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Side view - Ent Ctr.
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Bamboo insert - Ent Ctr.
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Entertainment center
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End Table
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Sofa Table
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- What made me decide to build my own furniture?
I didn't want to spend a fortune on furniture that wasn't exactly the right size and I just knew I could do it myself!
- How did I come up with the design?
The design is similar to that of a table I saw as a display in one of those catalog stores. I am caling my desgn "Contempic", a combination of contemporary and rustic. The table I saw was much larger and heavier but I just loved the look and decided, on-the-spot, that I could build it myself.
The side table is the first piece of furniture I created, well, the first piece of this design. I had built a couple of cabinets years ago when I had full access to a machine shop. Nowadays I use hand tools and my new cutoff saw, which I purchased prior to embarking on the entertainment center project. I admit that it wasn't easy to make accurate cuts using a hand saw when I built the side table. In fact, the cuts were pretty much inaccurate but it was the best I could do with what I had. The side table project is where I learned a lot about working with wood and even created some shortcuts in the long run. It was during the side table project that I discovered my need for wood boring bits, a cutoff saw and the wonderful powers of dowels. Sure, I've watched many of those woodshop shows on TV but let's face it, I just don't have the patience to be that fancy and precise in my efforts. Below is an outline of the steps I took in designing and building my furniture.
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Getting started
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1. I made a sketch of what I wanted the table to look like.
2. Marked off dimensions of the overall table height, width and length.
3. I then made a trip to Home Depot to get the actual measurements of the lumber. It's important to have accurate measurements because we all know that a 2x4 really isn't 2" x 4". I wrote down the measurements on my drawing to calculate just what I needed and purchased the lumber.
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Building The End Table
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By now I'm working on my third piece of furniture using my "Contempic" Design. I really wanted to create this web page with the information for building the entertainment center but time was an issue during that project, with winter approaching and I was just too focused on the project itself to stop, take pictures and make notes. So here is the info on building the end table:
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Materials
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Quantity
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Dimensions
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Use
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2
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2 x 12 x 19"
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Top surface and shelf
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4
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2 x 4 x 20"
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Uprights/Legs
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2
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2 x 4 x 19"
Same length as top surface
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Top surface Border
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2
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2 x 4 x 17.875"
Based on the width of a 2x12 plus the width of two 2x4's
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Top surface Border (ends)
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4
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2 x 4 x 11"
Slightly longer than width of 2x12 shelf.
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Shelf braces/supports
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3
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2 x 4 x 19"
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Spacer/support between legs
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Tools and Supplies
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Safety Goggles
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Miter Saw
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Hammer
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Corless Drill
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7/16" wood boring bit
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7/16" wood dowel stock
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Wood glue or Liquid Nails
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Large clamp
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3.5" wood screws
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Marking pen or pencil
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Tape measure
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Mouse type sander
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Sand paper refills - I used a combo of 100 and 180 grit
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Water based stain - I used Minwax Ebony
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Rag for applying stain
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Polyurethane - I used a satin, water base formula.
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Sponge applicators for applying poly. I suggest stocking up on these! They're inexpensive and a nice thing to have on hand
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Patience for when things go wrong
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1. Cut the lumber to size. I cut the bottom or foot end of the uprights/legs at an angle to give them better base establishment and hopefully avoid having a wobbly table.
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2. Lay out pieces to be sure they are cut to correct lengths.
3. Make any necessary trim cuts to the top surface borders.
4. Sand all edges and surfaces with the 100 grit paper.
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5. Apply stain to the inner edges of top surface boards. This will ensure full coverage after top surface is glued and screwed together.
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6. Mark and drill holes in uprights/legs and top surface boards for mounting screws - approx 3" deep. Be sure to drill the nonstained side of boards.
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7. Apply wood glue or Liquid Nails to surface areas that will be joined and position the pieces, using a framing square, for clamping. I used a 36" clamp I picked up at the dollar store for cheap $$.
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8. After glue has dried install wood screws into bored holes using the cordless drill.
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9. Measure and cut the dowel stock to fill holes after screws are installed. Be sure dowel piece is not too long or you'll be doing a lot of sanding!
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10. Apply glue to edges of dowel pieces and insert into holes after screws are installed.
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11. Place a small piece of wood over dowel piece and tap lightly with a hammer to make top edge flush with edge of hole.
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12. After glue has dried sand the surfaces that now house the dowels.
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TO BE CONTINUED!
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My portable workshop
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Checking sizes
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Ready for glue
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Table top pieces
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