Tabletop lectern

This was made for a local church. The design includes a level platform where Communion vessels can be placed within easy reach of the minister and in good view of the congregation.

The Timbers are Ash and African Padouk, which give a good contrast but at a price - Padouk’s wayward grain is very difficult to finish well and also breaks away in very fine splinters.

These appear to have trades union loyalties so it’s a case of ‘one out, all out’ as little clusters of splinters break away at the slightest provocation.

Another vice is that the colour bleeds into the surrounding timber unless great care is taken - especially when doing the final finish after assembly - and this can mar the effect of the contrast. It was touch and go whether the dovetails ended up pink!

The most demanding (and actually a tad tedious) task in this was the making up of the wide panels. The top and base consist each of five boards, and each side comprises three. These are oriented with the growth-rings alternating to even out movement that might otherwise cause serious cupping across such wide panels. The joint is achieved by planing perfectly flat mating edges with a hand plane and then gluing up. The angled joint between the reading desk and the front table was done in essentially that way, the edges each being bevelled to half of the finished angle forming a mitre.