The DIY Kitchen Table Project is Done (or Close Enough)

Here’s proof:

It turns out that, size-wise, the table’s more of a writing table than a kitchen table. The idea that two people could eat at this little guy is almost laughable. Oh well. It’s the size that would fit in the allotted space, so I’ll deal with it. The table isn’t for me anyway: it’s for a HUD home that I bought and am refurnishing to flip for a profit, so I’m not too worried.

Things I Like About It:

• As big a pain as it was to get screws into, the red oak looks really nice; I like the grain and how heavy the thing is.
• I wasn’t sure about the black paint on the legs, but I like the way it brings the grain out and it ties in pretty well with the rest of my bachelor-quality black furniture.
• I’m pretty happy with how smooth it is, especially where the two 12-inch boards were glued together for the top.
• Also happy that it doesn’t wobble — pure luck, but I’ll take it.

Next project is probably a work bench. If I get excited at that point, I’ll build an entertainment center maybe. “Entertainment” may be too strong a word — I’ll build something I can put my TV on, my center channel in, and my receiver under.

bkd

Getting Closer: My Do-It-Yourself Kitchen Table Project So Far

I love writing blog post headlines for the sake of search engine findability. Seems honest. We’ll see where I end up ranking.

So I’m building my own kitchen table, a *small* one.

Here’s what I’ve learned so far:

• Wood glue alone isn’t strong enough to hold a table together.
• And good luck trying to get dowels to work.
• You can’t find 2-inch #8 wood lath screws at Lowes.
• And screws are pretty difficult to get through hard wood anyway (the table is all oak aside from what will eventually be the tabletop support beams).
• Pilot holes: necessary.
• They don’t call it “hard wood” because it’s so easy to work with.
• Screws showing on the outside of the table seem a reasonable compromise.
• A compound miter saw is a very good thing.
• Radial sanders are also good, but not as good as compound miter saws.
• Just because you found instructions for building something on a website, that doesn’t mean you should follow them (dowels!).
• Similarly, just because a different approach *seems* like it might be easier, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it that way.
• A truck tailgate is a pretty serviceable work bench.
• A new can of stain is too full to stir. Shake before opening.
• 24 inches is probably too narrow for a kitchen table. (Oh well.)
• Considering they’re not even electric, pipe clamps are pretty a-okay as well.

All I have left to do is:

• Buy a 1×4 for the support plates.
• Sand the legs and base.
• Paint the legs and base (gloss black).
• Cut the 1×4 and attach it to the legs and base.
• Ensure that the tabletop will sit flush on its supports.
• Screw the tabletop onto the support plates.
• Buy a couple of *really narrow* chairs…

bkd

(PS: #1 on Google for “do it yourself kitchen table project”, #1 for “‘do it yourself kitchen table'” (exact match), and #9 for “kitchen table project”. )