Multiple Joints

[Munroast]

100% not a criticism as it’s brilliant
you have started some correctly as in angle both edges [half triangle cut off to start]
others you have done the full angle for both edges on one edge as in parallel one edge and double the other but as i say comment only meant to clarify why some bits look different to others ---brilliant job

by this are you meaning the grain is not always running directly from the centre ? some of them are a bit offset ?

Yes, this was rather annoying and I don't quite know how it will look in the end (disappointingly you spotted it straight away, probably any joiner / craftsman will)
my problem was the wood I was given to use is full of holes so I was having to position the triangles to suit the wood ( i was hoping no one would notice) - I could just manage to get 12 so there was no room for error - have to be so so careful not to make a mistake - just have to do an hour or two at a time with no one around to distract me - the next bit is going to be even more scarey, route out a scalloped edge

this was my layout for planning the triangles

 

[big-all]

it just adds to the character, dont worry about it i think it has more interest if it was perfect in all aspects visually you would stop looking as it was as expected
and just for clarification to get segments exactly right you need a line down the centre off the triangle and this line to exactly follow the grain on the wood below as you mention

 

[big-all]

other things to keep in mind
you can take well paired half wedges to glue along the grain to give you a near invisible joint on a what looks like a full wedge
you can also take quite contrasting half wedges and add further interest in a planned or random way
aaaand whilst your conversion method is a good idea my usual would be rip side to side across the grain in several rips
first cut a half wedge off
flip and cut flip and cut till you reach the end
repeat for the other rips
select the best triangle including possibly first and last halves glued together

 

[Munroast]

All joined up and the edges scalloped
the centre is OK too, have a bit of paper glued on to help with marking
one bit not so good (as circled) but it is quite shallow and I should be able to hide it with glue and saw dust

would have been better if grain had all run from the centre outwards, but my big beech sun will distract from that (i hope)

all the dark marks is just glue, they will scrape off no bother

 

[endecotp]

How did you cut the scallops?

 

[Munroast]

very careful marking out (2 hours) then very carefully cut out on the band saw leaving 2-3mm from line (probably 1½ hour inc fitting a good sharp blade then taking it off and hiding it afterwards). making a jig for the router so that it does not cross the line (2 hours) then using a router to get a good quality finish (1 hour)
a good days work - these thing take for ever, it is a nice finish and i like the look of it - but don't want to do another one any time soon

 

[big-all]

its an excellent interesting full off character job far far more interesting than a clinical looking uniform all round [groan] that looks like the other 10 thousand made on the production line

 

[stevie888]

That's a job to be proud of.

 

[Munroast]

other things to keep in mind
you can take well paired half wedges to glue along the grain to give you a near invisible joint on a what looks like a full wedge
you can also take quite contrasting half wedges and add further interest in a planned or random way
aaaand whilst your conversion method is a good idea my usual would be rip side to side across the grain in several rips
first cut a half wedge off
flip and cut flip and cut till you reach the end
repeat for the other rips
select the best triangle including possibly first and last halves glued together

indeed, if you are really careful and chose the pieces well joints can disapper - this one is by chance but the joint is hardly visible - you would have to be good and plenty of wood to do the whole top like this

started working on the underneath, the camera has made those inlaid diamond shapes much whiter than they are - I like to spend time on the bits no one will ever see

and I am still amazed at how well the middle turned out, it will never be seen, and i guess if it had been important it would not have come out as well

 

[Munroast]

got the main inlay into the top, need something in the centre, but not sure if to do something in the 6 segments that are empty
not sure if I should have made them longer, but can't change that now

 

[simplesteve]

Respect where it's due - good job .

 

[Munroast]

Respect where it's due - good job .

thanks for that - just looking at when you joined DIY, pretty much same time as me

Anyways - after sort of getting side tracked into other stuff, finally got back to the table this last week, and the top is now finihed, apart from oiled and waxed

 

[Munroast]

got my first bit of oil rubbed in today - it has given it a bit of depth

 

[pete01]

I think you've done an amazing job mate

 

[endecotp]

And you’ve made a base?