David, some valid points, and I have to agree. I also have followed the coffee table build, I have really enjoyed watching them, and learnt a thing or two.

Reference workbench top, yeah battle scars are ok, spills not for me I will keep mine covered for finishing.

Your small table looks great, now I could use them. Good job

Everyone is at different levels. This coffe table to me is not that far off from the shaker table in terms of technique (and cost) yet adds a bit more complexity as far as moving parts and seeing the shaping of the sides. I personally, eagerly and patiently await the rockng chair build which to me appears to be much more advanced. I felt the same way about the coffee table versus the shaker table but now I see it is not that much different and within the realm of my skill level. However, something with wood carving such as acanthus would be over my head yet I would definitely enjoy watchnig it and giving a try at it. The teacher knows best how to bring a student along.
I built the candle box from the Woorkng Wood book and DVD’s. The dovetail boxes series opened up my mind a bit more with the sliding lid and inset lid. Now I tinker and play with the ideas such as how can I inset the lid yet have it hinged?. It seems like everything I look at I am applying those techiniques and my wife provides me with an endless “Honey Do” list to work on. LOL The point is that whether I build the coffee table or not, I think about how to apply what I am learning to other things within my realm such as seeing how Paul designed and created the sides and applying that thinking to designing and creating different sides to the shaker table.
I eagerly await the rocking chair build. One of the first thinks I want to learn from it is how he creates the leather seats. I will attempt to build the chair and make a pair for my wife and myself, yet, even of I don’t I have a much more practical application for doing the upholstering on other things I am working on.
So for me, the teacher knows best. It is up to me to apply what I have learned and when I do I will gain a whole new level of understanding which can be applied to whatever size project I wish to build.

I am actually building a coffee table but it’s a different design. Will post pictures soon. Although the design is different the same techniques apply. I am a member from the start and I own the Working Wood 1 and 2 course. Still I haven’t build any of the projects yet. My own project list is way too long 🙂 That doesn’t mean I don’t follow Paul’s methods.

Is it Wednesday already? 🙂