How to make a long table How to make a coffee table with your own hands? Democratic and affordable

The table is an essential attribute of the kitchen interior. At the same time, it should not only combine style, beauty and comfort, but also be quite reliable. And what could be more reliable and durable than natural wood? The problem is that high-quality wooden furniture is not cheap, so not everyone can buy it for their kitchen. However, do not despair, because making a wooden table with your own hands is a completely feasible task for a person who is able to distinguish a screw from a nail and knows how to use a drill, a jigsaw and a grinding machine.

The choice of kitchen table design depends on several factors, such as the size of the kitchen, the number of occupants, and the interior design. If you look at the options that furniture manufacturers offer, then among the whole variety of designs, three categories can be distinguished:

• tables of medium size for 4-6 people;
• overall tables for a large family or receiving guests;
• practical folding tables for small kitchens.

A table in the kitchen should combine three qualities: aesthetics, convenience and practicality.

To make a kitchen table with your own hands, you need to have a product drawing on hand, the necessary set of tools and at least some woodworking skills. Below are design options for standard, large and small kitchens with photo instructions and a detailed description of each stage in the manufacture of a wooden table.

Rectangular baluster dining table

A rectangular design with a standard size of 1200x600mm is considered the most popular due to its practicality. This table can easily accommodate a family of 4 people. In addition, it can be installed both in the center of the kitchen (if space permits), or placed close to the wall in order to save free space.

schematic drawing

In order to make the wooden table more attractive, we will use balusters instead of straight legs. If there is no lathe at hand, then such legs can be ordered separately at the nearest furniture workshop.

Note! Balusters are figured pillars that are primarily found on the railings of stairs, balconies and roofs. However, the use of these elements in the manufacture of kitchen tables is also far from uncommon.

Drawing of a rectangular table on balusters

To assemble the product, you will need the following materials and tools:

• 4 finished baluster legs 720 mm high;
• furniture board 30 mm thick for countertops;
• board 20x100mm for the frame;
• wood screws about 30 mm long;
• drill (screwdriver);
• a circular saw;
• grinder;
• sandpaper of different grain sizes;
• building level;
• square;
• roulette;
• wood glue.

Step by step assembly instructions

A do-it-yourself kitchen table made of wood on balusters is made in the following sequence:

1. We prepare the cross members of the frame. To do this, we cut a 100 mm board into 4 parts (2 by 400 mm, 2 by 1000 mm), after which we remove the burrs and bring the surface to a smooth state with sandpaper or a grinder.

1. We take the balusters and connect them in pairs with short crossbars (400 mm), making a small indent from the edge of the leg (about 15 mm). Fastening is carried out by means of glue and screws, which are twisted at an angle from the inside of the board.

Tip! In order to prevent the appearance of cracks, it is better to pre-make holes for the screws.

Fastening the short crossbars to the legs

1. We connect the finished pairs of legs with long crossbars (1000 mm). The fastening algorithm is the same as in the previous step.

The final stage of mounting the table frame

1. After we have made the frame of a wooden table with our own hands, we move on to the countertop. If it comes to the kitchen, then it is better to purchase a ready-made furniture board. Although for a gazebo or cottage, where the requirements for the appearance of the tabletop are not so strict, it can be assembled from grooved boards.

Furniture board for countertop

1. The finished tabletop must be connected to the frame. To do this, lay it face down on a flat and clean surface, and evenly place the base with legs on top. The fastening of the crossbars to the tabletop is carried out with screws according to the same principle that was described in paragraph 2. However, in this case, you must be extremely careful not to drill through the countertop.

1. On this, the manufacture of a kitchen table with your own hands can be considered almost complete. The last stage is characterized by the process of grinding the surface, as well as the application of stain or varnish, the color of which is matched to the interior of the kitchen.

Note! The number of layers of varnish depends on the type of wood. Hardwoods, such as oak or hornbeam, do not absorb varnish well, so 1-2 coats are enough in this case. But for pine or spruce, you will need at least 3 layers of coating.

Wooden dining table with balusters

Wooden table for a large family

An oversized table at which you can dine with a large family or arrange a feast by inviting friends must have a reliable design. Regular four legs are usually not enough to hold a heavy tabletop. Therefore, it is necessary to take additional measures to strengthen the frame.

Product design

In this example, we will consider how to make a large wooden table for the kitchen with our own hands measuring 2337x978 mm (naturally, slight deviations in one direction or another are allowed).

Drawing of a large wooden table

Before starting work, lumber should be prepared for:

• supporting frame (38x90 mm);
• countertops (38x140 mm);
• support bars (19x64 mm).

You will also need the following tools:

• a circular saw;
• jigsaw;
• drill;
• screws (4x65 mm);
• drills (3 mm);
• furniture glue;
• pencil, tape measure, sandpaper.

Manufacturing steps

To make the table reliable and have an attractive appearance, you need to responsibly approach each stage. So let's get started:

1. We make parts for the future wooden table from the purchased lumber with our own hands:

• 2 upper transverse beams (38x90x978 mm);
• 4 legs (38x90x695 mm);
• 2 bowstrings (38x90x921 mm);
• 1 longitudinal lower beam (38x90x1575 mm);
• 1 longitudinal upper beam (38x90x1473 mm);
• 2 braces (38x90x772 mm);
• 7 blanks for countertops (38x90x2337);
• 6 support bars (19x64x432 mm).

We carefully grind all the details, achieving an absolutely smooth surface without burrs.

Important! The quality of polishing a wooden surface depends on the right grit of emery. For primary grinding, the grain size should not be larger than 200 µm.

1. We fasten the legs in pairs with each other using transverse beams (above) and a bowstring (below). We use two screws for each connection.

1. With the help of a longitudinal lower beam, we connect two bowstrings together.

Fastening of the lower transverse beam

1. We strengthen the structure with the help of the upper transverse beam.

Advice! In order for the beam to securely connect the two halves, in addition to screws, additional wooden dowels with a diameter of 10 mm should be used.

1. We cut the ends of the blanks for the braces at an angle of 45 degrees. After that, we attach both braces to the upper and lower transverse beams.

Fastening of the upper transverse beam

1. We connect the wooden boards intended for the countertop with the cross beams on the inside of the structure.

1. Additionally, we strengthen the countertop with the help of supporting strips. Make sure that they do not go beyond the dimensions of the table.

Strengthening the structure with support bars

1. If desired, semicircular corners can be made in the kitchen wooden table, which will give the product a more elegant look.

This option is suitable for a large kitchen or dining room, and for giving

Folding wooden table for a small kitchen

If there is not enough space in the kitchen to accommodate a large or medium-sized table, then you should look for a more original approach. One of these solutions is a folding table that is attached to the wall and is very easy to remove, freeing up the space occupied by itself.

Materials and tools

To make a folding wooden table for the kitchen with your own hands, you will need the following:

• furniture board 30 mm thick;
• wooden beam 20x60 mm;
• loops (6 pcs.);
• corner lamella (2 pcs.);
• wooden dowels;
• dowel;
• screws;
• drill;
• jigsaw;
• grinder or sandpaper;
• glue;

Assembly: step by step

Advice! Before starting work, decide on the place where the table will be installed. Since the design is attached to the wall, it is very important to take into account all the features of the future interior of the kitchen, so that later you do not have to rearrange, leaving unsightly holes from the dowels in a conspicuous place.

Do-it-yourself kitchen table assembly steps:

1. We prepare parts for folding legs. To do this, we cut the wooden beam into 8 parts: 4 with a length of 720 mm, 4 with a length of 320 mm. We sand each element, removing burrs.

1. Assemble two rectangular frames. The rails are interconnected by means of furniture dowels, under which it is first necessary to drill blind holes with a diameter of 8 mm.

1. We connect the finished frames with each other with loops. In addition, a narrow rail must be attached to one frame with the help of hinges, which will be attached to the wall.

1. We fix the frame to the wall with dowels, after which we install corner lamellas on the sides. It is important to arrange the slats in such a way that they do not interfere with the legs to fold.

Advice! Instead of corner slats, you can use any furniture corners of the appropriate size, matched to the color of the table.

Fastening the structure to the wall

1. From a wooden shield we cut out a tabletop measuring 900x600 mm. For a more effective look, the corners can be rounded. After that, all ends should be processed with a grinder.

1. We “separate” a piece 250 mm long from the tabletop, which will be attached to the wall structure. The two parts are connected to each other by means of loops.

1. We install the 250 mm part on the corner lamellas and connect the elements with screws.

The final stage of mounting a folding table in the kitchen with your own hands

1. You can ennoble the table at your discretion by applying stain, varnish or paint. But even in its original form, such a product looks very good.

Wooden folding table - an original solution for a small kitchen

On the Internet, you can find a lot of options for how to make a wooden table with your own hands. We looked at three of the simplest solutions for standard, large and small kitchens, the production of which is quite economical and does not require specialized machines and extensive experience in working with wood. For the manufacture of more complex structures, we recommend that you seek help from specialists.

Finally, watch the video, which shows how you can make a pretty decent kitchen table out of old wooden planks.

Video: do-it-yourself wooden table

In the era of electronic media, few bother to read printed publications. Despite this, coffee tables still occupy a place of honor in every home.

In addition to their direct purpose, they can be used for other useful things: serving a light breakfast or dinner, minor repairs and home creativity.

Simplicity of construction, a variety of shapes and designs, a minimum of tools - all these advantages of coffee tables attract the attention of home craftsmen. In our article, we will make a detailed review of popular homemade products and give practical advice on how to make them.

Design options for coffee tables

The easiest way is to make a coffee table with your own hands, using edged boards, veneered chipboard or MDF.

In order to hide the connection points of the plates, the classic method is used - assembly on round wooden spikes (dowels). All that is required from the home master in this case is to accurately mark the installation locations of the spikes on the ends of the sidewalls and drill the mounting holes for them in the bottom and top covers.

The simplest coffee table made of MDF board

To increase the rigidity of the structure between its side walls, you need to install a vertical cross member. A small niche for storing magazines and other little things will not be superfluous here. It can be made from a plate left after cutting the covers and sidewalls.

Mobility is a useful option of the table. It is implemented by installing furniture wheels on the bottom. Compact transport wheels can be hidden, or you can buy larger ones and deliberately highlight them. So we get an original table on wheels from polished bars supporting a massive wooden tabletop.

For those to whom mobility does not play a big role, and who want to see a solid rustic-style table in their home, we can offer a variant of powerful boards. Such a table will undoubtedly become one of the main decorations in the living room of any country house.

Reasonable laziness, combined with a thirst for creativity, often leads to interesting discoveries. One of them is a table made from an old tire.

It's very easy to assemble:

• Two circles with a diameter of 3-4 cm less than the outer size of the tire are cut out in the chipboard plate.
• Four metal legs are screwed to the first circle.
• The bottom and the cover are fixed with self-tapping screws to the sides of the wheel.
• The jute rope is used to decorate the sidewalls and the lid.

Homemade design from an old tire looks great

So it turns out an unusual coffee table, which, if necessary, can be used as a banquette.

The idea of ​​using "random" items to create home furnishings proved to be extremely productive. She gave life to numerous homemade products from boxes and pallets. A little imagination and a minimum of expenses are required in order to assemble a coffee table made of wood based on four standard drawers.

The assembly algorithm looks like this: the boxes are placed on edge, placing them in a circle one after the other. Having connected the structure with the help of self-tapping screws, a shelf is made in its center. Here you can put a flower vase or pour decor from river pebbles or shells. The woodworking is completed with sandpaper, stain and varnish.

Natural wood does not need sophisticated decor. Using it for interior decoration, complement the decor with a simple table. To assemble it, you will need several planed bars and slats of a picket fence.

The frame of the base will look solid and massive when using a contrasting color combination with the top. To do this, the bars need to be tinted with a dark stain, leaving the cover in the natural color of the pine sawlog.

Wood in furniture goes well with metal. You can verify this by making a loft-style coffee table on metal legs. Its cover is assembled from three pieces of tongue-and-groove board "forty" and framed with a cornice plank.

To make the legs, you will need a welding machine, a piece of steel plate 1.5-2.0 mm thick and several scraps of smooth reinforcing steel with a diameter of 10-14 mm.

Having bent four rods according to the template, square pieces of plates (or thick carpentry corners as in the photo) are welded to them and alternately attached to a tabletop assembled from a grooved board. For final finishing, you need to grind, toned and varnish the lid, sides and paint the legs.

Instead of a bar for the manufacture of the base, you can use a rectangular profile pipe. Having welded two rectangles from it, cleaned the seams and covered the metal with silver paint, we will get reliable supports for the tabletop, assembled from thick oak boards.

To increase stability, the metal sidewalls under the cover are connected with a piece of a profile pipe.

Coffee tables with sawn wood tops look very impressive. Finding this basic element is easy. At any sawmill you will be offered a "semi-finished product" of the right size. An electric planer and a belt grinder will help you bring it to condition.

The legs of the table can be made from thick bars or a rebar can be used for them. The contrast between the massive top and the light metal base gives the structure a touch of exclusive design.

Another interesting option for combining materials is wood and glass. The tabletop can be oval or round, resting on a cruciform base of two bar frames.

Crafted from a wooden pallet and covered with square glass, this movable coffee table looks stylish and modern.

The glass gives a rich look to the entire structure and closes the gaps between the pallet slats through which small objects can fall onto the floor.

Those who prioritize functionality will surely like the transforming coffee table. Through simple manipulations, it radically changes not only its height, but also its appearance.

In the assembled state, it is an ordinary stand for magazines and newspapers. By lifting the two sides with legs, we increase the height of the table and expand the surface of the tabletop to a “dinner format”.

The basis of another transforming system is two metal frame-pedestals. Each of them is hinged to the table top. In the assembled position, they lie horizontally, and when the lids are lifted, they turn on hinges and stand upright.

The height of the unfolded structure is 73 cm. This is quite enough to use the transformer as a computer desk.

Its cover consists of two plates that can be shifted horizontally. In this case, one plate rotates on a hinge around its axis. If necessary, such a transformer can be turned into a dining table for 4 people in a matter of seconds.

Coffee table transformer "three in one"

Someone creates folding adaptive systems, and someone successfully experiments with ordinary plywood scraps. The result of the search for new forms was such an unusual coffee table.

We can only be surprised at the scrupulous accuracy of the calculation and its talented embodiment in a visible image.

Theoretically, everything looks simple: the base is sequentially glued together from three dozen plywood frames. Each of them has a certain angle of inclination of the legs.

In practice, to calculate all the elements of a plywood stand, a three-dimensional modeling program is needed.

The plywood “pie” assembled together attracts the eye with an unusual futuristic shape. A glass lid completes this piece of innovative carpentry technology.

“We would like something simpler, but also beautiful,” the home master will say. Please, there is a table no less elegant, but more affordable to manufacture. It consists of three packs of thin planed boards.

Numerous slots in the type-setting table top can be covered with a glass cover.

A few words need to be said about the connection of glass with wood. The best solution is to use a transparent "optical" glue. It is quite difficult to drill thick glass at home without causing irreparable damage to it. So give up the idea of ​​mechanical fixation and let modern chemistry do its best.

Self-manufacturing

Speaking about the material for the countertop, we completely forgot about the wooden lining. This is an excellent material at hand, equally suitable for creating a lid, sides and legs.

Tabletop made of eurolining - beautiful and reliable

The shape of the tabletop from the lining can be any. The lid, assembled from wooden planks, is cut with an electric jigsaw along a given contour.

To make a coffee table from a lining, we need several tools:

• screwdriver;
• jigsaw;
• belt grinder;
• hacksaw;
• roulette.

The dimensions of the finished product and the design of the docking units should be thought out in advance and entered into the draft drawing.

The finishing of the table is carried out in two stages. Before assembly, sand the surface of the lid, bottom and legs with sandpaper. After completion of the work, the wood is covered with a tinting stain and a colorless varnish.

It is even easier to make a coffee table made of chipboard. This material performs two functions at once: it forms a continuous surface and carries the load. We recommend using veneered board, as paint and varnish cannot hide the texture of wood chips on bare chipboard.

After completing the assembly, you need to close all the edges (tabletops, bottom and legs) with plastic furniture tape, warming it up with a building hair dryer before gluing.

Making a table is a great easy project for a beginner carpenter, but it can also be quite a challenge for more experienced carpenters. The simplest table consists of a tabletop, legs and a support frame. With a small amount of lumber for these elements, you can make a table that fully suits your needs.

Steps

Part 1

Table model design

Check out the different table options to decide what kind of table you want to make. There are so many different types of desks out there, so take the time to choose your project carefully. Go online and look for photos of tables, paying attention to the style of each item. Also, possible ideas can be found in furniture catalogs and carpentry magazines.

• Base your choice on your own needs, such as what you will be using your new desk for and how much space you have for it.
• Perhaps you need a large rustic dining table. Or maybe you want to make a small coffee table or an elegant bedside table.

ADVICE OF THE SPECIALIST

"If you're a beginner carpenter, it's easiest to start with a side table or coffee table."

Jeff Wyn is the General Manager of Handyman Rescue Team, a full service home maintenance and repair company in Greater Seattle. Has been in the renovation business for over 5 years. He has certifications in electronic technologies.

General Manager of the Handyman Rescue Team

Make a sketchy sketch of the table on paper. Use a pencil and ruler to draw your ideal table. Don't worry about the exact dimensions just yet. Just imagine how your finished table should look like. Give it the features you need, and only then think about the size.

• When the approximate design of the table is ready, mark the appropriate dimensions on it with a pencil. The specific dimensions of lumber that you are going to use can be found in hardware stores.
• The dimensions of the table will depend on its type. For example, a dining table is usually noticeably larger than a bedside table.

1. Calculate how much lumber you will need. Break the design of the table into its constituent basic elements. A simple table will have elements such as a tabletop, legs, and a support frame that connects them. If you plan to equip the table with additional elements, do not forget to take into account the materials for them.,

   • For example, try making a table with a top made of three boards 5 cm x 30 cm and a length of 150 cm, legs from four pieces of timber with a section of 10 cm x 10 cm and a length of 70 cm and a support frame from two boards with a section of 5 cm x 10 cm and a length of 75 cm, as well as two boards with a section of 5 cm x 10 cm and a length of 145 cm.
   • Purchase additional lumber for any additional pieces you want to add to your table. For example, you can add leg crossbars to increase the strength of the table or provide sliding tabletop elements.

2. To make a long-lasting table, choose an inexpensive but strong enough wood, such as pine. Pine is not a particularly hard wood, but it is easy to work with for beginners. From it, without much difficulty, you can make a table that will last for decades. Also, durable tables are often made from solid maple and cherry.

   • Consider other inexpensive wood options. For example, for the manufacture of tables, you can use construction-grade fir. Also, good furniture is obtained from poplar, but this wood is more difficult to tint with wood stain.
   • For outdoor furniture, opt for mahogany, cypress, or specially treated wood such as pine that has been impregnated with preservatives under pressure.

3. Buy lumber and cut it into pieces. When you know exactly what you need, go to the hardware store and buy lumber. Many shops can even cut your materials to your size, so don't be too lazy to ask about this service. This will reduce the amount of work ahead a bit so that you can start assembling the table right away.

   • If you have a workbench, a vise, a circular saw or a regular hand saw, you can cut the wood yourself. Be sure to wear polycarbonate goggles and a respirator when operating the saw.

   Part 2

   Assembling the table top and base frame

   1. Lay the boards on a flat surface side by side with each other. Try to choose the most flat surface to work on so that the countertop is even. Choose a front side for each table top board you use. Lay all boards face down. Arrange the boards in exactly the way that the table design you have prepared provides.

      • When making a large table, work on the floor. In order not to damage or scratch anything, the floor can be pre-covered with a sheet or tarp.
      • One way to connect boards to each other is to butt-join with self-tapping screws. It is even easier to connect various structural elements to each other by locking the boards (through grooves and protrusions), but you can also fasten parts on dowels if you know how to do it.
      • In addition, you can make a tabletop from solid wood. However, this will be noticeably more expensive and somewhat more difficult due to the weight of the solid wood shield. To save money, consider using hardwood faced construction plywood.

   2. Drill oblique basting holes in the tabletop boards for self-tapping screws to connect the edge of the outer tabletop board with the edge of the next (inner) board. The presence of basting holes will not allow the wood to crack when you screw screws into it. To make basting holes, first measure the length of the countertop. Mark the holes about every 18 cm. You will need a fairly long wood drill (about 7.5 cm long and slightly smaller in diameter than the self-tapping screws you will use). Using it, drill oblique basting holes from the edge of one board to the edge of the other (from the outer board to the inner) every 18 cm.

      • To make your work easier, you can use a special machine for deep drilling. Simply set the drilling depth on it and drill the perfect basting holes at the right angle to the wood surface. Such a machine reduces the risk that you will drill through the wood.
      • It will also become much easier to work if you first tighten the boards together with a vise.
      • This is not the only way to connect table top boards. You can also first assemble the base frame and table legs, and then attach the table top boards directly to the base frame with self-tapping screws through the basting holes.

   3. Fasten the boards with screws. Screw 6.5 cm self-tapping screws into the basting holes. Use an electric drill to screw in the self-tapping screws to the very end. They will not lead to cracking of the wood and will securely fasten the boards of the countertop.

      Mark the position of the support frame on the underside of the table top. The support frame is attached to the tabletop itself and the legs of the table, preventing these parts from moving. From the edges of the tabletop, measure about 2.5 cm deep. Then draw a line here with a pencil, which will indicate the place where the support frame is attached to the tabletop.

      • The presence of an indent of 2.5 cm will prevent such a situation when the support frame sticks out from under the countertop. In addition, this way you leave a little more space under the table for free positioning of the legs between its legs and, in general, improve the appearance of the table.
      • If you have not yet sawn the wood for the support frame, use the countertop dimensions (length and width) to calculate the dimensions of its parts, taking into account the required indent from the edge and the section of the boards used.

   4. Glue the base frame to the tabletop and clamp it with a vise. Set the details of the reference frame along the previously drawn lines. You will have two long pieces along the edges of the table and two short pieces across it (and inside the long pieces). Coat the inside of the pieces with an even layer of wood glue to secure them to the countertop. Fix the parts with a vise overnight so that they do not move.

      • You can also securely attach these parts to the countertop with self-tapping screws. In this case, use a deep hole drilling machine to pre-create basting holes for the screws.
      • Alternatively, you can first attach the legs to the table, and then connect them to the support frame using self-tapping screws. To make the legs stronger, you can additionally attach corner braces inside the support frame.

   Part 3

   Attaching legs

   1. Cut the legs of the required length from the timber. Mounting the legs is the most difficult operation in the manufacture of the table. If you attach the legs poorly, you will not end up with a solid and reliable table, but a flimsy, unstable design. Start by measuring the exact length of each leg and sawing off the corresponding pieces of timber with a saw.

      • Even if you sawed materials in the store, the parts may be slightly uneven. Check their size before attaching the legs to the table.
      • If you are making the legs yourself, first make a rough cut of the parts with a circular saw. Then fold the legs evenly, clamp them with a vise and, if necessary, trim to the same size.

   2. Glue the legs to the corners of the base frame. The legs must be placed in the corners of the support frame, where its parts are joined to each other. Apply adhesive at the corners to the inside of the support frames and the underside of the tabletop. Then place the legs in the corners and secure with a vise.

      • You can wait for the glue to dry, but this is not necessary. Just keep the legs securely fastened with a vise so they don't move when you fix them with screws.

   3. Drill basting holes in the base frame and table legs. The screws should be located in the center of each area where the leg meets the support frame. Drill holes from the side of the support frame towards the leg. Use a drill with a diameter of about 6 mm (but thinner than the self-tapping screws used) to make the first basting hole in the wood of the leg. Repeat the same for the other side of the base frame. You will have a total of 8 basting holes.

      • If you want to additionally fasten the legs with crossbars, the process will be somewhat more complicated. You will need a circular saw to make grooves on each leg a little less than half the thickness of the timber. On each leg, it will be necessary to make 2 grooves (one on each side, where the crossbars will be attached.

   4. Attach the table legs to the base frame with self-tapping screws. Use two self-tapping screws with a diameter of about 7 mm for each leg. Screw the self-tapping screws through the support frame into the legs. Use a ratchet screwdriver for this.

      • Do not drill screws. They can go very tight and accidentally break off.
      • Make sure the legs are level and at right angles to the tabletop before you screw the screws into them.

   5. Wait until the glue you used is completely dry and set. Read the manufacturer's instructions that came with the adhesive to find out how long you have to wait. If you leave the table alone overnight, you can be sure that the glue will dry for this. Usually the table can be turned to the correct position even before this time.

   6. Turn the table over on its legs to check its stability. Turn the table over carefully. It can be quite heavy! Put it on the floor and try to shake it. If the table wobbles, it means that the legs are not perfect enough. It is possible that they are different lengths - in this case you will need to turn the table back and shorten the legs to the same length.

      • Although the legs can be cut with a circular saw or hacksaw, it is easy to make a mistake and shorten them too much. Instead, it's better to sand down some of the legs a bit with 80 grit sandpaper and then sand them down with 220 grit sandpaper.
      • Problems can also create the position of the legs themselves. Make sure they fit snugly against the countertop and support frame. If necessary, unscrew the screws and correct the position of the legs.

   Part 4

   Sanding and tinting wood

   1. Sand the table with 80 grit sandpaper. This is a coarse grit sandpaper, so it will make the wood look a bit rough, which is perfectly normal. Just think about how the finished table will look like! If you look closely at the wood, you will notice the direction of its fibers (lines). Sandpaper over the entire surface of the wood in the direction of its fibers (including the underside of the table and legs).

      • To make your job easier, use a belt sander. It is unlikely that it will leave behind any permanent defects on the surface of the table when you process your product with it just once.
      • It is not necessary to sand the wood and tint it with stain. If you like the quality of the wood surface, leave it as is. You may just want to varnish it to protect it from the effects of moisture. To qualitatively process wood with a stain, process only one side of the table at a time.
      • Create the table you want! For the table, you can use not only different types of wood, but also other materials. For example, table legs can be made of pipes, and the tabletop itself can be made of metal or glass.
      • When assembling wooden furniture, be sure to drill basting holes, especially in wood 2.5 cm thick or less, so that it does not crack.
      • Consider recycling lumber. This may require more effort in designing and rendering the table, but will often result in a more interesting end result.
      • Fasten wood exclusively with self-tapping screws. Nails hold less well and can lead to cracking. In addition, the self-tapping screw will be easier to unscrew if you make a mistake.

      Warnings

      • Be careful when working with tools! A drill or other piece of equipment can be quite dangerous if mishandled.
      • Be sure to use protective equipment when working with tools. Wear earplugs and goggles. Use a dust mask and do not wear long clothing that could get caught on tools.
      • Many tinting products contain toxic substances that evaporate during use, so work with them in a respirator and in a well-ventilated area.

A do-it-yourself kitchen table is both an opportunity to save money and a way to provide the kitchen with unique furniture that fits perfectly into the available space. However, it is important to correctly determine the dimensions and shape of the future structure.

How to make a wooden dining table

A table made of solid wood is beautiful, natural and, as a rule, expensive. But buying such a table is not necessary, because you can make it yourself with no less quality and for much less money.

So, to make a dining table with your own hands, you will need:

1. 4 things. baluster legs for the table, 73 cm high and not too thin;
2. For the tabletop: 4 dry edged wooden boards 1 m long (for a table 60 cm wide);

1. For the frame: 2 boards 80 cm long and 2 boards 40 cm long.

Prepare tools: planer, grinder or grinder, jigsaw for cutting boards, circular saw, drill (with 8 mm drill), screwdriver, sandpaper, self-tapping screws (30 mm), wood glue, dowels, clamps (preferably). And, of course, a pencil, tape measure, gloves and goggles will come in handy.

To finish the table, you will need varnish, stain or paint along with a primer. Let's make the table first. To do this, you need to accurately fit all 4 boards to the same length - 100 cm. If your boards were not sawn at the sawmill, then they also need to be trimmed in width and thickness. Then they need to be carefully polished with a planer. The better you sand the wood, the smoother the countertop will be. Work the edges well so that the boards fit as tightly as possible to each other.

We will connect the boards not with screws and nails, but with glue and dowels (chops). To do this, we make the same marks on the edges of all boards in increments of 10-15 cm and drill holes for the dowels with an 8 mm drill. Then we sand the edges and apply wood glue to them and into the holes made. Now we drive the chopsticks processed with the same glue into the holes and connect all 4 bars in turn. We remove excess glue on the surface with sandpaper and grind it, as well as all edges with a planer. At this stage, you can go over the countertop with a metal sponge to give the wood texture.

So, the tabletop is ready. Now you need to fasten the legs and make a base for it.

To do this, you need to evenly fasten the balusters with short transverse boards with glue and screws. The glue dries for at least 12 hours.

We fasten the legs to the long crossbars and drill holes in them in order to install the countertop later.

After the glue in the frame dries, you can proceed to install the countertop on it (frame).

If you want to make the table longer and wider, then you need to strengthen the table with two additional cross bars, as shown in the photo.

So, the table is almost ready, it remains only to treat it with varnish or stain or paint it, having previously primed it.

What color to paint the table? Start from personal preferences and the color of the rest of the furniture. Below is the most versatile option - the table top and legs are stained.

You can see the main mistakes of staining a tree with your own hands in this video.

If you like gloss, then the surface of the table can be stained, and varnished on top (example in the photo below), or simply varnished.

You can paint the legs white, and stain the countertop to get a design like in the next photo.

How to make a kitchen table from chipboard

A do-it-yourself kitchen table made of laminated chipboard is a practical and budget solution. Such countertops are covered with decorative plastic, which is resistant to abrasion. In the typical version, the dimensions of the tabletop canvas are 3000x600x36 (26) mm, but today it will not be difficult to purchase a chipboard sheet sawn to the desired dimensions or negotiate in a furniture workshop to sell a suitable trim.

You will also need:

• Connecting and end strips;
• end edges;
• Ties.

Even if you get a countertop of the right size, you will need to additionally process the ends - this will make the result more attractive, as well as ensure that the base is protected from moisture. For these purposes, you can use a special furniture edging based on polyvinyl chloride or glue an edge tape. The edging option is considered more practical for a dining table and suitable for home craftsmen.

For the kitchen table, you will also need appropriate supports - you can buy the legs separately or give preference to the finished base. It all depends on which option your drawings provide. The most common option is round legs D = 60 mm and 71 cm high. They can be collapsible, adjustable in height, and also differ in design - matte, painted, shiny.

In our case, these will be shiny chrome-plated legs-rods with a diameter of 60 mm, as well as a tabletop made of white chipboard 36 mm thick and a white plastic mortise T-shaped edging with girths is matched to it.

So, how to make a dining table with a chipboard top:

1. The marking is applied to the material according to the drawing. Rounding corners must have a radius of 60 mm or more.

1. The tabletop is shaped with a jigsaw.

A saw with reversible teeth should be used, otherwise the plastic coating may be chipped. First, the corner of the chipboard is cut with a jigsaw with a margin of 2 mm, and then it is finally rounded off with a grinder.

1. A groove for furniture edging is milled.

1. The edging is stuffed. Before this, the ends of the product must be covered with silicone sealant. The sealant is laid both in the edging and on the top side of the countertop. A rubber mallet is used to stuff the piping. Then the excess sealant is removed.

1. The legs are attached. To do this, markings are made with a pencil on the back of the tabletop. In most cases, the legs are placed 100 mm from the edge.

To fasten the holders, self-tapping screws with a countersunk head about 20 mm long are used. After that, the legs are put on the holders and fixed with a hex key - that's it, your new table is ready.

How to correctly determine the dimensions

According to the principles described above, tables can be made larger or smaller in length and width. How to choose the best size for your family?

If we are talking about a standard kitchen with dimensions from 6 to 8 squares, then the drawings will show a typical design with a height of 750 mm and a perimeter of 800 * 500 ... 1200 * 600 mm.

A do-it-yourself dining table should be calculated for a certain number of people. Usually it corresponds to the number of residents - 3-9, but a couple of free places are still added for guests. For large companies, a good solution will be.

Calculations are carried out as follows: the number of persons is multiplied by 60 (“working” perimeter per person). As for the width of the countertop, here we follow the recommendations of experts - its optimal values ​​​​are from 800 to 1100 mm. Narrow tables are difficult to serve, and wide tables are uncomfortable for those sitting.

If you decide to make the kitchen table oval (round) with your own hands, then you will have to calculate the circumference - diameter * 3.14.

Form Selection Rules

The shape of the kitchen table plays a significant role in the perception of space. Universal design - a rectangle or square with right angles. It is balanced and can be installed close to the wall or in the center of the room, saving space.

Oval models are also quite comfortable and beautiful, but they do not differ in large capacity - the most dimensional product will accommodate no more than 8 people. In addition, they require large areas - more than 8 square meters. meters, because you can’t put them against the wall.

It can also be called a universal and traditional option, suitable for both very and large kitchens. But it has less capacity than a rectangular table.

The best option is a rectangular table with rounded corners. How to make such a table from chipboard with your own hands, we have already described above.

Furniture care rules

After the dining table is made, you will need to take care of the long service life of the product.

So, furniture made of wood, polished and lacquered, needs careful care, as it can be easily scratched. In addition, traces of contact with hot are possible here. A universal polishing composition is selected as a basic wood care.

If we are talking about a countertop made of MDF or chipboard with a plastic coating, then caring for it is not difficult and consists in regular washing with detergents.

Do not forget that kitchen furniture must be moved away from heaters and from walls bordering the street. Direct sunlight will also be harmful to wooden furniture.

An alternative option for purchased furniture is the ability to create it yourself from improvised materials. You can make an original coffee table with your own hands in a couple of hours. The process is simple and exciting even for a beginner. Initial skills in handling carpentry tools, ingenuity and a certain amount of aesthetic flair are required.

The coffee table exists in an innumerable number of varieties.

Benefits of making home furniture yourself:

• minimum financial costs;
• exclusivity of the model;
• individual convenience.

  

  It is easy to make it: the drawings, if required, are not at all complicated.

  You can put a sample created on your own in the living room, bedroom or children's room. Products created independently look great in city apartments and country cottages, delighting owners and guests with their unusualness and style.

  

  A coffee table in the interior is like a business suit for a man or makeup for a lady.

  What exactly the necessary materials are useful depends on the basis of the item being collected. To make a coffee table with your own hands, you will need a variety of auxiliary things.

  

  First of all, the decor gives the look of the table, so it would be appropriate to start from the end: with decoration and decoration.

  It will be difficult to assemble an accurate and durable table structure without glue, varnish and sandpaper. Resistant paint will also come in handy - choose convenient sprays, they can quickly cover the entire surface of the countertop without getting dirty. A quality primer may be required to cover the base and supports. You can buy it at a hardware store. Do not forget the materials for decoration - fabrics of various textures and densities, lace, colored plastic or glass, etc.

  

  It will no longer be difficult to choose a design from ready-made ones or develop your own: the loads on the subject are small, and suddenly a flaw came out, it is easy to redo or redo it.

  Ancillary material will not be superfluous - ordinary newspapers, a large cardboard box, a plastic sheet so that the waste of "production" is not carried around the room.

  

  The cost of labor and money - just nothing.

  To assemble the conceived model, you need to prepare the necessary tools.

  First of all, it is a hammer, scissors, pliers. You will need different fasteners, furniture nails (regular and riveting) or screws of different sizes.

  

  You can decorate the table in different ways, see fig.

  To quickly cut wood pieces, you need a hacksaw. If you have a carpentry table, and you have the skills of such work, then the presence of a chisel, cutter and planer will be a plus in order to process a wooden base with professional precision. To decorate the elements, you will need a sharp chisel or a set of carpentry knives.

  

  With the help of the most ordinary wallpaper, you can quickly and inexpensively ennoble the most ancient shabby table, as long as it is strong.

  What will be the coffee table - it's up to you. Next, we decide on the design and construction.

  DIY coffee table from pallets

  To quickly make beautiful furniture, wood is often taken as a basis. It can be made from a regular pallet. One product without gaps and four wooden supports is enough to create a beautiful table on your own.

  1. We start making an original table from pallets with markings.
  2. Having decided on the dimensions and having made all the necessary marks, we cut out the middle of the pallet: a flat surface should be on the front side, embossed - with symmetrically arranged bars - from the bottom.
  3. Treat the legs selected for work (preferably carved) with a primer and let them dry.
  4. At this time, take care of tinting the countertops from above and from the sides.
  5. When all the elements are dry, you can begin to fix them. For connection, use nails (or screws) and hardware.

  

  Each layer, except for the finishing layer, is sanded after drying, but for this you need a velvet skin, which you can’t always find on sale.

  Such models look good if they are low. An interesting coffee table can be made from an already unnecessary central heating radiator. To do this, it must be evenly painted. Instead of a countertop, you can take glass or a wide board in size.

  

  From a vacation at sea, you can bring a pile of empty shells and sea pebbles.

  For mobility, wheels from an old baby stroller are often used. The construction of a furniture masterpiece will take a minimum of time and money.

  DIY coffee table from the window and books

  An outdated window can be found a new use - use it to create a table with your own hands. If necessary, sand the frames and cover them with paint. As supports, you can use not only wooden legs (bars), but also old books that do not fit on the shelves.

  

  If you have changed ordinary windows to metal-plastic ones at home, then you can make an interesting coffee table out of one old window.

  A coffee table will be convenient in the country if you spend a lot of time there. On the glass of such an original countertop, you can apply a pattern or a thin layer of matting paint.

  Coffee table from the front door

  An unnecessary front door can also serve as the basis for your table. For this, its central part is taken, and the rest go to the supporting sides, since the coffee table will not be very high. For greater stability, you can make the bottom shelf of chipboard.

  

  Well, if you replaced the entrance or interior doors, then use the old door as material for the new table.

  Surfaces of the product - countertops and supports - cover with tinting. A matte finish will look good.

  Often, outdated doors have relief zoning, which is convenient when using a table, since you can safely put a tray with dishes without fear that it will slip off.

  Table from old furniture - a wardrobe or drawers from a chest of drawers

  Sometimes it's a pity to throw away good pieces of furniture that are out of fashion. They can serve as the basis for new products. Smooth wardrobe doors, especially if they are lacquered, are an excellent workpiece. Legs are also useful - straight or carved, if the product is planned to be made low. You can use two sashes by connecting them with cut-off parts from the side panels of the cabinet. This option requires very little time and is practically free.

  

  Wooden boxes for fruits, vegetables or other items are a versatile material for creating furniture with your own hands.

  Drawers from a chest of drawers are suitable for a composite or solid table. Adjustment is carried out by sawing off the protruding parts. The assembled countertop is installed on any supports - for example, elements of the same chest of drawers, bars treated with a primer, books, etc.

  Do-it-yourself stump table

  An unusual coffee table is obtained from a single piece of wood - a stump left over from a sawn pine, birch or poplar. It should be fairly wide and even, with beautiful rings. Depending on the height of the stump, you can choose from the following options:

  • with a low tabletop on thin metal legs;
  • medium height without supports (the base of the stump serves as a support);
  • low table on wheels.

  

  A sanded stump or log can be placed directly on the floor or wheels can be attached.

  If desired, you can leave the natural appearance of the stump - with bark (leaving it as it is or varnishing it) or paint it in any color, after removing the bark. White and beige tones look the best.

  Table-suitcase for travel lovers

  You can also use vintage voluminous suitcases as a table top. This original handmade coffee table will appeal to romantic natures who often like to spend time on educational journeys.

  

  In our time, coffee tables finally got rid of the hypocrisy of the owners.

  An old suitcase is taken as a basis, preferably from thin wooden planes. Leave the locks in place, they serve as fasteners. You can also leave the straps. The suitcase can be tinted or left natural, depending on the condition of the surface. For legs, you can use both wooden blocks (or carved furniture supports) and wheels.

  

  This kind of furniture is made from a wide variety of materials: wood, glass, steel, aluminum, plastic, chipboard and plywood.

  For greater resistance to moisture, the surface can be varnished. Fasteners here can be both bolts and hardware. You can drill holes for legs in the bottom of the suitcase itself and secure them with iron rims with spacers.

  

  The edge of a tabletop made of solid wood or glued furniture board should be processed with a router to give it a beautiful shape, and then sanded with sandpaper.

  Log table for nature lovers

  Wood is a material that lends itself well to processing. Sand half a wide log and thinner logs. The bark on the sides and bottom of the countertop can be left or removed. For fasteners, use nails and metal corners. Instead of log legs, you can take metal or legs from old furniture.

  

  It seems as if this coffee table is completely made of birch logs, but it is not.

  Making an exclusive wooden coffee table is quite simple. Ordinary logs will serve as both the basis and supports.

  Coils as the basis of the product

  A coffee table made of a large cable reel looks very interesting. First, the round shape looks harmonious. Secondly, it can be made rotating. Thirdly, the side cavity can be used for a variety of items - magazines, books, stationery, CDs, additional utensils (if they are not needed on the table during tea drinking).

  

  Large spools from industrial cable are a rare but ideal blank for coffee tables.

  It will serve as a countertop from the side flat sides.

  The coffee table can be made with or without supports by simply laying the spool on its side. As a twisting element, you can use the "Health" disk.

  The cavities on the side look more interesting if they are zoned symmetrically with wooden boards fixed with glue.

  Making a glass table

  A DIY glass coffee table is very easy to make. As a countertop, ordinary thick glass (square, rectangular, round), preferably tempered, is used, since the material is quite fragile and can crack from impact or temperature changes.

  

  Glass - only tempered glass can be used, otherwise the reliability of the table will be in doubt.

  The coffee table can be based on carved wooden legs with a wide base, books, hemp and other elements. It is desirable to make a central support for it. The elements are attached to a special resistant glue.

  The final stage - decoration

  A variety of ideas are used in decorating a do-it-yourself sample. Smooth surfaces hold a pattern or ornament along the perimeter well, while uneven surfaces hold appliqués and other elements.

  
  

  In the manufacture of the table with your own hands, you can use additional decorative inserts. If you're using a cable spool, it often has a center hole. You can put a tall vase with dry plants or flowers in it.

  The material you choose for decorating should be resistant to abrasion. The exception is elements designed to give the impression of a vintage product.

  

  The main thing here will be the exact observance of the proportions indicated in the drawing.

  Paint toning can also act as a decorative design. You can create patterned surfaces, give natural stains on wooden surfaces, shade parts of elements, creating the most advantageous look for your product.

  If the coffee table is unstable, then objects can slide off it, so you need to carefully adjust all the supports in height. Embossed trim can also be applied as an anti-slip measure.

  

  The finished product is treated with a stain, painted, varnished or “aged” - as desired.

  For the manufacture of such models, completely different materials are used - fantasy will not let you limit your ideas. Try, come up with options for furnishings, from this it will look not only stylish, but also completely new.

  

  Wood is the easiest material to process and the most malleable.

  VIDEO: DIY coffee table

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