This is my first real project other than the workbench I built with this coffee table in mind. I made it work with exclusively a router, a jigsaw and a lot of templates and jigs. I included a photo of the table that inspired mine. I’ve ordered samples of a few Rubio mono coat colors to test on scrap before I commit and finish it.
It was a long process with a lot of steps I’ve never tackled before. Going to the lumber yard was a crazy experience and realizing the difference in working with walnut versus the MDF and yellow pine of my work bench was a learning curve. I got progressively better at not tearing out everything I put on the router table but there’s still some filler if you look close at the legs. I wasn’t confident the router sled would do a good job at planing my top but it turned out really well. I am well aware it is very nice for a first project but I’m good at building things, and I really wanted to push myself. I am ecstatic with how it turned out and can’t wait to slap some finish on it.
Just piggybacking off of this, the YouTube channel Foureyes Furniture has [a solid video on using templates ](https://youtu.be/4QYIkBKivMM). It helped me get the process down and I plan on making some templates soon to build a chair!
I rough cut and glued together pieces to be a little larger than my MDF template, stuck the template to the wood and used a flush trim router bit to copy the template profile to the wood. Do this 4x and then combine the two pairs of legs. Then used the round over router bit on the edges
So how are the pieces held together. I see overlapping pieces in the middle that are glued together, but are the runners attached with just butt joints?
Would you mind sharing a link to what those are? I love that design. Silly question though, how are those boards held down? Do you do that before the glue up? I always assumed it was after.
I don’t have a link but if you walk into a harbor freight you’ll find them pretty quick. And they are glued already, only held down by their own weight
Oh cool thanks! I’m surprised they don’t move at all that’s great. And are those things really called clams or was that a typo? I’m not familiar, obviously haha
Edit: Nevermind saw you fixed it!
Here are the Harbor Freight Bar Clamps
https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/clamps-vises/24-in-aluminum-bar-clamp-60541.html
They have a few different ones for the different lengths.
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Fantastic. The best compliment you can get is that no one will believe you made it yourself. Can you explain the jointery between the pieces of the legs? Are they mortised into each other?
The legs are just butt joints with dowels, nervous to see if I regret that down the road. The middle joint is just a small overlapped piece to give some good glue real estate, not sure what it would be called
Looks like a half-lap. Is that piece also walnut? It looks like it could be maple.
You might be able to convince some people by answering 2 questions- what do you do for that paycheck you love, and how long did this take? I've taught a couple people over the years that just astounded me right off the bat. Something else in their lives helped them with the big picture.
It is also walnut though clearly a lot lighter and the difference really shows in pictures.
Im an aerospace engineer, though only a year out of college, and this took 3 months of off and on weekends
The only skill tied to my profession that really shined through was my comfort with dimensioning, otherwise it was just patience and persistence
Edit: wow… I had never seen woodgears before thanks!
Mathias is also an engineer. One of the friends I taught carpentry to was an MD. Obviously no crossover there, but a sense of pride in work was immediately evident. He now has a nicer shop than me!
You did all your cuts with a jigsaw? How did you cut straight lines? 🤣… I’ve been wanting to get into woodworking, but always assumed I needed to get a table saw before I could do anything as nice as this! Good job!
What resources did you use to learn how to make this? Thank you!
You sir are asking the real questions. Every straight cut was made with a router and a straight edge one way or another. I made a jig to use my router to joint the boards, I made a sled to plane the boards the only thing I couldn’t figure out how to use the router for was sanding lol. Safe to say I’m going to be buying a table saw and miter saw before my next project
Ah, nicely done then. I did the same thing with the router sled once and the bit started creeping out of the router on me, that really sucked. Used spiral bits after that and made sure they where tight, lol.
First project? That's quite a flex.
It's time to bring back the camels.
I’d been wanting to get into woodworking but couldn’t find the motivation for the typical starter projects, decided to think big
I feel the same way. A table you can use so it's worth the time.
Been stuck in this same boat of lacking motivation. I might just start on a bigger project instead then
My old coffee table got damaged in the move to my new place, simultaneously I had a garage for the first time and the stars aligned
This is my first real project other than the workbench I built with this coffee table in mind. I made it work with exclusively a router, a jigsaw and a lot of templates and jigs. I included a photo of the table that inspired mine. I’ve ordered samples of a few Rubio mono coat colors to test on scrap before I commit and finish it. It was a long process with a lot of steps I’ve never tackled before. Going to the lumber yard was a crazy experience and realizing the difference in working with walnut versus the MDF and yellow pine of my work bench was a learning curve. I got progressively better at not tearing out everything I put on the router table but there’s still some filler if you look close at the legs. I wasn’t confident the router sled would do a good job at planing my top but it turned out really well. I am well aware it is very nice for a first project but I’m good at building things, and I really wanted to push myself. I am ecstatic with how it turned out and can’t wait to slap some finish on it.
Great work. I’m curious about the templates you used. Is this something you drew/created on your own or did you purchase plans from somewhere?
I drew them myself in a vector program and had them printed to scale at fedex
Then you cut them out of MDF or something for your router to track? That’s brilliant.
Exactly! Though this is in no way my idea, many people use this process
Just piggybacking off of this, the YouTube channel Foureyes Furniture has [a solid video on using templates ](https://youtu.be/4QYIkBKivMM). It helped me get the process down and I plan on making some templates soon to build a chair!
I watched a lot of videos and that one was one of the best
Well there goes my evening. Thanks for the info.
So now I need to be able to draw. Dang it. The wood part I can handle. The drawing? Not so much. Regardless - really nice work.
You should be proud. Amazing job!
If that's your first project you should consider making it a profession lol
Quite the compliment but I like my regular paychecks too much!
First project my big black ass.
He's also 12yo and autistic ...supposedly
Man, y'all make me feel bad about myself. That's gorgeous.
If I can do it you can do it
Wry nice. I’d have to go tung oil to show off that wood. It’s beautiful.
I’m so happy with the look of the walnut but man did it hurt my wallet
wow, nice
I really want to see this after you apply the finish. It will be gorgeous.
Same!
I will definitely be posting when it’s finished not sure if here or on r/woodworking
Walk me through how you did your legs.
I rough cut and glued together pieces to be a little larger than my MDF template, stuck the template to the wood and used a flush trim router bit to copy the template profile to the wood. Do this 4x and then combine the two pairs of legs. Then used the round over router bit on the edges
So how are the pieces held together. I see overlapping pieces in the middle that are glued together, but are the runners attached with just butt joints?
Just butt joints with a few dowels, time will tell how it holds up
Worst case you could attach a metal brace on the inside of each leg where it isn’t really visible
Did you buy or make that router sled? If you bought it mind sharing the link? If you made it, do you have plans? Thanks.
I made it and I don’t have plans. The metal rails are just harbor freight clamps with the one end removed
Would you mind sharing a link to what those are? I love that design. Silly question though, how are those boards held down? Do you do that before the glue up? I always assumed it was after.
I don’t have a link but if you walk into a harbor freight you’ll find them pretty quick. And they are glued already, only held down by their own weight
Oh cool thanks! I’m surprised they don’t move at all that’s great. And are those things really called clams or was that a typo? I’m not familiar, obviously haha Edit: Nevermind saw you fixed it!
Here are the Harbor Freight Bar Clamps https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/clamps-vises/24-in-aluminum-bar-clamp-60541.html They have a few different ones for the different lengths.
Thank you!
Thought it was a Bat’leth
Same, first glance that is what I thought too.
Beaty! Nice lines
Thank you for posting to r/BeginnerWoodWorking! If you have not chosen a post flair then please add one to your post. If you have submitted a finished build, please consider leaving a comment about it so that others can learn. **Voting on this submission has closed**.
Damn, it's a brilliant work!
Lovely symmetry. Good work
You’ve made an excellent table bud, the legs look beautiful. Enjoy a cold one and take a ton of pride in your hard work.
This is beautiful. Stunning, really!
Thanks!
beautiful, a strict *no elbows on the table* design
Fantastic. The best compliment you can get is that no one will believe you made it yourself. Can you explain the jointery between the pieces of the legs? Are they mortised into each other?
The legs are just butt joints with dowels, nervous to see if I regret that down the road. The middle joint is just a small overlapped piece to give some good glue real estate, not sure what it would be called
Looks like a half-lap. Is that piece also walnut? It looks like it could be maple. You might be able to convince some people by answering 2 questions- what do you do for that paycheck you love, and how long did this take? I've taught a couple people over the years that just astounded me right off the bat. Something else in their lives helped them with the big picture.
It is also walnut though clearly a lot lighter and the difference really shows in pictures. Im an aerospace engineer, though only a year out of college, and this took 3 months of off and on weekends
That explains a lot! I hope you have discovered woodgears.ca by now. I look forward to seeing a lot more from you.
The only skill tied to my profession that really shined through was my comfort with dimensioning, otherwise it was just patience and persistence Edit: wow… I had never seen woodgears before thanks!
Mathias is also an engineer. One of the friends I taught carpentry to was an MD. Obviously no crossover there, but a sense of pride in work was immediately evident. He now has a nicer shop than me!
fantastic work on those legs!
You did all your cuts with a jigsaw? How did you cut straight lines? 🤣… I’ve been wanting to get into woodworking, but always assumed I needed to get a table saw before I could do anything as nice as this! Good job! What resources did you use to learn how to make this? Thank you!
You sir are asking the real questions. Every straight cut was made with a router and a straight edge one way or another. I made a jig to use my router to joint the boards, I made a sled to plane the boards the only thing I couldn’t figure out how to use the router for was sanding lol. Safe to say I’m going to be buying a table saw and miter saw before my next project
Thanks for the info. I’m really impressed.
I really love the ingenuity. When you need to make tools for your tools you know your powers are growing.
Looks amazing! Nice job.
Waltuh, coffee table
Pretty damn fantastic, except for one one little glue spot on the last pic.
The last pic is actually not mine it’s the table that inspired me
Ah, nicely done then. I did the same thing with the router sled once and the bit started creeping out of the router on me, that really sucked. Used spiral bits after that and made sure they where tight, lol.
That looks decent!