Oak or Mahogany for my table?

Roach1948

Roach1948

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www.dallimoredesigns.nl
Well I am rebuilding Roach's interior to her original plans this is pine tongue and groove together with varnished mahogany trim. The time has now come to make the saloon table (much missed last summer when it was raining so much) - but it will cost an arm and a leg to get the 30cm wide planks that I need in mahogany.

So this is purely an aesthetics question; shall I make the table from some re-claimed Oak I already have? - it might look OK varnished up. I am really not sure whether it will fit in the with the current interior so far or not. Unsure, need prodding one way or the other.....
 
My opinion only is that you would hope only to do this once. You wuld therefore want it to be matching the original.

An arm and a leg it would have to be for me.....

Donald
 
If you are going to keep looking at it thinking it would have been better in Mahogany then you'll end up re-making it any way. You've spent so much time, effort and money on Roach why compromise on a table that you will look at every time you go below. Perhaps sand and varnish a test area of your oak to help make up your mind?
 
Sorry for unhelpful news, but I would expect oak to clash quite horribly with Mahogany. Even if you stain the Oak you'll have two very contrasting woods. It would be relatively easy to build up to your table width with narrower planks. Alternatively junky antique shops (auctions) often have broken furniture to purchase at a snip. Buy a small wardrobe and get your saw out.
 
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Alternatively junky antique shops (auctions) often have broken furniture to purchase at a snip. Buy a small wardrobe and get your saw out.

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Well that is decided then. Thanks everybody! I sometimes wonder off-track.... The idea above is great. I will have a scout around. I do want to make it from 30cm wide planks as it will be a whole load easier to make as the central section and two leaves are 30cm wide! If I am lucky maybe I can get something 90cm wide in order to get the grain to go through it when the leaves are up.
 
You could try sourcing monogamy veneer, and sticking it onto plywood with mahogany trim on the edges? No worry about warping then.
Nick
 
Go with the Mahogany. I'm doing exactly the same thing and was lucky to find some old but servicable mahogany planks holding up a garden shed I demolished! Posted about this previously.

You won't need much in the way of wood. Try the local recycling centre - my local one was chopping up wooden wardrobes made from all sorts of hardwoods for landfill...
Just think about that for the moment. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

My Mahogany saloon table is well down the spring refit list. The most expensive parts will be the brass bits - out with the Davey or Toplicht catalogs.

Good luck.
 
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monogamy veneer, and sticking it onto plywood with mahogany trim on the edges?

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Thanks for the suggestion, but I think it could look a bit "Bavaria". I will stick to solid wood, and then I can bevel the edges with a victorian cove on the router just to prove it is solidissimo!
 
I would be interested in your design.
I made up a folding table from mahog faced ply edged in solid. Counter hinges came from Classic Marine... the leaves fold up and in. Fiddled when closed.
I have a supply of mahog planks to make a solid replacement but am a bit concerned about weight as the table was designed for use in the cockpit as well.
 
I don't have a scanner at the moment but I think I have a gem of a design. Half Cooke, half Griffiths, and a little bit of me. Basically one main panel 30cm across - 60cm long. This attaches to the mast on a dedicted hinged bronze mast band I can unbolt when unstepping. The table will have two 15cm leaves - that when folded over and over the table will have fiddles all the way around for use when at sea. When fully opened he table will not be fiddled as this is usually when a meal is take at anchor. When not in use the table is folded up against the mast and rotated fore-and-aft. Chocks in the deckhead hold it in place between the deck beams (hence 30cm width), allowing access on one side of the mast to the fo'c'sle. When finished I will post pics here
 
It sounds great the way you are setting it up.
I would be very interested to see the pics of the finished table.
My only thought, is Mahogany a wee bit too easily dinged.
I was thinking of using Walnut for my table top. Any comments anyone.
I know a lot more expensive but will it resist the hots and the knocks.
 
I would be a little worried about walnut splitting in a damp marine environment - not based on any experience but it is typically so highly figured. Maybe a wood expert can offer better advice. Far too glam for my boat!
 
2 planks of 30cm actually - I can cut other 30cm plank in half for the leaves.

What do you reck. I was thinking along the lines of 3/4 inch - Solid, yet not too fat?
 
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