Metal Coffee Table Build
- Thread starter white91formula
- Start date
OP
white91formula
Well-known member
I setup the gopro to do a time lapse last time i did some work. Give you guys some perspective on the limited space I have to work with here haha
and before anyone says it I realized how dirty the window was when i put hte video together haha.... its a rental ....
and before anyone says it I realized how dirty the window was when i put hte video together haha.... its a rental ....
2cool2hear
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2012
- Messages
- 91
Any update?
OP
white91formula
Well-known member
Not to much of a update. Been busy with the holidays. Also picked up a new toy so I have been busy putting miles on that
As for the table I got the bottom of the legs done and put some threaded inserts so i can put rubber feet on the bottom.
All cleaned up
I also got the top back from my co worker finally. He biscutted/glued and rough cut the red oak to shape for me.
Next step is to trace and carve the shape of the metal pieces in the top into the wood so that the wood sits flush with the steel.
After man attempts at different ways of finishing the steel on the base I gave up on power methods and picked up some good old fashioned sand paper. Going to hit everythign with 180, 220 and then 320 grit.
Heading north for new years / extended long weekend. More progress after that.
As for the table I got the bottom of the legs done and put some threaded inserts so i can put rubber feet on the bottom.
All cleaned up
I also got the top back from my co worker finally. He biscutted/glued and rough cut the red oak to shape for me.
Next step is to trace and carve the shape of the metal pieces in the top into the wood so that the wood sits flush with the steel.
After man attempts at different ways of finishing the steel on the base I gave up on power methods and picked up some good old fashioned sand paper. Going to hit everythign with 180, 220 and then 320 grit.
Heading north for new years / extended long weekend. More progress after that.
saceone
Well-known member
Love the wood and steel mix.
Enjoy the sled too!
Enjoy the sled too!
KCarGuy
Well-known member
That is going to be one of the Best looking Coffee Tables that I have seen...Lots of Talent and Time has gone into it, But worthy of any Home. I know any Home of anyone on Garage Journal.
Great Job so Far...Cant wait to see it finished!
Great Job so Far...Cant wait to see it finished!
MG11068
Well-known member
Awesome work. I look forward to seeing how it turns out.
vincentshumai
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2014
- Messages
- 86
this is awesome!
OP
white91formula
Well-known member
Guys I apologize I have been slacking on progress.
I lost steam when it got to cold to work outside and snowmobiling season started. The GF is bugging me to get it done so I am going to try and knock a lot of it out this weekend as I actually have time.
Look for some updates towards the end of the weekend.
I lost steam when it got to cold to work outside and snowmobiling season started. The GF is bugging me to get it done so I am going to try and knock a lot of it out this weekend as I actually have time.
Look for some updates towards the end of the weekend.
OP
white91formula
Well-known member
OK I promised you guys some updates. Not as much as I would have I
liked but here it is more to come this week.
I had to move sHop inside since it's so cold out now. I moved into our little sun room that we don't use that is blocked off from the rest of the apt so I dint make a total mess. And it's got heat!
The small piece of wood wouldn't fit wroth the hinge support welded in place so I had to cut it out. More to come on that
I got brave and used the router on the wood. I had a 1/4 inch router bit in my dremel. Put the wood in place and traced the shape and then cut it out.
You can see how it sits now and how is flush with the steel.
Got the piece sanded pretty good to. Tomorrow I'm going to work on getting the support back underneath it. More to come.
liked but here it is more to come this week.
I had to move sHop inside since it's so cold out now. I moved into our little sun room that we don't use that is blocked off from the rest of the apt so I dint make a total mess. And it's got heat!
The small piece of wood wouldn't fit wroth the hinge support welded in place so I had to cut it out. More to come on that
I got brave and used the router on the wood. I had a 1/4 inch router bit in my dremel. Put the wood in place and traced the shape and then cut it out.
You can see how it sits now and how is flush with the steel.
Got the piece sanded pretty good to. Tomorrow I'm going to work on getting the support back underneath it. More to come.
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OP
white91formula
Well-known member
Ok guys more progress finally. ThiNgs have been hectic and its been to cold outside to work in the garage. Finally got a day over 20* so i made the best of it.
Made some tabs to remount the support bar in the top.
Marked the holes and dremeled out the holes to fit some threaded inserts
Welded up and ground smooth. Unfortunately the bars got a little beat up cutting the supports out originally. Did my best to clean it up but its going to be on the bottom so not overly worried.
I love when things line up
Support bar back in place, corners rounded off
More to come! Im back in the groove to get this done so more updates quicker. Hoping to have this thing done soon.
Made some tabs to remount the support bar in the top.
Marked the holes and dremeled out the holes to fit some threaded inserts
Welded up and ground smooth. Unfortunately the bars got a little beat up cutting the supports out originally. Did my best to clean it up but its going to be on the bottom so not overly worried.
I love when things line up
Support bar back in place, corners rounded off
More to come! Im back in the groove to get this done so more updates quicker. Hoping to have this thing done soon.
OP
white91formula
Well-known member
Ok wood is back in the smaller side as is the support bar. Pretty happy with the fit.
I am going to drill some holes in the support bar to screw the wood down to as well as add some brackets in the corner to screw the wood down to.
Moving on to the other side. Got the big side back from my old co worker finally. I was able to trim it and get it routed out
Had to recess the bottom for the support bars. I did this on both sides
Back in the table ... looking good
Gap between the metal and wood
Had 1 small oops with the dremel while i was routing out the design.... wasnt to happy about it but o well ... its character!
Nice and flush
Going to add some supports on the large side as well and drill out the support to screw the wood down. More to come
I am going to drill some holes in the support bar to screw the wood down to as well as add some brackets in the corner to screw the wood down to.
Moving on to the other side. Got the big side back from my old co worker finally. I was able to trim it and get it routed out
Had to recess the bottom for the support bars. I did this on both sides
Back in the table ... looking good
Gap between the metal and wood
Had 1 small oops with the dremel while i was routing out the design.... wasnt to happy about it but o well ... its character!
Nice and flush
Going to add some supports on the large side as well and drill out the support to screw the wood down. More to come
What's your plan for the gap, are you going to fill it or just leave it as is?
OP
white91formula
Well-known member
Leaving it, i did it on purpose.
OP
white91formula
Well-known member
Got some more done yesterday.
Put some more inserts in the top. They are under the metal design on the big side to help support the wood. fab'd up some brackets and screwed them in place. I am going to screw the wood to the brackets as well, just need to get some hardware.
I also made some support brackets on the short side. I am undecided if i want to do it on the big side or not. Still need to get some hardware to secure the wood down.
At this point I need to get some hardware and drill a few holes and put it together. After that stain/urathane the top and figure out what I want to do with the bare metal.
Put some more inserts in the top. They are under the metal design on the big side to help support the wood. fab'd up some brackets and screwed them in place. I am going to screw the wood to the brackets as well, just need to get some hardware.
I also made some support brackets on the short side. I am undecided if i want to do it on the big side or not. Still need to get some hardware to secure the wood down.
At this point I need to get some hardware and drill a few holes and put it together. After that stain/urathane the top and figure out what I want to do with the bare metal.
2cool2hear
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2012
- Messages
- 91
It's coming along! I thought you've given up. Table is looking awesome, digging the stark contrast between metal and wood.
OP
white91formula
Well-known member
Nope not given up, just took a short break... life does that sometimes.
And here are some pictures people have been waiting for!
I want to repeat that i am in no means a wood worker, nor do I claim to be. I had to relieve the area under the hinges for them to bolt up and rotate correctly. I know the pockets are not perfectly square or the same size but i did what i could with my dremel ....
you can also see the holes i dilled to screw the wood down. I am going to wait until it is all stained and assembled to screw it down for good where I want it
And after that the top went on.
A little GJ cameo
I am happy with the size, and how it sits both up and down.
Things left to do
1. break down to sand/stain wood
2. Find better hardware to secure wood to top with
3. Possibly find assist springs for the hinges
4. Resassmble and enjoy
5. Clear coat metal (spring)
In the home stretch!
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saceone
Well-known member
that mechanism is awesome!!
Yarz
Well-known member
That look great!
OP
white91formula
Well-known member
AND LET THERE BE COLOR!
Got the first coat of stain on and neither of us liked it. It was to "brown" so i started with a second. you can see the first coat on the left and the second on the right.
Second coat all on, soaked in and rubbed down.
The second coat definitely had more "red" in it which is what we were going for. The GF still wasnt satisfied with the darkness so I put on a 3rd coat of stain.
We both liked the color after the 3rd coat. So there it stays. Working on the polyurethane and everything to properly dry now.
And last but certainly not least a little teaser.... wet stain no poly
Its in the home stretch!
Got the first coat of stain on and neither of us liked it. It was to "brown" so i started with a second. you can see the first coat on the left and the second on the right.
Second coat all on, soaked in and rubbed down.
The second coat definitely had more "red" in it which is what we were going for. The GF still wasnt satisfied with the darkness so I put on a 3rd coat of stain.
We both liked the color after the 3rd coat. So there it stays. Working on the polyurethane and everything to properly dry now.
And last but certainly not least a little teaser.... wet stain no poly
Its in the home stretch!
aggierailroad
Well-known member
Looks great! Be sure to do the same coating system on the bottom as well. You don't want the bottom to dry out and (shrink) causing the thing to cup and you to lose all of those brownie points!
Table color is looking very nice and good job on agreeing with you girlfriend A+ 
.
I think you mentioned you were debating what to do with the metal. Check these guys out, http://metalfinishesplus.com/ they have coatings, finished and even sealers for metal. I haven't used them personally but I heard others have with good results.
.I think you mentioned you were debating what to do with the metal. Check these guys out, http://metalfinishesplus.com/ they have coatings, finished and even sealers for metal. I haven't used them personally but I heard others have with good results.
OP
white91formula
Well-known member
A little sanding earlier between coats of poly
Techie1961
Well-known member
That's stunning. Really nice work.
OP
white91formula
Well-known member
Screwed some rubber feet onto the bottom so i don't scratch the floors
After 3 coats of poly i put the wood back in the top and its done!
And a well deserved drink.
All i have left to do is some sanding on the base to even things out and then clear coat. Those are going to wait until it's warmer and i can do outside.
If anyone wants any more pics just let me know and i will post them
After 3 coats of poly i put the wood back in the top and its done!
And a well deserved drink.
All i have left to do is some sanding on the base to even things out and then clear coat. Those are going to wait until it's warmer and i can do outside.
If anyone wants any more pics just let me know and i will post them
rustyjames
Well-known member
Spectular, very well done!
Yarz
Well-known member
Very nice!
RivennHewn
Well-known member
This has been a fun one to watch.
Finished product looks great.
Finished product looks great.
MG11068
Well-known member
Awesome work.