Sin City Woodworkers February meeting - it's going to be epic!

Sin City Woodworkers, a Vegas valley social and networking group committed to serious (and not so serious!) woodworking discussions, will now be meeting on the third Thursday of each month to share everything from techniques and ideas to information about local suppliers and much more.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 19, at 7:00, and we’re thrilled to have Dennis Patchett presenting a pie crust table that he recently built.

What’s a pie crust table, you ask? It’s an 18th-century, Rococo-style tilt-top tea table characterized by a round, solid wood top with an intricately carved, raised, and scalloped edge resembling a crimped pie crust. Commonly featuring a tripod base with claw-and-ball feet, these elegant tables often include a "birdcage" mechanism allowing the top to rotate and tilt for storage.

Key Features of a Pie Crust Table:

• The Edge: The signature feature is the carved, raised edge that resembles a crimped pie crust.
• Function: Originated in mid-18th century England (Georgian era) to serve tea, a popular luxury, and to be placed against walls when not in use.
• Design: Usually circular, made from mahogany or other hardwoods, and often features a pedestal base with three legs ending in carved feet.
• Mechanism: Many antique examples have a "birdcage" mechanism underneath, allowing the top to spin and tilt vertically.
• Origin: Popularized in both Britain and the American colonies, particularly in Philadelphia, during the 18th century.

These tables are considered a mark of high-quality craftsmanship, requiring skilled carving to create the scalloped rim.

If you know anything about Dennis and his work, you know that he is an expert carver. Add to that the 60 years that he's been building furniture, and you can only imagine how exquisite this table is. There are so many details to notice in this piece, that you will want to inspect it up close!

Dennis is one of our oldest member members (not his age!) He’s been with us since the start. Speaking of that, this month marks are 17th year of existence. So happy anniversary to us! You won't want to miss this meeting, Dennis has been building custom furniture for decades, and his pieces might legitimately be called the best handmade pieces in this town.

This meeting will be held at Woodcraft of Las Vegas at 5220 W. Charleston Blvd. As always, the public is welcome to attend the meeting, so members - please feel free to bring a guest along. If you have questions or need directions, call (702) 672-8981.