How Are Victorian Tables Made?
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Tools and Materials
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Victorian tables are made using some of the same tools required to make any other table. The table saw, power saw and miter saw are tools that can be used today to create these tables, even though they weren't available in the Victorian era. In addition to these tools, shaping templates and cutting templates are used. Stretching and carving tools are also used. These range from power routers to hand held chisels. Wood lathes are used in some designs to create intricate patterns on straight wooden legs.
Design
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Much of the creation of a Victorian table is focused on the design phase. In this phase, a woodworker selects a plan, usually from an existing table. They will mimic each part of the table, copying them down to the last detail. Woodworkers employ the use of modern tools to create each part. Developing a design to create each piece is the first step. Forms and templates to stretch or bend the wood are also created in the design phase. These forms are cut from solid blocks of hardwood.
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Construction
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During the assembly and construction phase, the woodworker will put the plan into action. Table legs will be soaked and then clamped to the templates they have designed in the planning phase. The wood is clamped to the forms and heated if necessary to complete the bending process. Then the detail is added to the legs. For more pronounced bends, the woodworker may employ the use of gradual forms, each one bending the wood a little more, to achieve exactly the right design. Tabletops are routed and carved by hand, if necessary, before all the pieces are assembled.
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