My First Coffee Table - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Magnettica · 04-09-2009, 04:47 PM

Here's the fancy saw they had at the school.

The coffee tables on top of the dresser. Don't know whose dresser this was.

Here are the original legs. 2 pieces of pine glued and brad nailed together. I diodn't think they looked as nice as I wanted so I scrapped them later on.

Sanding, sanding, and more sanding.

Here's a shot of the shop.

3/4" pine used for trimmed edges. These I had to do a few times because apparently I can't measure too well. Now I know what you guys say when you say tight (really tight), miters. I can appreciate that now.

Prefabricated legs bought at the HD for less than $8 a piece. This was the detail I was looking for but I didn't have access to the lathe nor did I have any experience using one so buying them was the obvious choice.

Just thought this was funny, it was hanging up somewhere at the school.

Magnettica · 04-09-2009, 04:47 PM

I just rent here so don't make fun of the pink carpet please. Yes, I know I need to vacuum, thanks.

FaFa Fo High!

BattleRidge · 04-09-2009, 04:51 PM

NICE! was this for a class of some kind?

strathd · 04-09-2009, 04:56 PM

Cool !! Sounds like you had a good time.............

Magnettica · 04-09-2009, 05:05 PM

It was a class I took at night to further develop my woodworking skills. I have "the bug" so to speak. I suppose watching Norm and episodes of This Old House has that effect on people.

Five Star · 04-09-2009, 05:11 PM

i like that shop invirement, i miss my wood shop class and teacher . i still use a dust pan i made in metal shop 22 yrs ago

once a helper left it on a job i was doing about 1.5 hrs from my house, i had to drive 3 hrs there and back to pick it up(what can i say centimental value

nice job did you turn the legs on a lathe yourself..?

**Gus Dering** · 04-09-2009, 06:30 PM

A career is born.

My first shop was my dorm room when I was in the USAF.

Had to move it from there when I noticed I was making more dust and noise than friends

That place you get to play in looks a lot better than mine.

**BuiltByMAC** · 04-09-2009, 08:37 PM

Good job, man! (I won't show you my first electrical panel job!)
Did you add Poly (crylic or urethane) over the stain job?

Hey, as long as it can hold up a stripper, you're good to go! Watch the heels though, they can leave marks!

Mac

Magnettica · 04-09-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Five Star

i like that shop invirement, i miss my wood shop class and teacher . i still use a dust pan i made in metal shop 22 yrs ago

once a helper left it on a job i was doing about 1.5 hrs from my house, i had to drive 3 hrs there and back to pick it up(what can i say centimental value

nice job did you turn the legs on a lathe yourself..?

No lathe, but that would have been interesting because I've never used one before. I bought the legs at the Depot. I don't blame you one bit for going back to get something of sentimental value, I would have done the same thing.

Magnettica · 04-09-2009, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gus Dering

A career is born.

My first shop was my dorm room when I was in the USAF.

Had to move it from there when I noticed I was making more dust and noise than friends

That place you get to play in looks a lot better than mine.

I'm gonna stick to being an electrician - it pays better. But carpentry's a damn fun hobby.

Magnettica · 04-09-2009, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuiltByMAC

Good job, man! (I won't show you my first electrical panel job!)
Did you add Poly (crylic or urethane) over the stain job?

Hey, as long as it can hold up a stripper, you're good to go! Watch the heels though, they can leave marks!

Mac

Yes, 3 layers of polyurethane, satin crystal clear semi-gloss. I was hoping it would have looked a bit more shiny though to tell you the truth.

**joasis** · 04-09-2009, 09:22 PM

You know we have a woodworking forum? woodworkingtalk.com Nice work by the way.

**Leo G** · 04-09-2009, 09:27 PM

Now we got a woodworking electrician

Not bad for a first table. Did you glue the apron onto the plywood top? Might be a no no. The plywood might save you though. Keep building stuff, nice and relaxing and you have something to show for it that isn't hidden by drywall. Hope to see more stuff from ya.

Magnettica · 04-09-2009, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joasis

You know we have a woodworking forum? woodworkingtalk.com Nice work by the way.

Thanks Joasis!

Yes, I frequent it often but never signed up. I like the guy from the northwest who turns the tree stumps into lamps. That's guys work is phenomenal.

Magnettica · 04-09-2009, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo G

Now we got a woodworking electrician

Not bad for a first table. Did you glue the apron onto the plywood top? Might be a no no. The plywood might save you though. Keep building stuff, nice and relaxing and you have something to show for it that isn't hidden by drywall. Hope to see more stuff from ya.

The apron being the 2" pine attached to the plywood that supports the legs?

All glue, no brads.

Why, is that not good?

**Leo G** · 04-09-2009, 09:35 PM

Wood expands and contracts. After a while (years) it is possible that all the stresses will break the glue joint. This is more prone to happen if it was a solid wood top. With the plywood you may escape this. Usually what I will do is put a 1/4" groove in the top of the apron and make an "L" bracket and screw it to the underside of the table. That way when things move, there is a little give. Just like when you make a panel door, the panel will float in the frame. Otherwise the panel would split if it was glued in place. I don't think you will have a problem.

**BuiltByMAC** · 04-09-2009, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magnettica

Yes, 3 layers of polyurethane, satin crystal clear semi-gloss. I was hoping it would have looked a bit more shiny though to tell you the truth.

Jus' keep goin'...6-7 coats shines up nicely!

ETA: lightly sand the dry surface w/ 220 grit between coats, then remove dust w/ a tack cloth.

Mac

neolitic · 04-09-2009, 10:11 PM

Magnettica · 04-10-2009, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuiltByMAC

Jus' keep goin'...6-7 coats shines up nicely!

ETA: lightly sand the dry surface w/ 220 grit between coats, then remove dust w/ a tack cloth.

Mac

That's what I did. A light sanding with the palm sander with 220 grit paper. I'll probably do this a few times to get it looking just right. Thanks for the advise.

Magnettica · 04-10-2009, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo G

Wood expands and contracts. After a while (years) it is possible that all the stresses will break the glue joint. This is more prone to happen if it was a solid wood top. With the plywood you may escape this. Usually what I will do is put a 1/4" groove in the top of the apron and make an "L" bracket and screw it to the underside of the table. That way when things move, there is a little give. Just like when you make a panel door, the panel will float in the frame. Otherwise the panel would split if it was glued in place. I don't think you will have a problem.

I think I'll try that. I think next I'm going to do a matching end table. This woodworking thing is a fun little hobby. Love it.