The top of our table was cut from the plank pictured
at right. Before trimming, this board measured 11 feet by 24 inches.
The piece pictured is what remained after cutting a 52" section
for our coffee table. We planned to make a corresponding end table with
the spare parts. See those
tables here...
The table top offered a real challenge in that solid wood tends to check
(split). Ideally, you don't want this to happen after the piece is
assembled as this can cause glued joints to pull away and the table to
warp. Our board was 2-3 years old when we bought it from the sawmill and
was sufficiently dry enough for our purpose.
The legs were made from new "fence posts" (and
limbs scavenged from our back yard), which were then turned on my
lathe. We dug through stacks of posts to find some with
imperfections that would add character to our table.
We tried to incorporate the wood's
defects into the design of our table. Note the splitting, bark areas,
knot holes and broken limb wounds in the legs at left.
The stain (shown below) was a mix of natural with brown pigment to
match the aged look of the pine boards on our ceiling.
The Finished Table
Ta da! We now have a place to sit our mint juleps and coffee mugs.
A coat of stain and three coats of satin Varathane produced the perfect
match for the boards that hang above.
Detail close-up shows the bold grain and knot holes.
In addition to common hand and power tools, some rustic furniture requires
specialized tools, fasteners, adhesives or finishes. For reference, we've
included links to companies that provide these items.
Copyright Notice & Disclaimer: All images and design components and
content displayed on this web site are protected under US and
International copyright laws and are the property of The Webunet Group
and/or the client websites to which they refer.
If you discover that a site is inappropriate for this audience,
report problems here.
The top of our table was cut from the plank pictured
at right. Before trimming, this board measured 11 feet by 24 inches.
The piece pictured is what remained after cutting a 52" section
for our coffee table. We planned to make a corresponding end table with
the spare parts. 
