emason

I have never done casting, but I really wouldn't recommend pouring molten metal into anything that is still damp, so if you are going to make a mould make sure you bake it thoroughly.Sometimes the best method of learning is doing, but I'm sure sometimes it is reading too.

There are Bearded axes, which admittedly could still be female if you count Dwarves (Tolkein-style).

That's a beautiful table, demonstrating careful yet confident work. It is simple and elegant. I must say, your pictures illustrate it wonderfully, and your video is as carefully crafted as the table itself!

Regarding the height setting; one way to do this would be to make (carve / buy / 3d print) some toothed pulleys that fit over the nuts on the underside of the platform and then string a toothed belt around them. Loosen off the top wingnuts, and then turn the belt which turns all the setting pulleys at the same time.