This contest is a little bit different. We want to highlight fine furniture making, and then use the entries in a curated art exhibit to show the world at large the joy of hand crafted furniture, and that there are many, many talented woodworkers who build amazing projects.
So, are you sitting down? Here’s the task: make a table. Make one of any style or shape. The only constraint is that it can’t be any larger than 32″ in height, width or length.
We’ll have numerous prizes, the 1st Prize being a $500 package of woodworking tools/supplies. See more below.
Enter the contest in 2 easy steps:
All the details are below, which should answer your questions. If not, post your questions in the comments at the end. Key dates to know:
This woodworking competition will focus on small occasional tables only. Build a table of any design or style you prefer. The table can be a night stand, end table, hall table, coffee table, plant stand, candle stand, tilt top, nested, rectangular, square, oval, round, or any other shape or style. The only constraint is that it must be small, which we define as no dimension (overall length, width or height) larger than 32” or smaller than 10”.
Your table is yours to keep. However, for one week in March all the tables will be at our corporate office for judging. See more below.
See sample tables and Rules and Guidelines at the bottom.
A panel of judges will examine the entries, score them, and determine winners based on a number of criteria. The top winning entries will demonstrate attention to detail as well as good execution. Additionally, there will be public voting for a “People’s Choice Award.” Winners will receive prizes in the form of woodworking tools and supplies, you can see the specific prizes here.
The winners will be announced on March 7, and the prizes will be awarded. Results with a full gallery will be posted on our website.
Current Sponsors Providing Awards and Prizes:
This is a free contest, there’s no cost to enter. You don’t need to be a professional or an expert to enter a table into the contest. But we do ask that you register, so please fill out the form at the top of the page to register. You may enter as many as 3 tables.
Deliver your table(s) to the Woodworkers Source corporate office in Scottsdale (map) on March 1 between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. Your table will remain with us until March 7 when the awards are announced. 10 selected tables will be placed in a public (and protected) art exhibit for a period of time (details to be determined) and we will have all tables photographed for the purposes of sharing in an online gallery, submission to woodworking magazines, and other forms of woodworking promotion.
If you need to deliver it sooner, please notify us to make proper arrangements. No late entries.
You will pick up your table on March 7 or after.
You will receive a $50 credit to use in our store just like cash. You can enter up to 3 tables, but the store credit is per person who enters a table, not per table.
There will be an entry form to fill out once your table is completed in which you’ll describe your table, your inspiration, your process, the woods you used and take credit for any details you’re particularly proud of; these should be things that will be helpful for the judges to know about when considering your table. For example, your choice of joinery, jigging you needed to figure out, your finishing process, etc. Anything that demonstrates how much effort and thought you put into your project. Be sure to keep record of these things as you plan and build your project.
You will keep your table. However, selected tables will be in a special public art exhibit (final location to be determined), so we do ask that you be willing to let your table be on display for an extended period of time, from 30 to 60 days. The display will celebrate your work in a public venue to give you credit for a job well done and to draw attention to the joy of fine woodworking that Arizona woodworkers take pride in.
If you’re in the Tucson area, you can simply deliver and pick up your table at our Tucson store. We’ll arrange transport to and from Scottsdale for the judging and public display.
Table entries must be made in person either to our Scottsdale office or Tucson store. We won’t be able to accommodate crating and shipping individual tables that are shipped in from other parts of the country for this contest.
Your table is yours to keep after the contest. Judges will be using the week between March 1 and March 7 to make their selections. You may pick up your table after March 7.
A table has a flat, horizontal upper surface and because tables typically have a practical purpose for displaying or supporting other items, the upper horizontal surface must also have some method to support it at its intended height; usually legs or a pedestal. Build a table of any design or style you prefer. The table can be a night stand, end table, hall table, coffee table, plant stand, candle stand, tilt top, nested, rectangular, square, oval, round, or any other shape or style. The only constraint is that it must be small, which we define as no dimension (overall length, width or height) larger than 32” or smaller than 10”.
This is a contest in which we want to see the beauty of wood. So you may use any wood materials you’d like. Your choice of wood can be domestic or exotic; it can be one wood or several types of wood. You can use solid lumber or veneer.
You do not need to buy your wood from Woodworkers Source in order to enter the contest.
Glass, tile, metal, stone, etc. are acceptable if they’re used in small amounts or for accent, but we want to see wood as the focus. Keep in mind that the tables will be judged on the various aspects of woodworking; while a rusty steel base or a polished granite slab top might be interesting, they don’t necessarily showcase woodworking skills. A winning table will largely be a woodworking project.
There is no constraint on the design or style unless it is outside of the minimum or maximum sizes. A table should be no larger than 32” and no smaller than 10” in length, width or height. A table can have any number of legs you see fit. It can have a drawer(s), a shelf, or cabinet if you like. For judging, the design complexity and appearance is secondary to how well you execute it; so spend your time and effort on a crafting well-made table rather than an elaborate one. For ideas, see the photos of sample tables on the next page.
A winning table will have a fabulous finish. You can use any finishing process; you can use stains, dyes, glazes or any clear wood finish you want. We encourage you give your table the best impression with a well-done finish. Start your table sooner rather than later to allow yourself plenty of time to get a good finish. It takes time for finishing and staining products to dry between coats, and it takes time to work your finish to a classy sheen. Give yourself time to do it well.
Vice President of Operations – Woodworkers Source
We’re a family-owned lumber & woodworking supply retailer with 3 delightful stores in Arizona, and 35 friendly employees.
Mark oversees the company and creates tutorials on wood finishing and woodworking tips for hardwood lumber.
Woodworkers Source is a division of MacBeath Hardwood Co.
