Anybody build their own dining table?

[CraigP]

My wife and I are tossing around the idea of building a dining room table. We want a table that seats 8 and want it to be made out of real wood. No veneers on top of wood or MDF, real wood straight through. Veneers chip and look look like chit eventually (please refer to my current crate and barrel table for evidence). The problem is these solid wood beauties easily start at thousands of dollars ... not cool.

I'm handy. I work on my house. I paint and patch walls. I tiled our entryway with natural stone and put in new base boards and door casing. I hung a pre-hung door. I built my workbench from scratch as well. I've never built furniture though so I'm looking for some help. Tips, tools, plans, places to look for more info, first hand experience. Lay it on me thick!

 

[KershawMan]

I don't want to bring you down but a dining room table is a big project for your first undertaking. Do you have any woodworking tools? If you are planning to take up woodworking as a hobby, I would recommend starting with a smaller project (maybe a coffee table or hall table) to help you develop your skills and build your collection of tools.

 

[neonnblack]

Depends on how fancy really, A router would go a long way for the table top, either buy or have somone turn the legs for you.

 

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

Building a table can be easy or hard-depends on the plans you choose.

I build my DR table from rough cut 1/4 sawn white oak. The tools used were table saw, router, planer, jointer, miter saw, band saw (could use jig saw),
mortise machine, and clamps. The chairs are much tougher to build.







This one I just used a bunch of 2x6's a table saw, router, belt sander, and clamps.

This one can be done very quickly

 

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

Oh I forgot- The plans were bought from one of the wood working mag sites. download the pdf and print copies to use in the shop.

Good luck! and Post pics

 

[GarageEnvy]

Real wood stuff is great but don't be so quick to rule out veneer plywood. If this is your first project and you want to go all solid wood, you're going to be gluing up wood. That means a good table saw, a jointer and a belt sander (or a big stationary drum sander $$$$$). You'll be doweling or biscuit jointing those pieces together and then you'll need to address warpage. Some guys will tell you to alternate the curvature in the glue up. Others will tell you to keep them oriented the same way. I've never had a warpage problem on indoor stuff so I'm not sure how critical it really is but at a minimum you're probably looking at running some type of support across the top grain. That's about 10 good reasons to consider a veneer.

Now to confuse the issue, last week I was having this discussion with my local exotic wood supplier (The Woodshed) and he said that many of the newer (within the last 3-5 years) plywood veneers are failing because there is a movement to get formaldehyde out of the glues. I haven't seen it yet but I trust the guy and he deals with lumber for a living.

Here's a table I did a decade ago. It looks like a strip deck but it's fake. It's 1-1/8" (IIRC) mahogany veneer plywood. I routed grooves and filled with caulk. It is banded with Honduras Mahogany. The finish is a poured epoxy and it actually has 3 pours on it. Probably not a look for everyone but even with the very soft pour finish on it, I've had no issues with the wood.

 

[Mmfh]

I was thinking about building a nice table out of Maple, have a couple of leaves for company.

When I started researching it I found the top is much the same as when I did solid doors on our kitchen cabinets. You take large pieces and cut them into strips, glue them back together. That way they don't warp and twist later.

I did that on my cabinet doors and it was very time consuming. Had a special glue joint bit for my router table, jointer, planer, table saw. I love having all the tools and I'm very proud of our cabinets , but its something you for sure need to consider.

Its a big project!

Mm

 

[machine_punk]

I used to do a lot of woodworking...one of the main things to look out for and account for in solid wood is the seasonal movement of the wood (which isn't a problem with plywood...but can be a huge problem with solid wood, if you don't design your table to work with the movement).

 

[iamironman]

It's not mine, but I helped build this one a several moons ago. I worked for the steel shop and did all the cutting, welding and clean up on the base, my boss did the finish, which was really a patina not painted as the article stated.

Sorry for the difficult to see pics, these are the only photos I have of the table.

It is supposed to have ended up here: http://www.harpersgroup.com/upstream.asp , but have never been there to verify.

 

[Larwyn]

Why not just go for it? It may not be your final table, you may replace it and even it's replacement as your skills improve and you acquire more/better tools, but you will not gain woodworking experience by buying stuff already built. I have thrown out a few projects that I thought not worthy of being in the house. Only to have my wife pull them from the scrap pile, apply finish herself, and put to use in the house anyway. Sure, fine craftsmanship is a desirable trait but sitting at a poorly finished rough table with one short leg can inspire you to develop those skills and their importance will be more obvious. And if you built it of solid wood you can reuse the material either in the next table or other smaller projects.

All of the mentioned power tools would make the job go faster and easier but tables, chairs, and even houses have been around for much longer than power tools have, so you can obviously get by without some of them if you are willing to sweat a bit.

 

[plinker]

I built a table (four place) a couple of years ago out of tamarack.

It's a pretty basic looking table and very sturdy. I helped my Dad saw out the lumber and then I finish planed it myself along with the top.

The top did warp to a degree due to not being able to get the wood dry enough (no klin) and I've found tamarack very sensitive to moisture (it'll shrink, after thinking it's dry)

One of these years I'll replace the top.

I'll try and get some pic's if your interested this weekend

 

[CraigP]

@DirtyWhiteBoy - I like that narrow table you built, very simple and clean.

Thanks for the tips, tricks, things to watch out for, and advice guys. Keep it coming and I'll keep you guys in the loop when I finally decide what to do.

 

[letz4wheel]

I do know that most of the high dollar furniture makers use a veneer product. The claim is it is a much more stable product than the solids. You don't get near the warpage and finish checking that you do in the solids. Just remember the end goal is a table in which the beauty last a lifetime.

 

[rsanter]

I have built furnature including a dining table and enjoyed doing it. of course that is a hobby of mine.....so....

you may want to look at one of the kits available from adams wood products or similar places where its real wood and you just have to do the finish work

bob

 

[IDASHO]

Ive been wanting to build one for quite some time. As soon as all the projects Ive got going currently get finished up, I will.

Im looking into building something like this.

 

[iamironman]

Ive been wanting to build one for quite some time. As soon as all the projects Ive got going currently get finished up, I will.

Im looking into building something like this.

That's nice!

It would go well the end tables I made my wife for Christmas.





And what letz4wheel said is true. I've been told that by the woodworm mentioned in my previous post, and these end tables used 1" planks that have warped a little since they've been finished.

 

[PurdueSD]

Some may have seen these already, but heres a workbench i did with bowling lane top. It was a test run for the 10' dining table i need to make...

 

[shoot summ]

Here is the table I helped my Daughter build, posted it in this thread:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83441&highlight=projects&page=7

Started with an old door from the Habitat resale store:

Added some ash strips from a friend's estate:

Paid a local shop 22 bucks to sand it:

She's very happy with the finished product:

 

[IDASHO]

Very cool! Are the planks face nailed, or toe nailed? And Im assuming they were glued as well?

 

[shoot summ]

Very cool! Are the planks face nailed, or toe nailed? And Im assuming they were glued as well?

They are glued, and pin nailed, the pin nails are so tiny they don't show at all.

 

[CraigP]

@ PurdueSD - that's an awesome bench. Almost too nice to mess up except those legs shout 'beat on me!'.

@ shoot summ - that is awesome! Solid/Hollow/Foam filled? How are the legs constructed and attached?

 

[trainer]

GarageEnvy and shoot summ Those are beautiful tables. I have some cedar strips and epoxy left from a couple of canoes I built. I think a cedar strip topped coffee table or desk coated with epoxy would be a cool project.

Craigp: Here's an interesting looking set of instructions showing breadboard joints for the table top. Personally, I'd use a nice piece of plywood for the top. http://makeprojects.com/Project/Wooden-Table/509/1

 

[shoot summ]

@ PurdueSD - that's an awesome bench. Almost too nice to mess up except those legs shout 'beat on me!'.

@ shoot summ - that is awesome! Solid/Hollow/Foam filled? How are the legs constructed and attached?

It was a solid core door(very heavy). We were in a time crunch so we went very simple on the legs. Two 3/4" pieces of oak ply laminated together then edge banded with ash. I glued and screwed a plate to the top of them, then screwed that to the table so they could be removed for transport. My Daughter put this on Designsponge and got tons of attention. One guy even built his own version, and used another door for the legs instead of the ply which I though was a great idea.

There are alot of subtle things about the table, just years of woodworking coming out. The corners of the solid ash edging are mitered instead of **** joined, looks better with the design on the top. The edging is attached via pocket holes from the under side of the door so there aren't any nail holes visible. When I edge a top I typically route a small v-groove around the edge to define the top, but also to hide any imperfections where the edge meets the top.

You don't need a joiner for a solid wood top, a good tables saw/blade is all I have ever used. You do have to take expansion into consideration when you do it.

The veneer thickness on most commercially available plywood today is awful, I wouldn't consider ply for the top unless you cover it with epoxy or glass. Even then you have to be very careful sanding it or you will blow through the veneer.

 

[Jack Burton]

They are glued, and pin nailed, the pin nails are so tiny they don't show at all.

Did the shop with the sander know that?

Good job...interesting use of a door

 

[unclemoak]

If it's something you want to do, I'd say go for it. This was my first venture into the furniture making world. I had zero idea what I was doing, but I'm moderately happy with the results.

 

[shoot summ]

Did the shop with the sander know that?

Good job...interesting use of a door

Yes, I told them before hand, the pins nails are tiny, 23 gauge, 0.0226 inches, would have absolutely no affect on the sanding belt.

 

[Lippyp]

I made ours when we moved into this house with little furniture, I used a sheet of ply that had been used to board up one of the windows, some 2x2 for legs and I covered it with waterproof cloth my late mother-in-law pinched from work, she was a theatre nurse at a hospital and it was the one of the green "fluid-proof" drapes they put over you when operating, I did have an issue with the hole they have in them to go around your neck though! That rough and ready table served us for about fiuve years until we finally did the dining room up and bought a proper one.

 

[CraigP]

I dropped the ball, I didn't keep you guys in the loop, I'm sorry , but my table is done! How'd I do?

 

[shoot summ]

Nice job!!

 

[theoldwizard1]

When I started researching it I found the top is much the same as when I did solid doors on our kitchen cabinets. You take large pieces and cut them into strips, glue them back together. That way they don't warp and twist later.

Or just buy 2-3" wide wood boards. Remember when gluing, to alter the growth rings in the boards.

Do not wipe excess glue ! It will "seal" the wood and you will never be able to get stain it evenly. When the glue is dry (overnight), use a paint scraper to remove the excess.

Most hardwood suppliers will plane your boards to the exact same thickness for a small charge. Use a furniture scraper to fine tune the joints after gluing.

 

[strutaeng]

I built mine last summer. It is all solid cherry with a hand-rubbed lacquer. I surfaced/smoothed the top with handplanes (Stanley Nos. 4, 5, and 7).

It takes 3 men to move.

My next project is to build the chairs...

 

[hobie1dog]

 

[kbs2244]

when we have a family dinner it is 10 or 12 at the "grown up" table
I have found a table that size is too big to have around all the time
so it is time for an extended table with leafs
that calls for sliders and a split center post or a fifth center leg
I have found those parts too expensive to buy for a one time build
instead I have 3 times bought at an antique store a table that "needs work"
the extra length support parts are all there
(these tables are cheap because they are too big for modern houses and no one wants to work on them)
I disassemble them and reassemble with new glue
I end up with a good sized table at a low cost

 

[LX-Markham]

I realize this is an old thread, but that 6-leg table above belongs in the thread of awesome!

Here’s the table I made for our cottage a few years ago…

 

[Slednut]

My SIL has built a few tables, here's some photos. He built two of the square tables, one for the family and one he sold.

He also did the steel bases.

 

[coleman10]

I realize this is an old thread, but that 6-leg table above belongs in the thread of awesome!

Here’s the table I made for our cottage a few years ago…

Simply beautiful. Wish I had the skills to produce something like this. Mine would end up looking Iike a 5 yr old did it.

 

[dchawk81]

I built one out of stolen milk crates and a cardboard box from something the neighbor bought once.

 

[MushCreek]

Here's a pic of a table I made for the great room in our barn. It's 11' long. The top is full 2" thick rustic spalted maple left over from our kitchen. The legs are maple, found on CL. I built it in place, as it's HEAVY. I made some lift dollies to move it around the room.

 

[metlmunchr]

If you google Norm Abram Trestle Table, there's several videos showing details of this table Norm built during the New Yankee Workshop series. A trestle table is a relatively simple build whose length can be adjusted to fit the available space, and it doesn't require the builder to own every woodworking machine ever invented.

 

[dcg9381]

I have a family member that owns a sawmill and does high end furniture. I did this bathroom counter at his shop. Having a big CNC is a big help.