help) Commenters, please like this comment so he’ll do this.

[@ENCurtis]

I dig this idea. I’ll pitch it to April 🤘

[@lmcori]

Not shown are the 12 other poplar test half laps that ended in profanity and a burn pile… if this was in my shop. The tapered arcs look fantastic and the Gothic arch form that comes out after assembly is always pleasing. Nice work, fellas!

[@andybrook-dobson726]

I’m sure mine would have been similarly littered if Eric wasn’t in the room.

[@ENCurtis]

Haha the tests were mostly just to get that half lap right. Somehow it worked on the first attempt!

[@michaelcox1071]

That was fun. I'm gonna go make something.

[@ENCurtis]

Atta boy 🤌

[@thomastieffenbacherdocsava1549]

Great discussion of the make. Full scale drawing and mock up, definitely Old School! Great for those of us not using sketch up. LOL! more time spent in preparation than actual build is important in the Patience and Practice of the "P's" of woodworking. Joyful end!

[@ENCurtis]

Well said!

[@frankdesantis452]

Best Australian accent ever

[@williammaxwell1919]

As soon as you mentioned breaking out cardboard for a design mock-up, I was reminded of von Clausewitz's quip "The only scale to build a model is 1 to 1"

[@williammaxwell1919]

& then you took it to the next level by building the 1 to 1 model out of poplar! Kudos to you guys.

[@CinkSVideo]

That is a sexy table. So much dynamic movement in the curves and tapers.

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you!

[@jasondoust4935]

Bloody awful accent! Joyous set of table legs, though... Well done, gentlemen. The things that look simple are so often the most difficult to execute, as there is nowhere to hide a mistake. I love the tapered laminations. They create a geometry reminiscent of a brushstroke in ink. Your eye can't rest on them. That graceful sculptural motion and fluidity with those crisp edges and junctions is so pleasing. Bravo. You've demonstrated how style outlives fashion. Take a bow.

[@ENCurtis]

Exactly why I prefer a tapered line! A brush stroke is a great way to describe it though. Glad you enjoyed the build!

[@jimmcnett]

I really like your design process. I wish I could replicate it. The coffee table is going to look amazing.

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you

[@Hog-g2z]

Good morning 🌅, GB , That is going to be a great table design, I have made some curved design furniture, many years ago, I was involved in starting off as a help for fitting a spiral staircase handrail, the contract went pear-shaped, the company that I’ve made all the components had made the handrail flat, So when you laid the component onto the steel metal railing that I was supposed to be setting into the underside of the handrail didn’t fit, because the handrail are supposed to be machined or made into a helix, 🧬, This is where like what you were doing making cardboard templates to make sure the ark is correct, I placed pieces of cardboard about 3 foot in length one on top of the handrail and then corresponding on the side, part of the problem the metal work wasn’t 100%, carpool templates took me nearly 3 days to make, and took me six weeks to make and fit all the handrail. It was approximately 4 inches in diameter., Then about three months later, I got a call from the people that had given me the contract, saying would I be interested in doing another handrail?, This one is a little bit bigger., 3 1/2 flights, This took me just over three months, if I remember rightly this was in Selwin Gardens in Cambridge, not sure if I spelt that right, I’m now retired in my 70s , and I still wish I was back at work, I missed the challenge, Keep up the great work , it is a big learning curve, 😂,

[@golfer_by_weekend7195]

that was cool watching you guys work thru it.

[@ENCurtis]

Glad you enjoyed it 🤘

[@remiavard7709]

WOW amazing piece !!!

[@ENCurtis]

She turned out lovely!

[@aaronblackford981]

Beautiful design

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@michaelnorman5640]

Always amazing Eric you’re so talented !

[@ENCurtis]

Thanks so much!

[@michaelnorman5640]

@@ENCurtis every time I type your name I phone spell check geez I’m sorry cuz (Erik) lol I do apologize!

[@gerarddelmonte8776]

" Without scrap, it's crap". i.e., without a prototype, the chances of screwing up expensive wood on the actual piece is high. Digging that half-lap jig, BTW.

[@ENCurtis]

Thanks mate. And a fair saying too!

[@mortenheide1164]

Awesome build! Makes me want to try bent lams as well😊 I think shop quality has been hit by inflation as well, when a high ceiling space filled with incra, bessey, woodpecker and festool is “reasonably well equipped” though😂

[@ENCurtis]

Bahahaha hey in fairness the ceilings were only about 7’10” so sheet goods are a bit of a hassle 😂

[@andybrook-dobson726]

Hey, you left out Lie Nielsen, Bridge City, Blue Spruce, Clifton & HNT Gordon

[@sackville_bagginsess]

Andy laying in bed thinking about "reasonably well"

[@andybrook-dobson726]

Yeh; what am I missing?!?! Comments below 😂

[@ENCurtis]

😂😂😂

[@grahambeech-w4j]

Heath Robinson is the English equivalent of your Rube Goldberg always learn something new from your videos

[@ENCurtis]

Apparently so do I! 😂

[@Kernowwoods]

That’s an exceptional set of table legs dude. Really enjoyed seeing the process. Welcome to the motherland by the way 🤙

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you my dude 🍻

[@mikec8451]

Awesome built - high class furniture building at it’s best, you showed once again that building furniture is way more than just a box

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you sir 👊

[@1deerndingo]

Very cool

[@ENCurtis]

Thanks!

[@TimJavins]

1:10 That's some fairly interesting footage of two glasses resting on a table.

[@ENCurtis]

Fairly interesting critique.

[@238samurai]

I thought we were getting trolled since there are two unused coasters next to them.

[@ChrisHornberger]

"Reasonably well equipped..." uh huh. lol :)

[@donesry2902]

Thanks! That’s an inspiring video. But I have way more questions about it. You attempted to answer how you made the little jig to cut the half laps but I still have questions there. But I love the design and the inspiration

[@chezcotton]

Welcome to the U.K. It’s very weird too see you in a different workshop but nice to have you here. Whereabouts are you?

[@ENCurtis]

Thanks mate. I was in Yorkshire.

[@joelw6215]

Well done sir

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you 👊

[@terrytopliss9506]

The accent wasn’t that bad Erik,I’m still taking in what you both just achieved in the video.👍👍👍

[@ENCurtis]

Hahaha I appreciate that encouragement

[@andybrook-dobson726]

Please don’t encourage him!

[@TCGE08]

Beautiful work! Jigs like that lend themselves to making more of those tables…

[@andybrook-dobson726]

I have been thinking that. Need to get this one finished off first though.

[@ENCurtis]

Couldn’t agree more!

[@markryan1258]

It’s giving lord of the rings elvish furniture vibes

[@ENCurtis]

The nerd in me love that.

[@ianpearse4480]

Wow.

[@nialstewart8263]

An inspiring build 👍 How do you know Andy? You should have explained how you ended up in his workshop.

[@andybrook-dobson726]

kidnap! As you can see he responded well to the hostage situation and clear evidence of Stockholm Syndrome towards the end

[@nialstewart8263]

@@andybrook-dobson726 Patreon competition?

[@newoldfashionedwoodworks6584]

Yo dawg, your arms lookin thicc af. Keep up the good work. 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

[@ENCurtis]

Haha thanks my dude

[@zionosphere]

That is a great design. You have a great eye for detailing in a 3D space. Thank you for showing the design process. If you were to go further with it, would you add more texturing to the legs, perhaps a curving taper from a spokeshave? I'm not sure if it actually needs any more to play with the light.

[@andybrook-dobson726]

I’m currently “feathering in” the apex at the feet so that joint looks more pleasing. The original piece is square so those facets are symmetrical, however our one is rectangular so asymmetric

[@zionosphere]

@@andybrook-dobson726 This sounds wonderful. I hope you share your finished piece so we can all marvel at it again.

[@andybrook-dobson726]

@@zionospherewill certainly try. I’ll be sending finished photos to Erik so he’ll probably have to publish them. Not sure how I would share them otherwise (unless you’ve got suggestions)

[@zionosphere]

@@andybrook-dobson726 Finished photos for interest. You could do a walk around video on your channel for him to link/shout out to.

[@contestwill1556]

Then you'll see that it is not the wood that bends - only yourself

[@joelw6215]

I like fractions. ‘MERICA

[@ENCurtis]

Honestly. Took my a solid 3 days to get in the flow of metric.

[@baileythompson3680]

First

[@johnhaidley4060]

Very cool build, after dropping my phone I looked at it upside-down and kinda liked it better. 🫣

[@andybrook-dobson726]

I hope it won’t end up spending too much time upside down when it’s in the house!