This project was built and designed by Chris from A Glimpse Inside. It blends clean design with creative technique to produce a beautiful and durable walnut and birch end table using custom-cut veneers.
The project showcases a hybrid woodworking method that combines natural hardwood with plywood. It’s a great example of how to elevate simple materials into something truly unique and functional.
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Starting with the Right Materials
The build begins with a single piece of walnut. After flattening the board, Chris cuts it into thin veneers using the bandsaw.
Instead of making the table entirely from solid wood, the walnut is used as a decorative layer over Baltic birch plywood. This approach saves material and creates a strong, stable tabletop.
Safety Lessons During the Build
As with any woodworking project, safety is a top priority. While cutting the veneers, Chris emphasizes the importance of keeping hands safely positioned and using proper support.
Unexpected issues can arise, even for experienced builders. These moments serve as helpful reminders to work carefully and stay focused at every step.
Shaping the Tabletop
Using a CNC router, Chris cuts the Baltic birch plywood into a perfectly round tabletop. Grooves are added to the underside to create mounting points for the legs.
Once the plywood base is ready, the walnut veneers are thinned further with sanding to improve flexibility and appearance. The thinner profile allows the wood grain to show more prominently.
Applying the Veneers
To attach the veneers, Chris uses the negative space from the CNC cuts as a custom clamping form. Glue is applied to the surface, and the veneers are taped in position using painter’s tape.
For sections with more curvature, extra clamps are added to maintain strong pressure. This ensures the veneers fully adhere without warping or lifting.
Fixing and Blending Imperfections
After the glue dries, small seams and gaps between veneer pieces may still be visible. Chris creates walnut-colored filler by mixing sawdust with CA glue and packing it into the seams.
Once sanded smooth, the patched areas blend seamlessly into the surrounding wood. This detail helps create a refined, finished look across the entire tabletop.
Cleaning Up and Applying Finish
A flush trim bit is used to clean up the edge of the tabletop, making the veneers perfectly match the shape of the plywood base. Sanding is then done to soften the surface and bring out the natural grain.
Chris applies a high-performance epoxy finish to protect the table. The epoxy highlights the walnut grain and adds a durable coating for everyday use.
Building and Installing the Legs
The legs are cut from Baltic birch plywood, maintaining a consistent material theme throughout the build. Each leg is shaped to match the tabletop and mounted using small brackets for a hidden, floating effect.
With the legs installed, the end table takes on a modern and minimal appearance. The result is a sturdy and eye-catching piece of furniture that fits well in any living space.
Customization and Personalization
This project offers plenty of room for customization. Builders can choose different veneer species, leg designs, or finishes to make the table their own.
Whether you prefer a matte finish or a glossy surface, or want tapered legs instead of straight ones, the design is flexible. It’s a great way to explore personal style through woodworking.
Want to See the Full Build?
Please support Chris by visiting his website here: https://www.aglimpseinside.org
Matt’s Take
These are my personal thoughts and tips based on my own experience in the shop. This section is not written, reviewed, or endorsed by the original creator of this project.
The veneer approach Chris uses here is brilliant for several reasons. Bandsawing your own veneers from solid stock gives you perfect grain matching that you can’t get with commercial veneers, plus you’re maximizing the use of expensive hardwood like walnut. When bandsawing thin stock like this, I always keep a push stick handy and take light passes to prevent binding.
That sawdust and CA glue trick for filling gaps is a real game-changer. The color match is nearly perfect since you’re using dust from the actual wood, and CA glue sands beautifully once cured. Just work in small sections and have acetone nearby in case you need to clean up any squeeze-out before it sets.
Using the CNC waste as a clamping form is the kind of creative problem-solving that makes a project like this work. Getting even pressure across curved veneers can be tricky, so having a custom form that matches your exact shape is invaluable. Even if you don’t have a CNC, you could adapt this concept by making templates from MDF for simpler shapes.
The hybrid approach of plywood core with solid wood veneers really delivers the best of both worlds – you get the stability and cost savings of plywood with the beauty of solid hardwood on the surfaces that matter most.