Custom Woodwork Project: Petal Puzzle Table
Dennis has been staying very busy in his woodshop and recently finished his latest custom woodwork project. I’ve decided to call it a “Petal Puzzle Table” because to me, it looks like a flower with petals that fit together like puzzle pieces. At the bottom of this post, I’ve included links to several of the tools Dennis used to create this table along with some other items that are great to help keep his workshop organized.
His last custom woodwork project was also a table. You can read more about that in this post. It was more rustic and incorporated succulent plants. The Petal Puzzle table is more of a juxtaposition of industrial and rustic.
He started with more slices of wood from the damaged trees he cut down on our land. His initial vision was to have 4 pieces attached to a metal base in a staggered pattern like flower petals. This time, he decided he would order a more modern, industrial metal base. He wanted it to be sleek and minimal to showcase the woodwork table top.
First, he smoothed and leveled out the slices with a planer so they would be the same thickness.
He then sanded off the bark and carved the edges so they would have a concave edge. He used a small disc sander to get into the smaller areas. Next, he used a larger, handheld disc sander to smooth out the surface that would be the top of each petal.
He also carved each piece to create the puzzle pattern. They didn’t fit together perfectly but that was by design. He still wanted each piece to be unique and retain more of a handcrafted feel rather than something with precise, machined edges.
To bring out more of the pattern of the wood grain and make the color richer, he used a blowtorch to burn the tops and sides of each piece before coating them with linseed oil. The result was a very deep, rich chocolate brown color.
He found a simple metal base online but the color wasn’t perfect, so he decided to use the same spray paint we used for the metal bistro chairs in this post to make them a vibrant blue. It sets off the color of the wood quite nicely.
Finally, he attached the petals to the base.
It’s tall enough to be a side table and we currently have it next to our couch in the family room.
Check out my YouTube video below documenting this custom woodwork creation.
There’s still a LOT of wood left for more projects so stay tuned for our next project!
Here are links to some of Dennis’s favorite things from his workshop. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy something through the links on this website, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only recommend products I use, love, and want to share with my audience.
Rust Oleum 280726 American Accents Ultra Cover 2X Spray Paint https://amzn.to/3UEAxxE
Rockwell JawHorse Portable Material Support Station
Dremel Flex Shaft Rotary Tool Attachment with Comfort Grip and 36” Long Cable https://amzn.to/4dzY0si
Dremel 4000 Rotary Tool Kit
Reusable Half Face Gas Mask with Safety Glasses, Filters – For Painting, Welding, Woodworking
ZTSXLLIM Extension Cord Holder Organizer(4 Pack L), Extension Cord Hanger for Garage Organization and Storage, 16-Inch Heavy Duty Storage Strap for Extension Cord within 100ft
MOTIRATIKA 3-Tier Power Tool Organizer
TONEOF 60″ Cell Phone Selfie Stick Tripod
