Table

September 2005

So, I decided it was time to undertake a project involving real tools and materials rather than some pseudo-random keyboard-bashing. I was going to build a dinner table.

I've been thinking about this table for a long time, considering how best to secure the legs, making the table stable and such. Early on I knew what materials I wanted to use and had a clear mental image of how I wanted the table to look. This being my first carpentish project, there were many unknowns. The major concern turned out to be the biggest weakness of the table: Fastening the legs.

A good friend of mine from high school offered to help out. This way he'll be able to stop me from doing too many stupid things in the process and is way more fun.

As can be seen from the pictures below, the frame completely surrounds the top, making for a somewhat unusual design. The top is 90x120 cm which divides nicely into 6x8 white tiles. Since the end of the sides will be sawed at angles of 45°, their inner length should be 90 cm. Making the corners join precisely was no easy task. As the legs should line up with the sides, we had to saw off a piece from two of the four sides of the same width as the sides. The sides will lay on these.

Having assembled the frame, we were lucky enough that the top fit precisely. Originally my plan was to have the top lie on the legs alone, but for extra support I decided to include two diagonal planks. This also prevents the frame from being skewed too much.

I chose to stain the frame inside for two reasons. First, it started raining and second, getting the frame up the stairs would be a real pain. This probably wasn't such a great idea. I haven't seen a coloring substance as concentrated as stain since last I had chemistry! Two layers stained the pine wood adequately, after which I gave it a little oil. Should I do this again, I would definitely lacquer it instead, protecting the wood better from (food) stains.

Laying the tiles was much easier as was the jointing, except from the annoyance of having a huge top lying on the kitchen floor drying. I think the end result looks pretty good, everything considered, but the fastening of the legs could definitely have been better. I'll keep that in mind the next time :)

The total cost including mortar, glue for fastening the tiles, wood, screws and stain is about 1200,- dkr (about $210 as of 2005-10-03). Pretty cheap for a custom designed dinner table.

In any case, it was fun building, is much better looking that our old table and we had a great day putting it together.