Okay, so Rachel and I wanted to design and build a kitchen table for our new house. After weeks of research and planning, we're set up for the task!
Every new project inevitably requires the acquisition of a new tool. In this case, it's the table saw I've been wanting for more than 5 years!
Set up and ready to cut!
I have a batch of my home-brew stain working in the background. It takes about 4 days from the day I mix it up until it can be used.
Home Depot didn't have any untreated 4x4 posts that I could use for my table and bench legs, so I had to make my own. I let these 12' boards set up overnight, and plan to mill them down in the morning.
Shop helper needed a little attention, I guess.
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The table top boards are cut and ready to be assembled.
My master plan: drawn up on a scrap piece of paper. Pop, I thought you'd be proud of my resourcefulness.
Table top & frame cut, ready to mill my posts tomorrow morning.
The first milled post! Can you tell that you're looking at the seam of two 2x4's?
Time to notch out the posts for the cross supports.
Cross supports have already been cut, and are waiting in the background.
A couple of passes with the table saw, and the hammer and chisel take care of the rest.
Legs are coming together!
Time to bring out the ol' Kreg drill jig, to make the pocket holes that will attach the frame pieces to my posts.
Table base complete!
Time to start sanding and prepping for the stain.
I started over with the table top. The boards from Home Depot just weren't straight enough to give the top the level of quality that I was after. And I couldn't exactly hold the 2x10's to plane them with the table saw... I went to McCoy's Building Supply instead, and picked out the boards that I wanted, which were milled here locally!
Getting closer. Now to build a bench...
...and here it is!
Same notched post design as the table, just a little smaller. :)
The dimensions allow it to slide underneath the table.
Here's a little side project that we had going on at the same time. Rachel as been refinishing some barstools that Mary Ellen so graciously gave to us! Rachel has decided to brave the winter conditions and join me in the shop today.
She chose the "espresso satin". Perhaps a little bias played into her choice... :)
Too cold to paint in the shop though, so Rachel set up camp in the kitchen!
Another side project: I used foam board to help insulate my shop from the outside temperatures. Expecting great things from this addition.
Staining the table top! The stain goes on clear before it reacts with the tannins in the wood, which gives is a nice rust/brown color.
Reaction complete!
Had some trouble with un-authorized guests in the shop, so I was forced to take measures. ;)
In the meantime, Rachel finished painting our barstools!
They turned our pretty good.
Our new dinning room table is complete!
Rachel picked out the satin finish, which really shows off the grains of the pine. Thanks McCoy's Building Supply for the excellent (and straight) boards!
Now all we need is for Rachel to rustle us up 3 chairs to go along the other side, and we'll be ready to dine and entertain!
Thanks for looking! It's pretty neat what you can do with an actual workshop. I'm on your heals, Carr! :D
