HI! I’m Rebekah from Potholes and Pantyhose where I share and photograph detailed tutorials of my DIY projects, recipes, photography tips and remodeling endeavors.
I like to re-invent and create things around my home and I also love to fill up a person’s belly until they are beyond full…and then heap a dessert on top. A large dining room table, with the ability to seat twelve, was a dream of mine. So, I decided to make it a reality -a beautiful, unique and inexpensive reality. Like, for fifty bucks.Using recycled barn wood from my husband’s century farm, we made this indestructible table. If you don’t have access to barn wood, don’t worry. I’ll tell you how to make this with dimensional lumber you can buy from any lumber store.
What you’ll need to make your own dining room table:
- Circular Saw
- Drill with a 1/2” wood drill bit and driver bit
- (16) 5” carriage bolts-1/2” thick, with matching nuts
- A box of 4” wood screws
- Belt Sander with 80 & 40 grit sand paper
- Tape Measure Speed Square
- (4) Mailbox Post Holders
- Socket Set & Hammer
- Primer & High Gloss White Paint
- Paint Rollers, brush
No barn wood? No problem! Here’s what you’ll need:
- (6) 2×8″s, 8’ long
- (2) 3×8″, 4′ long
- (4) 4×4″ Mailbox Posts (for the legs)
Using a speed square, measure the vertical table top pieces to be 8’ in length. Measure the horizontal bottom pieces to be 4’ in length.
Use the circular saw to cut your wood.
Line up the horizontal 8’ top pieces on the 4’ bottom piece.
With the top side of the table facing up, trace the holes that will attach the mailbox post holder (legs) to the table top on each corner of the table. (Note, you will be attaching the mailbox post holder underneath the wood you are seeing presently.)
Attach a 1/2” drill bit to the drill and get to work, drilling through both the top piece and the bottom piece.
A standard table top height is 30”. The thickness of my vertical table top pieces plus the horizontal bottom pieces was 4 1/2” thick. I cut my four posts to 25 1/2’ tall to make the table at the normal 30” height.
Pound the mailbox posts into the holder like you just don’t care.
Now, pound the 5” bolts into the pre-drilled holes like you just don’t care about that, either.
Screw in the rest of your vertical table top pieces to your bottom horizontal pieces with the 4” wood screws. I used about (6) wood screws per piece on each end. Once all of the top pieces are attached to the bottom pieces, grab a friend, offer them a cold beverage and then con them into helping you flip the table over.
Use a socket set to attach the carriage bolt to the mailbox holder, tightening the nut as far down as you can. Or in my case, as far as you can and then ask your husband to finish the rest of the job.
Using a 40 grit sandpaper and your belt sander, sand the puddin’ out of the table. Upgrade to an 80 grit for a nice smooth finish if you like. I wanted my table to be pretty rustic, so I stopped after the 40 grit.
Next step: paint-ville! Prime and paint the table and let it dry.
You’ll need to bribe approximately 4 strong men to move the table indoors-due to its girthy weight. I bribed my 4 men with cake during my brother’s birthday party. I am very, very sneaky…
But trust me, the backache is worth it. You can put twelve butts around this table, have your entire meal in the middle of it and still have room to dance on top. Not that this scenario has ever happened before in my home. But if it did, the table wouldn’t mind. It’s just that awesome.
Feel free to stop by my site, Potholes and Pantyhose anytime. I love to meet new people like you. And, thanks again Chris for allowing me to be a guest contributor here at Curbly!
painting it was a crime, why???