shape and sand...

Use a stick to create a smooth curve.

Yesterday I shaped and sanded the white oak table top and applied the first coat of Danish oil to the top side. I made a simple routing template that could be flipped to create a symmetrical shape, first using the saber saw, and then a template following router bit. The steps are shown, except for the sanding which took hours and left my arms sore.

The steps are described briefly in the captions, but here is a deeper review: 

1. Bend wood to create  smooth curves on the template with the template being a few inches larger in each direction than 1/4th the size of the table. Curved lines intersecting a couple inches in from the corner will work. 
2. Use a block plane to smooth the edge after the lines are cut using the band saw. 
3. Lay the template in place at each corner of the assembled table top, paying attention that the final dimensions of the top are accounted for and mark the shape of the finished table.
4. Saw the shape using a saber saw. (in this case, with the table top being too heavy to take to the band saw, I take the tool to the wood.) 
5. Clamp the template in place and rout using a template following router bit. 
6. Then sand and finish. I used a half sheet orbital sander to avoid the kinds of irregularities that can come from a smaller random orbit sander.

Make, fix, create, and insist that others be given the opportunity to love learning likewise.

Use a block plane to smooth the edges

Use a saber saw to cut the shape

Follow the template with the router

Sand thoroughly and apply Danish oil