Saturday 8 June 2013

Table tutorial...sort of

Ok, I'm not a master carpenter. This will become apparent.

But I had these lovely rusty iron table legs and I thought I'd make a table top.


I mean, how hard could it be?

Well, it is actually quite hard. I found a big old plank in the wood pile I keep in the garage. I think I saved it from the old pantry.
 
I measured it carefully and luckily there would be just enough wood to make a table top with 2 shorter planks side by side.

So I divided the length by two and sawed it precisely in half.

Here's what I got:


Those observant people among you might have spotted that a miscalculation had occurred. These two 'halves' are not entirely equal. It was that tricky dividing by two that tripped me up. Should have used a calculator.
(I felt kind of foolish photographing what is not my finest moment but I also felt duty bound to warn you that this can happen.)

So, I decided I didn't actually need such a large table top anyway and sawed another piece off to make them properly equal.

At this point I was getting a bit fed up so I decide not to measure anything from this point on, just do it by eye. You probably don't want to do things this way. I just wanted to steer clear of numbers.

So I turned it all upside down, placed the legs in what looked like the middle, cut some bits of pallet to fit inside and drilled and screwed them on. You need to make sure your screws are not as tall as the thickness of the pallet piece and the plank as you don't want the screw tips peeping out of the top. I did mange to get that bit right.


 Then I turned it over, holding the top on, as it's not really attached  to the legs. 

Ta daa!


We hey! I then forced my family into the garden to admire my handiwork. My husband pointed out some possible deign flaws. So naturally I pointed out that he had never made a table in his life and that this was supposed to be rustic.


I had planned on painting the top slightly and distressing it but it's a perfect match for my crate collection so I will leave it be.

So there you have it. All you need to know about table building. If you already have some legs and don't care too much what it looks like.

Think I might stick to painting...

Next up? This baby...



School fair to get through today though...


 Funky Junk 190


24 comments:

  1. I love it, rustic yet pretty and I like how you've left the planks unpainted. Can't wait to see you work your magic on that dresser. x

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  2. Damn those tricksy twos! I think it looks great :) xx

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    1. Thanks Katie, I have the mathematical ability of a six year old. I'm glad I still managed to salvage enough to make a small table top in the end!xx

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  3. Rustic is good, I like it! Look forward to seeing your next transformation.

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  4. Yup - that's pretty much the way I do things! The two slightly (ahem) different lengths of wood did make me laugh - I blame metric measurements, and wind farms, and days with a 'y' in ... Looks great though - very impressive in fact - and I'd definitely leave it as it is as it matches your other things really well. Hope the fair goes well x Jane

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    1. Great excuses. I shall use them all! Thanks Jane. xx

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  5. It's fab, really love the rusticness (is that a word?) :)

    I don't do numbers...or spacial awareness, notwithstanding (I love that word, but not sure I'm using it correctly) I worked for the tax office for 20+ years. Eeek...

    I have an old wrought iron stand I got from the CS fo £2.50, was bowled over it was so cheap, it does have glass as a top though, but I prefer your wooden idea, and I do have some wood. Mmmmmhhh...

    thanks again for sharing, it makes me feel less useless (courtesy of an ex husband who shattered my self esteem), and as i've said before, it makes me want to try...which is a very lovely gift from you.xx

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    1. Ooh have a go with your table. I'm glad I make you want to try. It can't be any worse than mine can it? It might not be the 'right' way to do things but it's 'my' way. And who cares if it doesn't work? If it stuffs up, you know how to do it next time! xx

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  6. It looks great. Glad to know there's another person who doesn't do measuring or dividing by two! With the crates and plants all in place, it really looks good.
    Ha, it's our school summer fair next weekend - tis the season to bake and volunteer (or be press-ganged...) Enjoy! xxxxx

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    1. Thanks Curtise, I do hope you have better weather than we did! xxxx

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  7. Rustic table looks fab and anyone who can saw gets my vote. I don't measure - I either lay it on something and draw a line in crayon, or get an old piece of string and tie a knot where the length wants to be. Dressing table looks full of promise ♥

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    1. Thanks Teri, I do need a proper electric saw. I have a feeling it's this that prevents me from being a master carpenter. Or at least I can stuff things up faster! x

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  8. Where on earth do you manage to find all those crates? You must have a shed full!

    It looks really pretty and I think it looks perfect in the rustic way xx

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  9. I think our maths might be on a level! I'd do exact the same! Worked out well in the end though. Looking forward to seeing the desk too :)

    Kate
    Just Pirouette and Carry On...

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    1. Thanks Kate, I've just told my dad I'm going to build some wardrobe doors next. I will not let cluelessness hold me back! x

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  10. Imperfect perfection! I love it and agree, it doesn't need painting. I also enjoyed reading what you did in your pantry last year - lucky you having one! x

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    1. Thanks Antonia, It's more like half a pantry as it goes under the stairs and makes you bang your head! x

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  11. Perfect just as it is! Men, too quick to criticise, typical... :) maybe a good thing it's not attached. Can he do a better job? I think not! lol x

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  12. I have a wrought iron base from a Singer sewing machine that I plan on turning into a garden table at some point - I just cant decide what sort of table top I want on it. I'm far too impatient to measure things properly too (and I usually get it wrong). Working by eye usually does the job for me.

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    1. That sounds gorgeous! Decision making is the hardest part. well, apart from dividing by two! x

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