Making a table isn’t that great of a project for master carpenters but it sure is complex for someone trying to make one at home. The very basic design requires three components, the tabletop, legs and the aprons. By acquiring the proper pieces of hardware, machinery and fairly strong wood required for this project. You are on your way to make your very own DIY table.
Ideas:
Like all DIY projects, your table could be inspired by something you saw online. Surf the web (especially sites like Pinterest) for pictures and videos of simple tables and choose whichever you like based on what matches your lifestyle and aesthetic. However, don’t try and go for increasingly complex designs. For if its your first time, we recommend trying out something more minimalist. Like this design below:
Sketch out your design on a piece of paper and breakdown all its parts to clearly understand every step-in detail while you’re assembling your DIY table.
Materials
Purchase whatever kind of wood you like and have it cut proportionately according to your own measurements. Don’t overdo it as its only supposed to be DIY. Choosing something affordable as well as efficient enough like pine, maple or cherry.
You also need to gather your saws, coarse-grit and fine-grit sand paper, drill machine, drill bits, wood glue, clamps, a wood staining product and suitable screws required for your table.
Tabletop
If you’re using one large piece of wood for the tabletop, its fine as it is and all you have to do at this point is keep it upside down on some sheet with the top upside down. Contrarily, if you’re using a number of planks, align them together and make sure they’re of equal length. Keep the top side you prefer upside down and drill pocket holes from the outer board in the inner board before you add the screws so they don’t crack the wood. As such:
Once you’ve attached the table top together with pocket hole screws, you’re left with a very safe tabletop.
Apron
Measure about 1 inch from all sides on the underside of the tabletop to attach the aprons. Set two short and two long aprons on the short and long sides of the table respectively and apply wood glue. Clamp the aprons in place overnight to make sure they don’t get glued wrong. You can hold them in place by adding screws to them or later screwing the aprons together with the legs.
Legs
Before the legs are attached you need to make sure they’re all the same length and if you haven’t had them cut yet, clamp them together and use a saw to cut the pieces into equal lengths. Even if you did, the lengths of the legs may be uneven so make sure to measure them again and use a saw to fix them or else your table may be wobbly. Even the slightest difference is a nuisance.
Once the legs are of even length, hold them in place and glue them to the aprons on the underside of the table top. Apply glue on the sides of the aprons and under the top. Clamp the legs to the aprons firmly and let the glue dry overnight while making sure the legs don’t move. Now screw the legs to the aprons so they are held firmly. Use fastening screws on both sides of the corner of the apron.
When you’re sure that the glue has dried, turn the table over to see if it is stable. Try to make them wobble. If they’re unstable, you’ll need to cut the legs down to equal size.
Sanding and Staining
Sanding and Staining isn’t mandatory. If you like how your table looks fine you could leave it like that if you want. However, it is recommended that once the table is stable, start sanding the table with an 80-grit or some other course-grit sandpaper. Your table may get a bit roughed up but it’s okay. Go over the table once more but this time use a fine-grit paper like a 220-grit sandpaper. Sand down any spots that seem rough and if you’re satisfied with the finish, move on to staining. First, wash off any debris from the table using a cloth dampened in lukewarm water. You might even vacuum it before wiping the table. Once the table is clean enough, put on rubber gloves, mix your Stainer according to the given instructions on the product and apply the product with a brush or a rag all over the table. Once you’re done, wipe any excess Stainer with a rag. Once the first coating begins to dry, apply a second coating similarly. Wipe off any excess and your DIY table is ready.