How to Build a DIY Coffee Table

Instructions

You will need specific tools and materials to complete this DIY coffee table. Remember, with all DIY projects, safety is a priority, and a dust mask and safety glasses are essential. The coffee table is a great project; you will enjoy building it, so let's get started.

Step 1: Preparing the Lumber

The best option would be to get new wood that is already milled to the needed dimensions, but if you are using scrap wood, it will need some preparation before you can use it for the coffee table. If you use wood scraps, select wood that is bigger than the final wood size you need. For the coffee table design to fit, you must ensure that the final boards are big enough for the cut list.

Mill the lumber:

You need straight wood to build this coffee table, and if the boards are warped, follow these steps for each piece individually:

• Use a jig saw over a jointer to flatten both faces of the wood; be sure to keep a downward pressure to get a level surface.
• With both faces of the wood flat, continue taking off small amounts until the boards are 2 inches thick.
• The result must be a 2 x 6-inch board.
• Use the table saw and cut one side to give the wood one straight edge.
• Set your table saw to 6 inches and cut the other side of the board to give you a 2-inch thick and 6-inch-wide board.
• Place the boards on a flat surface and arrange them from long to short for length trimming. If any boards are crook, place that portion face down.
• Square the ends and cut the wood boards from long to short according to the lengths needed to avoid cutting a piece too short.

Step 2: Building the Table Top

After the lumber is neatly cut into usable sizes, it is time to start with the coffee table's top. To make the tabletop, you will need glue, a biscuit joiner, wood biscuits, and a joiner.

• Cut four 2 x 6-inch boards 40 inches long.

• Cut two 2 x 4-inch boards 24 inches long.

With the four 40-inch boards cut, they need to be joined with the biscuit alignment proses:

• Take two 40-inch boards and make a tight mortise joint on one of the 2-inch sides every 8 inches apart. These two boards are for the sides of the tabletop.
• Take the other 40-inch boards and mortise them on each of the 2-inch sides every 8 inches apart.
• Take glue and spread it on each side of the two boards mortised on both 2-inch sides, and use the biscuits to join them together.
• Take the other two 40-inch boards and glue them on the one mortised side and attach them on either side of the other two boards.
• Take clamps and tighten the four boards, so the biscuits align and give you a 40 x 24-inch board.
• Scrape any access glue off the wood and wait a few hours for it to dry completely.
• Consult the added drawing to ensure that you follow the correct procedure.

Before you attach the breadboard ends to the 40-inch boards, you must make ends for the stands. Making the ends for the stands before you attach them to the tabletop is important because it is easier to work with separately.

• Turn the 4 x 24-inch breadboards face down.
• Secure the breadboard and use the rabbeting bit to cut where the stands connect.
• Cut a rabbet 1-inch wide, 2 inches deep, and 1-inch thick on each of the two breadboard.
• Consult the added drawing to ensure that your rabbets are correct.

With the 40 x 24-inch board dry and the breadboard's rabbeting done, it is time to prepare the breadboards to attach to the 40 x 24-inch board.

• Measure 2 inches from each end of the breadboards to give you 20 inches in between.
• Make a rabbet on each end and face of the board 2 inches deep and 1 inch thick to give the top a long tenon.
• Spread glue on each side of the boards and attach the breadboards to the rest of the tabletop.
• Secure the tabletop on the glued ends with clamps and scrape off any access glue.
• Leave the tabletop to dry for a few hours.
• To confirm the tenon dimensions consult the added drawing.

Step 3: Preparing the Table Legs (Wood Work)

With the tabletop complete, the table legs need to be cut to size and prepared before assembling.

• Take 3 x 3-inch solid wood and cut four lengths of 17 inches each.
• Make a rabbet 1-inch wide and 1-inch deep on top of each leg to fit in the rabbet made on the tabletop. To ensure that your rabbet is correct, refer to the drawing.

Before assembling the legs, you must prepare the legs to accommodate the baseboard.

• Measure 4 inches from the bottom of each leg and mark it.
• Make a rabbet on the 4-inch mark, ½-inch deep on the two inner sides of the leg where the baseboard will attach.
• These rabbets are on the legs as per the drawing.

Step 4.1: Building the Table Base

Once the legs of the table are completed and all the necessary cuts are made, the table base can be measured and built. This part of the table will keep it sturdy.

• Use a jig saw over a jointer to flatten both faces of the wood; be sure to keep a downward pressure to get a level surface.

• With both faces of the wood flat, continue taking small amounts until the boards are 1½-inches thick.

• The result must be a 1½ x 6-inch board.

• Use the table saw and cut one side to give the wood one straight edge.

• Set your table saw to 6 inches and cut the other side of the board to give you a 1½ -inch thick and 6-inch-wide board.

• Place the boards on a flat surface and arrange them from long to short for length trimming. If any boards are crook, place that portion face down.

• Square the ends and cut the wood boards from long to short according to the lengths needed to avoid cutting a piece too short.

The base board is 1½-inches thick, and to make the base, you will need glue, a biscuit joiner, and wood biscuits.

• Cut four 1½ x 6-inch boards 40 inches long.
• Cut two 1½ x 4-inch boards 24 inches long.

With the four 40-inch boards cut, they need to be joined with the biscuit alignment proses:

• Take two 40-inch boards and make a tight mortise joint on one of the 1½-inch sides every 8 inches apart. These two boards are for the sides of the table base.
• Take the other 40-inch boards and mortise them on each of the 1½-inch sides every 8 inches apart.
• Take glue and spread it on each side of the two boards mortised on both 1½-inch sides and use the biscuits to join them together.
• Take the other two 40-inch boards and glue them on the one mortised side and attach them on either side of the other two boards.
• Take clamps and tighten the four boards, so the biscuits align and give you a 40 x 24-inch board.
• Scrape any access glue off the wood and wait a few hours for it to dry completely.
• Consult the added drawing to ensure that you follow the correct procedure.

With the 40 x 24-inch board dry and the breadboard's rabbeting done, it is time to prepare the breadboards to attach to the 40 x 24-inch base.

• Measure 4 inches from each end of the breadboards to give you 16 inches in between.
• Make a rabbet on each end and face of the board 2 inches deep and ½-inch thick to give the base a long tenon.
• Spread glue on each side of the boards and attach the breadboards to the rest of the tabletop.
• Secure the base on the glued ends with clamps and scrape off any access glue.
• Leave the base to dry for a few hours.
• To confirm the tenon dimensions consult the added drawing.

Step 4.2: Building the Table Base

The four corners of the baseboard fit into the legs and must be prepared with the jig saw and the rabbeting bit.

• Measure 1½ x 1½-inches on each corner of the baseboard.

• Take the jig saw and cut out the 1½ x 1½-inch corners you marked out.

• Refer to the drawing for details.
• Take the router with the rabbet bit and rabbet a ½-inch on each end of the face.

Step 5: Assemble and Finish the Wood

With all the wood sections cut and prepared, it is time to start assembling the coffee table.

• Add the wood glue to the four legs where it attaches to the tabletop.

• Secure the four legs to the four tabletop corners with nails.

• Find a level surface on the ground and ensure it is level using the leveling tool.
• Once you place the table on the ground and one leg is in the air, level it out with a piece of cork.
• Place the level on the tabletop and ensure it is level and measure the distance that the leg is away from the ground.
• Cut a piece of cork the measured length and stick it to that leg with hot glue. The cork added will level your table and will help with the rest of the assembling prosses.
• Take the base, put wood glue on the corners, insert the base in the slots made for it on the legs, and secure it with nails.
• After attaching the base, level the table again to ensure everything is aligned.

With the coffee table assembled and leveled, you can now clean it up for the final stages.

• Take your sander and attach fine grit sandpaper.
• Sand the table to give it a smooth surface and ensure you get any spots that can splinter or cause injury.
• Take a loose piece of sandpaper and go over the corners to lightly round it to eliminate any sharp edges. Do not sand the corners and edges too much.
• Apply polyurethane or linseed oil for indoor types of furniture or a finish of your choice to the entire piece.
• Apply three coats at 20 minutes intervals giving the table light and even coats.
• Remember to brush with the grain.

The bottom of the legs may damage your floor, and adding a rubber base will ensure that when it is moved around that it does not scratch.

• Take a blanket or some protection and place it on the ground.
• Place the coffee table on its top so that the bottom of the legs is visible.
• To prevent the wood of the leg from splitting, use a drill bit a little smaller than the wood screw and drill a pilot hole.
• Take 3 x 3-inch base rubber squares ⅜-inches thick, place one on each bottom, and secure it with a wooden screw.

Step 6: Attaching the Steel Work

To finalize the coffee table, it only needs the X shape of metal sheeting. Buy 1/10-inch metal sheeting and cut following the provided dimensions.

• Take the cut-off grinder and cut four 2-inch by 4 1/10-inch steel sheets.
• Cut four 1¼-inch by 22¾-inch steel sheets.
• Cut four 1¼-inch by 1¼-inch steel sheets.
• Clean all the cuts with a grinder to remove sharp edges.
• Bend the 2-inch by 4 1/10-inch steel sheets 90⁰ corners so that it has 2 inches on each side.
• Drill a hole in the middle of each square portion of the bend. Use oil to lubricate the drill bit to avoid the drill bit biting into the metal.

With all the metal prepared, it must be welded to attach to the wood.

• Place one of the 90⁰ corners on the table where it will be attached on the top right.
• Take a 1¼-inch by 22¾-inch steel sheet and place one end where it meets the 90⁰ corner and the other end down to the corner of the table's base.
• You will notice that you need to cut an angle before welding it.
• Hold the 1¼-inch by 22¾-inch steel sheet in its place and mark the angles that need to be cut on both ends.
• Repeat this step with all four steel sheets.
• Grind the angles that you marked.
• Weld the 90⁰ corner in its angled position and the 1¼-inch by 1¼-inch steel metal on the other end in its angled position.
• Repeat this step with all four steel sheets.
• After welding all the corners to the 1¼-inch by 22¾-inch steel sheets, grind any sharp and rough edges smoothly.
• Drill holes in the middle of the 1¼-inch by 1¼-inch steel metal.

With all the welding and drilling complete, paint the metal with black spray, then use a clear coat to seal it. Use extra fine steel wool to roughen the painted finish and give it a nice rustic look.

After the paint on the steel is dry, it is ready to be attached to the coffee table.

• Place the sheet metal in an X-shaped position as shown on the drawing provided.
• Mark with chalk inside the holes you drilled in the metal.
• Remove the sheet metal and drill pilot holes for the screws in the marked spots in the wood.
• Place the sheet metal back in its position and secure it to the coffee table with screws.