Massive L-Shape Table from 1840's factory beams

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The challenge: An artist in Harpers Ferry wants an L-shaped table made out of two halves of a massive Heart Pine beam from an 1842 railway brake factory in Baltimore. "You decide how."


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The office.   The bow saw works for the half lap.   A 100-year-old rip saw works better.   Okay - the joints's flawless - but "can we make the grain match better?" Okay - let's try moving the miter over a bit.   There - that's better.  
Now reinforce the beams with recessed threaded rods to tame seasonal movement (solid wood expands and contracts).   The "L" joined.   Cutting mortises in top. Drilling out waste.   One rough, one completed mortise.   Paring mortise on table's end.  
Sweetening with a chisel.   Haunched tenon leg.   Purpleheart wedges fitted to tenon.   Final fitting and assembly of leg to tenon.   Notice gap to left and right of tenon. Mortise was flared at top to permit spreading of tenon, locking leg in place.  
The fun part - driving the wedges home.   Purpleheart wedges spread tenon, locking leg on top. Wedges driven in. No gaps, no more.   Chamfering wedges.   A grand table.