Rustic Coffee Table

Finished this project last fall but just getting around to posting it.

I had several firsts with this table. The first being, this is the first time someone has ever contacted me, showed me a photo and said, will you build this for me? I’ll pay you for it. : ) I liked that part!

It’s a pretty basic table but this is the first time I ever milled lumber for a project this big, completely from scratch. Resaw, jointer, planer etc. Photo 2 shows what I started with. Also the first time I made and used buttons to secure the top. Learned that from projects here on LJ. I love this place. : )

He wanted imperfections in the wood and he wanted it painted. I didn’t really want to paint it but that was not my decision. So, to best (as I could) show the grain of the wood I did a two coat white wash. I watered down some primer for the first coat then watered down high gloss latex enamel. The photo doesn’t show it very well but you can really see what is going on under the paint. He loved it so I was happy with it. The last photo is the table deliver to his back porch but it will be an inside piece.

Made a few mistakes along the way but learned for them. All and all I like how it turned out and had fun doing it. I’m thinking the customer liked it because he showed me another photo and ask if I could make him another piece. I’ve got my eye out for some more weathered lumber.

Thanks for looking.

-- The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that our aim is too low and we reach it.. Michelangelo