Mesquite Table and Bench

This week I began making a mesquite hall table and bench. The lumber selected for these pieces came from some very large and exclusive mesquite trees. I have been drying these slabs for the better part of a year to get them stable and ready for joinery.

After two days of milling and 70 gallons of wood shavings the stock is flat straight and square.

The native mesquite wood has a very beautiful grain and makes for beautiful furniture when treated correctly.

One of the largest challenges with mesquite and incorporating high end joinery is stabilizing the cracks. I will face at least 10 separate sessions filling the cracks in the mesquite. As you work the components and shape them closer to their final size you tend to re-open cracks which require more filling.

After carefully laying out for the bore holes, mortises and leg tapers I take time to arrange the various components for grain flow.

the bore holes in the legs are drilled using a five star 3/8″ brad point bit.

After the bore holes are complete, I move to the hollow chisel mortiser to bore out the mortises.

With the main leg mortises complete the next step is to move on to the rails and stretcher.

-Sam

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