Finally finished the Coffee Table

[sf93]

I had some pictures of the base in the old projects forum. But finally got it done the pictures don't do the wood top any justice, the wood is just beautiful. I got a big 4'x8'x2 1/4" piece of maple butcher block for $300. It was just what I needed for the top of the coffee table, and the matching end tables witch I still have to finish. This table is 30"x50", the end tables are going to be 24"x28". I'm just thrilled :D

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o149/sf93/Coffee%20Table/IMG_0859_1.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o149/sf93/Coffee%20Table/IMG_0858_1.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o149/sf93/Coffee%20Table/IMG_0857_1.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o149/sf93/Coffee%20Table/IMG_0856_1.jpg

[TexHand]

Very nice. I like the bottom shelf.

[Some Creep]

I missed the original thread so I apologize if you've already posted this, what is the material used for the cross members of the shelf? Bar channel? Square tubing? Looks killer! Clean, simple, detailed.

[sf93]

The shelf cross members are 1 1/2"x3/4" 14ga. wall rectangular tubing. The legs are 2" square 16ga. wall tubing.

Here is a pic without the top.

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o149/sf93/Coffee%20Table/DSCF3151.jpg

[Some Creep]

Excellent! Smaller sized material = less weight impact on the wife's floor & carpet = less often I have to buy new flooring! Great idea!

[sf93]

Smaller sized material = less weight impact on the wife's floor & carpet = less often I have to buy new flooring

LOL, That a good one; and true.

[Some Creep]

Also less wear and tear on my bad back:

"Put it over here.... no, now try it over there..... no, I liked it better over here...... what about over by the windows?"


:D

[trial&error]

looks good. so what did you use for feet?

[Ferrous]

That looks great, sf93. Good work there. How'd you finish the steel?

[556man]

Wow! That's beautiful. Nice work.

556man

[sf93]

For feet I used some square plastic tube plugs that pop in. And for the finish on the steel I sprayed on paint from a rattle can. I'm thinking I might want to get the bases powder coated in the future though.

[BBackSoon]

Clean look. Nice work.

[Bob the Welder]

Excellent craftsmanship and very nice design!

One thing I noticed is it looks like you have small holes drilled for screws to attach the top to the frame. I would recommend that you make the holes slightly oversize to allow for expansion and contraction of the tabletop. Unless you have little or no changes in humidity it has a chance of splitting as the seasons change and at $300 dollars for a butcher block top that would be depressing!:eek:

Checkout this website for more info.

http://benchnotes.com/Fastening%20Table%20Tops/fastening_table_tops.htm

[sf93]

Yep, I was on top of that. Actually my Dad reminded me of expansion and contraction. So I over sized the holes and used washers, and just snugged up the screws.

[Conrad_Turbo]

And..."right click...save as" :D

Fantastic work! Very nice combination of wood and steel.

[Rocky D]

Man, that puppy is bomb-proof!!:eek: Nice design...lot of work! Prolly worth 2k easy!

[sf93]

LOL, When my neighbor saw it he said if there was a a tornado that went through the area I'd find him under my table. Work.....Tell me about it I probably have over a weeks worth of work just in this table. Lots of welding, grinding, and wood finishing work. But it was a lot of fun, I find doing this kind of stuff is a good stress reliever. Now I just need to finish the end tables

[Some Creep]

And..."right click...save as" :D


Yes sir! I've saved it too! I have quite a bit of ideas from this site saved to my PC.

If you guys find me at a swap meet selling a copy of one of your projects, I swear I'll either give you a commission or buy you a beer (which ever is cheaper :D)

[sf93]

I'll take that beer. I thought this site was all about sharing ideas with the people. ;)

[Zondfive]

Did the butcher block come finished?

[sf93]

No it didn't come finished. It was a big 4ft.x8ft hunk out of a restaurant. To tell you the truth it was all chewed up on top. It is amazing what some sandpaper and a little elbow grease can do. :)

[Zondfive]

What material did you use for the finish, and how did you proceed?

[sf93]

For the finish I used Minwax Satin Fast-Drying Polyurethane. How I got to that point was to first cut the top to the size I needed. Then I took it down to the local lumber yard to run it through their big sander to get all the cut marks and such out. After that I started sanding with a hand held belt sander loaded with 80 grit, then 120 grit. After that I took a router with a 3/8 quarter round bit to radius the top edges. I then pulled out my palm sander and sanded the whole thing again with 120 grit and 220 grit till it was nice and smooth and most imperfections were taken out. I also hit up the bottom of the piece with 120 grit on the belt sander.

To prep for poly I wiped the whole top down with a tack cloth followed by a cloth dampened with mineral spirits. Then I applied a coat of poly with a natural bristle brush. Let dry, followed by a light sanding with 220 grit. Wiped down again with mineral spirits, and applied poly. After the second coat was dry I wet sanded with automotive 800 grit sandpaper. Wiped down again with mineral spirits, and applied poly. When the third coat was dry I wet sanded again with automotive 2000 grit sandpaper. After that I used regular automotive polishing compound to remove any fine scratches the 2000 grit left behind.

Oh, I also put one coat of poly to the bottom just to seal it up. And lightly sanded with 220 grit when dry.

[Rocky D]

Nope. it's worth over 3 grand, now, after reading all that! ;)

[Zondfive]

Absolutely well done. You learned well - works shows it too.
doing th bottom - you know wood. leaving that open would have been asking for problems.

[sf93]

Hey Rocky I'll cut you a deal if your interested. For you I'll let it go for $2999.98. LOL. :D

Thanks for all the complements.

[boykjo]

Nice table, but where's the dag-gum coffe................I'd like a cup right about now................

[cubfan]

Nice work. I am just finishing a table very similar but without the shelf on the bottom. You did a great job on the bottom shelf, looks like too much work for me right now.

[sf93]

Hey Cubfan, post a pic when you get it finished.

[cubfan]

I will. I am deciding whether to put a wood top or a glass top, but your table swayed me towards wood.:)

[Big_man_tim]

I am in the process of making a set of tables for my sister. They are made of 1 1/4 angle with 1 1/2 square legs and are going to have an inset 4x4 inch tile top and I will post pictures when they are all done.