Shabbath Ritual Table

I received a request from a synagogue to construct a round table that could be used to store items used during Shabbath services.  The request was pretty much non-specific – round cabinet, 36 inches tall, about 24 inches in diameter with a door and drawer.  No wood species was specified.

I knew that I could create cylindrical objects from a multifaceted polygon to make the main body using the technique mastered for a previous project ( Rolling up a circle) (Smooth the surface to round).  I had a supply of 4/4 walnut on hand so the it became the material of choice by default and the ability to make a fine furniture.

30 slats 32.5 inches long, 2.25 inches wide were cut with a 6 degree bevel on both faces.  During the glue up, a piece composed of 7 slats was not glued to the adjacent pieces.  This piece forms the front of the drawer (5″), the door (25″) and spacer (2″).  Two 24.5 squares were glued to cut out the 24 top and bottom panels.  These two panels were thicken along the edges with scrap pieces so the final top and bottom panel would appear to be 1.5  inches thick. Two other circles were cut from octagons constructed from 2.75 inches wide pieces.  One circle was used to “stretch and mold” the at the top end of the cylinder and the other was used to create a dust panel (7 inches from the top) to support the drawer runners. All construction methods are explained elsewhere in this site.  Fifteen coats of wiped on polyurethane provided the mirror finish.

Views of different components of the Shabbath table