Introduction: Chesapeake Bay Coffee Table

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About: Technical theatre artist and designer.

Being from the Chesapeake Bay area and a fan of maps, I made a to scale, topographic map of the Chesapeake Bay, and then made it into a coffee table.

With cad software you can scale this down or up to engrave onto almost anything. You could also do another region.

Materials used

Lumber- I used 2x12 Pine, it would be better to use Oak or Walnut or anything other than Pine.

Wood Glue

Biscuits

Bar Clamps

Rhino (or any other drafting software)

CNC machine

Sand Paper

Stain

Sealer

1" Black Pipe

1" Pipe Flanges

Screws

Tempered Glass

Step 1: Build Your Table

So I used 2x12 Pine I got from Lowe's. Now, if I were to do this again, I would go to a lumber yard and pick out Oak or Cherry or a nicer lumber. But alas, it worked and was easy to obtain, it's just not as pretty.

Cut your lumber to size and sand it down. Next biscuit it together using biscuits and a biscuit joiner and of course wood glue.

Bar clamp it across the top and bottom for two hours until the glue is cured.

I used a glass top on my table and purchased it first and cut my table top to match. I suggest doing this. Otherwise it will be harder to get a piece of glass to match your custom table top.

Step 2: Draft Your Map

Here's that hard part.

I used satellite images and Coast Guard maps to draft my map as accurately as possible. Everything's online, especially google maps.

Depending on your thickness, decide how many layers you need.

My table was 1 1/2" thick and had 5 different layers. My Z scale was for every 3/16" of an inch depth cut into the table equalled 10' in the Bay.

My X,Y scale ended up being 1":22,000'

I made it so anywhere in the table that was 80' deep or deeper, was cut through all the way and you can see to the floor below.

Depending on your software for your CNC machine, you may need to alter how you draft your topographic map. I used Rhino and Torchmate.

Step 3: Milling the Map

Plug and play!

Send your cad file into your CNC software and make all adjustments as needed depending on your table thickness, layer depths, and your router.

Then watch it cut. It's always smart to stay in the room and watch the entire cut in case the program faults or the bit slips. My cut took 7 hours.

After it's done, take it out and sand down any rough places.

Step 4: Stain and Seal

Choose a stain you like and apply a few coats.

Do the same with a sealant.

You may want to mess around with painting the inside to look like water or fill it with resin.

Step 5: Add Some Legs, and Enjoy

You can choose whatever style leg you want. For my apartment I liked the black pipe style. It's easy to get from Lowe's or Home Depot.

You can get one long piece of pipe and have the employees at the store cut it to length and even thread it. Don't forget to get four flanges to match.

Simply screw the flanges into the underside where you want the legs, then thread the pipe into the flange.

Put the glass back on top, now enjoy your sweet new table. Invite some friends over and have them start picking out where they live or vacation on your table.

Tables and Desks Contest 2016

First Prize in the
Tables and Desks Contest 2016