I can thank my lucky stars the client(my wife) is not as demanding in table tops as she is other things.
I started off with glueing up the legs and aprons, kept using a square angle but couldnt seem to get it 100% so I figured the length of the legs versus the amount of pressure on the top joints, so I just cut 2x4s to act as spacers on the bottom, and then I was satisfied.
Then being the dope I am, or maybe I should just say novice, I carefully practiced using the circular saw, made straight cuts in some old ply, used a straight edge, all was fine.
I had 4 extra inches on the table length, I planned it like that, so I could size it down with one clean cut.
I clamped the guide 2 inches in one side, and the cut was bad. Seems the circular saw, well, me, I turned the back of the saw off the guide and messed up the cut.
No problem, I still have 2 inches.
Recut 1 inch, and I dont know how, but I cut ends shy, maybe 3/32nd on both ends. Strange, I guess I just turned my wrist somehow. I left that side, went to next side, cut off the last inch, same thing. The center is fine, but I seemed to not be able to get it straight on ends.
I guess Im off, maybe this is why I havent used a circular saw for much besides ruff cutting plywood.(picture is bad, but theres space between the straight edge and end of table)
so now I have a bit less than 60 inches, and a slightly shorter ends, lengthwise, on all four sides. I showed the client, she said IM crazy, to leave it alone, dont touch it. This bad cut is driving me up a wall, but Im afraid to trim anymore off.
I actually called the guy who sold me the wood today, to ask him if he could suggest a way to finish the table.
I expected him to be a bit angry since he doesnt need to be speaking to me on the phone and taking time out of his worktime, but he was eager to help me.(next top I bring to him when Im done with glueup, hell cut it on that Altendorf moving table, its bigger than my entire garage, and I know it will be perfectly straight.)
I cut a sample piece to ask wife how she wants the top edges, she liked the half inch roundover(I think its half inch).
Tried to get a shot of how straight the top actually came out.
Im sorry about quality again of pics, when I try to hold camera in one hand, the camera shakes.
couple shots of the table top bottom, the nice looking grain of the mahogany.