3-Legged Danish Modern Coffee Table

Caleb James

Build a classic Danish Modern three legged coffee table. It’s a quick and satisfying weekend-ish project that will expand your woodworking skill set beyond 90˚ angles and square components. This versatile design is easily adapted to any size table whether a side table or dining table. It’s a great project to put your lathe to use and learn fundamental turning skills. If you’re an aspiring chairmaker these fundamental skills will surely come in handy. Break out of the norm with this project and enjoy that shop time.

Dimensions: 31” [788mm] W, 17-5/16” [440mm] H, 31” [788mm] D

7 lessons
141 min
$79.00

3-Legged Danish Modern Coffee Table quantity

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Here's what you'll learn how to build:

Here's what we'll cover:

Table Top Construction

In this lesson I’ll show you how to plan and execute a panel glue up destined for a round table top. You’ll also learn a dead simply way to effectively align each board in the panel during glue up so that flattening the panel later is a breeze. Lastly, take note of my favorite way […]
Table Top Shaping

In this lesson learn how to make that panel into a round shape using our router table and a strip of wood.
Sharpening Lathe Tools

In this lesson I’ll show you the essential tools of spindle turning and how to sharpen them.
Turning the Legs

This lesson is a mini master class in spindle turning. I’ll show you the fundamental techniques that you need for any turning project. We’ll go from setting up the lathe for success to ideal body mechanics for fluid cutting movements.
Cross Brace Angles

In this lesson we explore using the miter gauge and the tilt of our table saw blade to cut compound angles for making our table top cross braces.
Cross Brace Joinery

In this lesson we will assemble our cross braces. I’ll show my preferred joinery method along with some alternative options. After we glue it up we’ll drill and install our hanger bolt hardware for attaching the legs.
Final Assembly

In this lesson we bring all our parts together. We’ll start by mounting the cross brace assembly to the table top then test mount our legs and finish with the finish. 🙂

What will I receive?

Detailed cut list and plans including a PDF and a SketchUp file (Metric and Imperial).
Hours of detailed video instruction showing every step of the build process.
All videos and plans are digital and will be available for immediate download (once published)

What will I learn?

- Efficient Panel Glue Up
- Knockdown Leg Joinery
- Wood Turning
- Cutting Large Circle Panels
- Cutting Compound Joinery at Table Saw

What will I need?

Materials:

4/4 Hardwood 10 BF

6/4 Hardwood 3 BF 8/4 Hardwood 3 BF

Lumber kits available from Bell Forest! Order here.

Power Tools:

Table Saw, Jointer, Planer, Router, Router Table, Drum Sander (optional), Random Orbit Sander (optional)

Lathe Tools:

Lathe (with approximately 20” capacity) – https://amzn.to/4cWoggi

Drill chuck for lathe – https://amzn.to/3U7fYdO

3/4” Roughing Gouge – https://amzn.to/3Q36ZIg

1/2” Spindle Gouge – https://amzn.to/441FVz9

Scraper / Easy Wood Tool Mini Detailer (optional) – https://amzn.to/3TTFu58

Galbert Caliper – https://www.petergalbert.com/tools-for-measuring-and-sharpening

Wolverine Starter Sharpening Set – https://amzn.to/3Q2M1sZ

Vari-grind gouge jig – https://amzn.to/3Q2M1sZ

Bench Grinder – https://amzn.to/3y4moCc

6″ CBN Wheel 180 Grit – https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/sharpening/wheels-and-wheel-dressers/76621-cbn-grinding-wheels?item=77J8146

8″ CBN Wheel 180 Grit –https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/sharpening/wheels-and-wheel-dressers/110933-8-inch-cbn-grinding-wheels?item=77J8148

Center finding tool (optional) – https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/marking-and-measuring/marking-tools/43205-veritas-center-marker?item=05N1501

Bits:

Counterbore – 3/4 x 5/16 (Brand: W.L. Fulle X5L) – https://amzn.to/4aA4sgQ

Countersink – 82˚- https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/power-tool-accessories/drill-bits/41012-82-countersink?item=44J2101

7/32 Drill Bit – https://amzn.to/3Q5DTrP

5/16 Drill Bit – https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/power-tool-accessories/drill-bits/42247-hss-lipped-imperial-brad-point-drills?item=07J0220

Spiral router bit – 1/2” up cut – https://amzn.to/4cWOMpK

Slot cutter – 3/16” – https://amzn.to/3Jib5sr

Whiteside Ultimate Router Bit (optional) – https://amzn.to/3wgJwge

1/2” roundover bit – https://amzn.to/3WkzLZ3

Hardware:

Tee Nut Hardware – 1/4-20 threads, ≥0.5″ h, 0.75”Ø – https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-4-in-20-Zinc-Plated-Tee-Nut-4-Pack-802301/204274194

Hanger bolt – 1/4-20 thread, 2″ length – https://www.homedepot.com/p/1-4-in-20-tpi-x-2-in-Coarse-Standard-Steel-Plain-Hanger-Bolts-4-Pack-825851/317478944

Hex Nut – 1/4-20 threads – https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-4-in-20-Zinc-Plated-Hex-Nut-10-Pack-825831/317478966

Screw – #10, 1-3/4″ length – https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-10-x-1-3-4-in-Phillips-Flat-Head-Zinc-Plated-Wood-Screw-50-Pack-801912/204275522

Handtools:

Trammel points – https://amzn.to/4dp5cre

Inclinometer – Digital – https://amzn.to/3vyaJe2

Marking gauge

Fractional dial calipers – https://amzn.to/3Uh9FBG

Small square – https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/marking-and-measuring/squares/66573-veritas-precision-square?item=05N3501

Hand drill – https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/marking-and-measuring/squares/66573-veritas-precision-square?item=05N3501

Sanding block – https://amzn.to/4awXae7

Sanding sponge – https://amzn.to/3QxeuHJ

Supplies:

PVA Wood Glue – https://amzn.to/4aPWqAZ

Titebond II Dark – https://amzn.to/3TTENZA

120 grit sandpaper – https://amzn.to/3TRB3b2

150 grit sandpaper – https://amzn.to/3Jkq9Wh

180 grit sandpaper – https://amzn.to/4aVNrO5

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About Your Instructor:

Caleb James

Caleb lives in Greenville, SC with his wife and two daughters. His first exposure to fine woodworking was in a middle school shop class where he built a stool. His interest in woodworking reemerged as a young adult building practical furniture for his first home. His interest (read obsession) and research into Danish chair design and construction began c.2005. He spent 6 years making furniture as a hobby before selling a successful business to make chairs full time in 2011. He has designed and produced a number of woodworking tools in the 18th and 19th century style most notably his line of spokeshaves for chairmaking. He has written several articles for Popular Woodworking magazine. He currently teaches Danish Modern chairmaking and is writing on that topic for a forthcoming book with Lost Art Press.