Now that I have seen the table for the first time I can start to finalize the shaping on the legs. Everything is chunky and needs to be cut, tapered, shaved and faceted until the table is tied together as a cohesive whole. This is the type of active woodworking/design that my style promotes.

I begin with a flexible curve, a straight edge and my pencil.

Off to the bandsaw and then the edge sander to clean them up.

The curved stretchers go through a similar process. I sketch on them with a pencil then its off to the bandsaw. These pieces will require some hand work to clean up. Hand tools are amazing if you know how to use them.

All of the parts get sanded by hand. Now I can figure out how to glue this all together.

This stage needs to be carefully planned out. There is nothing worse than a glue up gone awry.

I feel comfortable so I spread glue on both parts of the joint. Clock is ticking as the glue starts to set up.

So far so good! I will wait for the glue to dry and then glue on the other three legs.

Again I will have to plan out every detail. I think I am ready to go.

Done! Everything went together perfectly.

Coffee Table Commission
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10

By Nico Yektai -
New York based designer/maker Nico Yektai opened the doors to his Hamptons studio in 1995 after completing the MFA program at the School For American Craft at the Rochester Institute of Technology. The rigorous technical training complimented his background in Art History, which he studied, at Hobart College in Geneva NY. Yektai has synthesized this background into a singular style that has gained him national attention. Visit nicoyektai.com for more information