Creating a Coffee Table for Steph

[Egon]

Counterweights !

 

[goneandbrokeit]

Scotty,

Thanks for the detailed explination. I now understand how I should have done it, but what's done is done. I'm not sure how bad the damage will be with it inside the house and I'm kind of curious to see what happens. Obviously it's a good thing I'm not trying to make a living with my woodworking. hahahahha
Eddie

Eddie,

I am definitely not trying to make a living woodworking either. I made the same mistake you made only worse, I used oak to trim maple. Fortunately I have central air,
and since 2001 I have only had minor expansion/shrinkage issues. Most notably on a winter day I left a door open and the cold air pouring in on the table made it pop loud enough to make me jump. So I used some sawdust and glue and shoved it in the gap. Like I said I am not charging anyone.
In the last pic I actually routed out for the plate to sit in as described in another post. Unfortunately I didn't know any better and glued it ( plus the two type of wood problem). Live an learn.
I know they won't last a 100 years, but they are still solid tables that I use every day and get satisfaction knowing I made them. I am sure you and your family will enjoy your table for years to come.

 

[scott_vt]

Morning Scotty,

I've been wondering about that. How hard will it be to lift? Two of us will be able to do it easy, but can Steph lift it by herself?

On the ones they sell for $150, the metal is much thinner and they seem sort of flimsy overall, but they have springs on them. I'm wondering if some heavy duty springs might help?

I'm just confused on how to do it right now. I know that it's something I can add at any time, so it's not a rush, but it is something I'm thinking about.

Thanks,
Eddie

Afternoon Eddie,
Im going to offer Robs' assistance. yep 3RRL !
He is very good with CAD layout, should be a piece of cake for him

You should see the plans he sent me on hydraulic operated boxblade !

Sorry Rob I couldnt resist offering your services

 

[3RRL]

Afternoon Eddie,
Im going to offer Robs' assistance. yep 3RRL !
He is very good with CAD layout, should be a piece of cake for him

You should see the plans he sent me on hydraulic operated boxblade !

Sorry Rob I couldnt resist offering your services

LOL ... Oh gee Scott, thanks ...
What makes you think I'll get it right? hahaha
But of course I'll help anyway I can. Eddie, just let me know.
Rob-

 

[EddieWalker]

Afternoon Eddie,
Im going to offer Robs' assistance. yep 3RRL !

Thanks Scotty!!! Just ship him here when your done with him. I have a few years of projects that I can put him to work on!!!! J/K


Hi Rob,

Thanks for the offer. I think I have it figured out, but if you see something that I miss, please don't hesitate to say something. I'm not very good at this, but I am stuborn and in time usualy figure it out. hahaha

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

I know they won't last a 100 years, but they are still solid tables that I use every day and get satisfaction knowing I made them. I am sure you and your family will enjoy your table for years to come.

Your tables look amazing!!! Thanks for sharing.

Eddie

 

[rox]

Eddie,
As you know i have been missing here onTBN since fall, so I am jsut now catching up and enjoying all the topics. One accessory to add to your table is coasters. Like coasters for your glasses and pop cans. I have the same beautiful furniture we bought 25 years ago and it is still beautiful because of coasters. You and steph really need to be coaster ****'s. Actually that is a very ice project to work on with her children. a surprise gift from them to her. You could work with the kids to make coasters. Actually what I have found that makes the best coasters, and i know how, ahmm "conservative" you are with spending money, is mouse pads. The thick mouse pads that have like rubber backing on them are low cost and they absorb the liquid really well. They look rather junky after a while but because they are ahm, low cost (notice I didn't say cheap, I said "ahm.. low cost') they can just be thrown out and new mouse pads cut up to make new coasters. Full size mouse pads also make a very nice protector to have on the table when putting a hot plate out of the oven or microwave on the table. If you protect the table from heat and moisture, every time, your table should look as good 25 years form now as it looks today. At computer stores you can usually get mouspads pretty, ahmmm low cost. The kids would enjoy cutting the mouse pads up into coaster sized pieces.

I love the idea of the pop up top, I almost bought this same type of design for my uncle who has jsut a studio apartment. I think it will be handy to pop up the top and get inside the drawers, as it seems to me that you are going to need the table pretty close to the sofa in order to eat, and it might be kid of hard to get into the drawers if it were close to the sofa. oh silly me, you'll probably pull the drawers out form the opposit side that the top pops up to.

I ahve very nice coasters, many of them actually since I am a coaster ****, that I keep for parties. But for every day I do use cut up mouse pads. Really nice coasters are also nice to receive as a gift or an item to purchas as a vacation souvineer. My dad bought me some beautiful coasters from Hawaii years ago. Those I save for parties, but every time I take them out I think of him buying them for me. they are my favorites. if you had some very thin wood you and the kids could make some pretty coasters for a gift, jsut need to glue felt ont he back. I always look for kid projects to do. We always made our own Christmas presents for our parents when we were kids, my dad would help us make a present for our mother and vice versa. Home made coasters, nice wood ones is a great kid project for mom, with dad (or step dad's) guidence of course!!!

 

[Paddy]

Rox,

Cork can be bought in sheets and cut too. My wife makes me use newspapers!

 

[EddieWalker]

Rox,

I'm sort of obsessed with wildlife in general and collect different things like fridge magnets of different animals. I also have a small collection of coasters with different animals on them. Elk, bison and zebra are my favorite ones!!!

They will be used for sure on the new table!!!!

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

Michael_E_Tx came by today and gave me some pointers and ideas. I'm not very knowledgable on working with different woods and I'm especially ignorant on cutting my own and turning it into furniture, so it's fun to have an expert stop by.

My table top is still drying from an overly aggressive coating that I put on the underside of it. Cool weather and too much polyerethane takes allot longer than I thought it would!!! hahahaha

I did finish off the legs and put them on the table today. We want the table to look like a table, not a chest or cabinet, so that's why the legs are like they are. The black OSB sort of blends into the background and the overall look I'm trying to get is that you almost don't see the bulk of it, but sort of concentrate on the top and legs.

The pics are the same, just different angles. The last one is probably the best.

Thanks,
Eddie