Making the Fletcher Capstan Table

Having previously made two shorter product videos for the client this was a different kind of project. The brief was to document the work and craftsmanship that goes into making one of these tables. They are expensive pieces of furniture so one of the key purposes of the film is to make clear to potential customers why they are the price they are. In the film David Fletcher talks about the evolution of the design and explains how the tables are manufactured and assembled.

[@nailbanger489]

Hands down the coolest piece of furniture I have ever seen. I wish I could come up with ideas this unique (and be able to build them). That table takes the cake as far as I'm concerned.

[@johnny_sins_himself]

and if you set a cake in the middle, then close it, it will quite literally take the cake

[@oBseSsIoNPC]

Didn't even know such a thing existed. Now that I know, I must admit, I love the whole mechanism and design. Very cool indeed.

[@bartolemeo]

It's wonderful to see real craftsmanship alive these days. It's also wonderful to see the passion that Mr. Fletcher has for the table.

[@bartolemeo]

You know what I meant ;)

[@compactc9]

Looks like the mechanics inside are good and solid. I imagine hat if I had one of these, I'd end up showing how it works to everyone who came over. It's a beautiful table as it is, but to me the mechanicals of it, the way it spins around and the leaves move and come up and out and all, that is what makes it so interesting to me. Its just as much of a work of art inside as it is outside.

[@PrometheusZandski]

+compactc9 remind me never to come to your house for dinner

[@PrometheusZandski]

+compactc9 remind me never to come to your house for dinner

[@PrometheusZandski]

+compactc9 remind me never to come to your house for dinner

[@kadmow]

+compactc9: then you need the glass model, 200k thanks.

[@Felix-Sited]

I would try and mash vegetables into the mechanisms. See if I could fuck it up proper and shit.

[@Squarerig]

This is an astonishing construction.I have never heard of these tables.A tremendous achievement.Thanks for the clip

[@sailhammer8042]

This is brilliant! The designer is very humble which is admirable considering the quality and skill it takes to design such a piece must be rare. The detail is mind blowing. Outstanding craftsmanship.

[@BrianIrwin]

Truly fantastic engineering, I could watch the table changing all day.Beautiful work.

[@ZovniaO]

amazing...thank you for sharing this wonderful video. The person who talks seem to be really a kind man...very soft spoken

[@dickievanleijen1545]

This is a dream. It is so satisfying to watch. If it was my property I would open and close it over 100 times the first days. The sounds from the wood are also perfect. A masterpiece!

[@MoralRichMedia]

Man... that is a work of Art!

[@baarni]

Awesome!! Now that is a true work of art. Ingenious engineering, beautiful and functional.

[@MagiRaz]

Wow, a beautiful piece of art that is actually useful. I didn't think I'd ever see such a thing.

[@GreatWightSpark]

Form and function is the way!

[@dirtydsrc]

Really like the glass top idea. came up with an idea for the glass top. Using that glass that electronically goes from tinted to clear, I'm thinking when the table is small it is tinted so that it appears to be one piece. Then when it is transforming, it is clear. Then when the table is full-size, it goes back to full tint and looked like one piece again. But this is where it turns into work of art in motion. As the table transforms, Make all the mechanical parts in the table all different anodized colours with or without led's flashing in sequence (tailored to customers preferences) so that it creates a collidescope effect as it operates. Using different colours can give an iridescent or teckno-colour or neon or whatever kind of light show the costumer wants for their bar lounge gaming room. I think that would blow costumers minds. I know I would live to see that. Just came up with the idea now after watching your youtube vid on the Fletcher Capstan Table. This idea is not patented so please feel free to explore this idea. Would be pleased if you guy's credited my name for the idea but not necessary. Darcy Baldwyn. Love the table, wish I had that kind of money. I would totally order one.

[@Freygunnr]

Wow! That's just beautiful: both visually and mechanically. I would so love to see that in person!

[@Photosynthesisbeing]

Never been a furniture man but something like this amazes me and is really beautiful. Great video thanks for sharing

[@ElSelcho77]

Have been following this design for a while now, thank you for the Upload! Instead of buying my next sedan I shall take on of these (my wife will veto). Extraordinary piece of Art and Engineering.

[@ScoutSniper3124]

I am so very impressed with the Craftsmanship and thought that went into this unique design. I am truly in awe. Someday, time and funds willing I would like to make a smaller version of it for myself, not so much because I need such a table, but because overcoming all the design and construction obstacles that this design represents is the best part of any such project. Thank you to the original designer and builder, you inspire me to be a better woodworker and Craftsman. THANK YOU.

[@MakeSomething]

Who would thumbs down this video? This is crazy amazing!

[@sadochrist8534]

Probably someone annoyed at the fact that they cannot build it themselves.

[@real_armadillo]

Must have been Cher.

[@dopealien9350]

Drunkenwood Little 12 year old COD boys who have no appreciation for modern art.

[@sl8er83]

Drunkenwood When shaking with adrenaline from said crazy amazing video, it is easily done to press the thumbs done while trying in actual fact to hit the thumbs up... and then forgetting you pressed either of these as the adrenaline consumes you and you pass out... thus forgetting you thumbed it down in the 1st place.. these are of course all accidental down votes..

[@get-the-lead-out.4593]

Probably because the video never said how much the table costs and so thumb-downers missed out on the shocking experience lol

[@scooboy]

Absolutely stunning table and very cleverly designed, hats off to you sir

[@SandyEdgar]

What a wonderful piece of engineering and craftsmanship.

[@tattrie17]

Surfing the tube late at night. Came across this beautiful table. I must say this is a remarkable feat of engineering! Makes me want to attempt a build of my own! Yeah I have lots of free time. Get over it, lol. Bravo

[@christianward632]

i first saw this on facebook and i must say....bloody awsome ..i love the engineering behind it

[@m1aws]

Beautiful piece of art, quality and engineering. A testament to you, David & Co.. I looked all over IKEA and couldn't find it. 30 years ago I was given a drop leaf table. At the time it looked sadly dated so dark lacquered it. Tend to paint things black so they "disappear". This thing expands its surface area by a factor of 3 or 5.

[@FosterMedia]

amazing craftsmanship, amazing product. Beautiful in every sense !

[@MrMindlink]

Wow... Awesome! Well done Mr. Fletcher. If my fortunes ever change I am putting one of these in my dining room.

[@EdsonCarvalhoFilho]

Essa mesa é fantástica! Já tinha visto um gif animado dela funcionando, e agora achei esse vídeo de making of por acaso!

[@stupendas101]

The original design was absolutely brilliant and it's rare to take something that is already brilliant and make it that much better. Congratulations !!! I hope to be able to afford to buy one at some point Incidentally, loved the idea of using the honeycomb aluminum with the hardwood veneer demonstrating old world and new world coexisting in such harmony

[@ElenaHaskins]

Beautiful design and workmanship.

[@stevesolo16]

As a luthier and machinest I have told my children, when ever you put your name on something you ended up, as time passes, leaving a legacy of what you were all about. I am going to have them watch your video and show them someone who's going to be, or is now a "master craftsmen" and for a long time after he is gone will still be talked about.

[@JustinShaedo]

What a fantastic privilege to create one of these master pieces. I have the greatest respect for those involved in their creation.

[@escaragami]

A beautiful example of engineering fusing with art. Well done.

[@Tryptic214]

Awesome. I look forward to seeing the Fletcher Capstan expanding tablecloth.

[@shonaoneill5151]

I honestly do not understand why anyone would dislike this wonderfully informative video, showing how (possibly) the worlds greatest design function in a table is made. I accept that there are people will not like the hefty price tag, but what you are getting is not just a table! The technology that is used made it possible to make ridiculously high precision technologies look like the most simple organic movements in nature. The table seems (to me) like a flower bud blossoming into its true and yet hidden glory. Design like this can only be commended, never ridiculed.

[@unemployedgringo]

Ok boomer.

[@johndoe-fd7rd]

Thats so amazing, And great to see Matthias here too!!

[@woodpecker8546]

What a wonderful table! Chapeau!

[@Ravenofthewood]

A very close friend of mine is a master carpenter, he calls this the holy grail of wood working and spend hours pouring over the prints and videos like this. It's truly a work of art and engineering. Finely done gentlemen. :)

[@bolt339]

Fantastic, brilliant craftsmanship!

[@amorphous14]

Definitely on my bucket list of things to make!

[@L3gion3r]

And just to remind you, in case you haven't learned, it's all drawn in CAD

[@th3unn3rv3d3]

I just realized... it's drawn in CAD.

[@L3gion3r]

Th3uNn3rV3d smashing

[@ericlatham3323]

I don't know if you know this or not... But it's all drawn on CAD.

[@nyalldavis]

***** I don't know, I certainly didn't hear it.

[@TheFounderUtopia]

***** 2:04

[@josephrain9499]

Beautiful beautiful beautiful. Now we need to do stuff like this with more than just tables. We must expand. Let's make a transformable airship next and transformable cities. Who's with me?

[@nelsonwalker7105]

Beautiful engineering, and this guy does a good job narrating the process. I could listen to him read the ingredients on a box of cereal.

[@porkycrook]

Superb, truly great engineering project. ATVB Roger from UK

[@SubvenioArguo]

An absolute work of art!

[@fluchterschoen]

If I have extra people coming round for dinner I have a pasting table that I throw a clean bedsheet over - it works admirably. Just an idea for you to consider next time. (seriously though - *absolutely* _incredible_!)

[@AxeMastersinc1]

Outstanding. I think I'll make one this weekend.

[@ChozoSR388]

I watched this, felt something warm trickle down my neck, and looked behind me to see my mind splattered on the wall. Absolutely mind-blowing engineering! Well done, gents!

[@christschool]

For those wondering about the cost, it is between $50,000 to $70,000.

[@Cineenvenordquist]

christschool Plus it's artlessly made, as if 1000 parts plus fasteners is a reasonable set. Maybe if you have the School For OCD Crystal Blue Tinstrappers on retainer it is. Contrawise if CAD in 2012 relates there would perhaps be a machine that turns the things out assembled and finished in one motion, not this temple to RSI and changing place settings 3 times then flipping it and putting kitchen paper over the floor.

[@stanrogers5613]

You could probably turn them out of a factory for a hair under fifteen grand, yes - but then you need to find a large enough pool of customers looking for a fifteen thousand dollar table to keep the factory running. Once things get expensive, they start getting even more expensive just because they were going to be expensive to begin with. You don't get to hire a bunch of low-skilled labour to do the bulk of the work. You don't get to have things made for minimal machining. And your customers, who have to pay more anyway, are going to expect more - bespoke timber choices and so on. You have no economies of scale at all. You're either going to charge a boatload or go broke. But then, it's your choice. Or could it be that you not actually making and selling anything like this, and thus have no clue what you're talking about?

[@hawnshill7441]

I'm gonna Mcguyver me 1 of those. I have some 2x4s and a bicycle sprocket.

[@rhythm5080]

I wonder if it's illegal to make one of these by reverse engineering since it is patented

[@hawnshill7441]

@@rhythm5080 No you can make anything you want you just can't sell it

[@hj2479]

@@rhythm5080 Nope, as long as you don't copy the design exactly and don't make a big business off of it. Keep your transactions in cash though.

[@bentleygt3716]

wow. super super SUPER BEAUTIFUL. Great job

[@gracemcgettigan5885]

For $50,000 I'd expect it to be flawless as it is! Amazing! I'd love to own one... I have 14 people for Sunday dinners almost every week and we could actually sit all together. Simply stunning! Thanks for showing it!

[@Antipodean33]

That is the most brilliant and beautiful table i've ever seen, Every aspect of that screams quality, brilliance etc etc. I'm not even going to ask the price of the last table in the clip, i'd suspect i could buy a small house for the same price lol. Truly fantastic, i'm so glad ppl make the effort to bring such beauty into existence.

[@CaptainRon-pm2mt]

Got to be the coolest table I've ever seen

[@TheDublin47]

As a carpenter i just love this stuff it's my dream to make something like this from scratch Well done boys good work

[@kadmow]

+TheDublin47: but you need to do it all in (book matched solid) timber , those steel sliders and timing bars are a bit "Uber-Industrial". Just as the Honeycomb, (in the interests of weight saving), just be gentle with those hollow surfaces, no dancing on the table. jk...lol.

[@Cineenvenordquist]

kadmow Right, it doesn't seem to be up to mixed drink service.

[@slavapal00za]

Wow. Absolutely amazing.

[@jimstools3937]

I would love to make this for myself.This is AWESOME

[@kevinschaenzel4151]

truly an amazing achievement. I'd feel very proud in your shoes.

[@mikhael7949]

Absolutely BRILLIANT Gentleman!

[@carrickrichards2457]

What a thing of beauty - Craft and design brilliance

[@SimpleWireless]

This brings a lot of possibilities for other stuff, very creative, take something that was already awesome and improve it

[@m3c4n0]

¡¡Qué mesa tan maravillosa!!... Guao!, hay que ser todo un genio-ingeniero-artesano para diseñar un objeto como éste.

[@gristlevonraben]

wonderful and smooth operation. very very cool

[@klanny22]

My gran's got a similar type of table. You twist a knob and the 3 round circle bits seperate, and in the middle of the table these small, 3 narrow-ish bits slot into the gaps, and the original 3 segments slide back into place, making the whole table bigger. Very cool to see.

[@ecrusch]

Absolutely incredible.

[@DS-uo1zy]

thank you so much was searching for any kind of video on how to make it

[@brucethompson4011]

That is downright beautiful.

[@SulaimonBinbek]

that's amazing

[@EMTinVA]

Absolutely stunning.

[@gothicel]

fantastic piece of art

[@Kerrycannon]

Absolutely genius!!! Brilliant!

[@claudiopuelma]

Amazing job, design pure

[@fortuner123]

Soulful fulfillment. A credit to mankind. Aesthetically perfect.

[@gwynbetz8036]

Absolutely Brilliant!!

[@Smilingmedia]

Wow, an amazing piece of engineering

[@GraysonGranda]

probably my third favorite table of all time

[@largehamburger]

I wonder if they used CAD to design this table.

[@Tanxmann]

+largehamburger Did they use CNC?

[@LynnFlour]

+Aaron N. Morrison II Theres always the one person who didnt get it. Congrats Aaron.

[@petemclinc]

+largehamburger Designed in CAD made in CAM using CNC.

[@kadmow]

+largehamburger, how many times were we reminded. The action is very impressive however, it would impress most dinner guests who spend more time investigating charting methods, than how the world actually works.. Every time we were reminded, my brain just went "duh". Forgot to mention that the USE of CAD and CNC machining, has nothing to do with quality, or exclusiveness but Profit-making (ie make it cheaper, and sell it for more). (For a one-off, crafting it is probably cheaper, but for a limited production model, CAD-CAM starts making sense, just hit the modify-and-repeat button and change the veneers.) You don't give hyper-affluent benefactors a discount because of labour saving innovations, rather you charge them more, and insist that they are getting the highest quality product which is worth every penny. I suppose contracting not to repeat an exact copy for their neighbours etc will be part of the exclusivity/"quality" contract, as would unlimited 24hour support.

[@SoundShunter72]

+largehamburger It's like no one knows what 4chan is.

[@ProgressiveForest]

interesting concept combined with master artisanship

[@stuartb3082]

Engineering meets art. Love it.

[@davidcyclinghk]

awesome design!

[@KingofHearts67]

Beautiful piece of engineering.

[@theoldcookiemonster]

amazing this man is a mechanical genius

[@kpdvw]

Incredible! Awesome!

[@ULYISCES]

Eres un gran artista, en este tipo de trabajo

[@justinakioka7145]

A complete glass top would be SICK. Being able to see the mechanisms working as you spin it...

[@spiderpig641154]

That is the most amazing thing I saw on KZbin

[@dylanldelisi144]

I've seen*** just being annoying :D

[@chrisjenkins203]

You should check out giraffe fights!!!

[@ajestrab]

Quite Impressive. most unique item, ever.

[@thePavuk]

If king Arthur was still alive, he would definitely buy this table.

[@robertclesaca3976]

Definitely a "must-have" for accommodating those new members and unexpected guests.

[@KC9UDX]

thePavuk because King Arthur was such a cad.

[@MrMaxBushido]

So, incredible.

[@saifafridi8483]

What an engineering. Wow good work

[@Jonzjob]

There is an original at Cragside in Northumbria. It was built for Lord Armstrong taken from a design of c.1835 by Robert Jupe. I had the priviledge of seeing it being operated by the guide. He showed me because I asked and there was nobody else around. The leaves are seperate and the table can be turned to 3 different sizes. I had a close look all around and under it and it is beautiful. This one in the youtube is fantastic, but the one at Cragside is still my favourite. Bythe way, my hobby is making wooden toys and wood turning. I just love wood!

[@gerardcallaghan8431]

Stunning!

[@mahocnc]

Outstanding!

[@MrPLC999]

Just stunning...

[@joeturner5508]

I am amazed!

[@Plur307]

AKA the finger smasher table

[@Picisi]

+Plur307 which of course begs the question of safety mechanisms, there is current technology that would allow the table to stop movement at the least bit of resistance.

[@TyCetto]

+Plur307 Like a car door?

[@Glazed4Dayz]

Such a cool table

[@nativesun7661]

Beautiful.

[@berrodude]

awesome design

[@kev3d]

A masterpiece.

[@jadeprinces]

Dear sir this is amazing table

[@wildernessworthy]

A work of art!

[@NoelPepin]

Great invention!