Make a Coffee Table

A coffee table is often one of the first projects a novice woodworker undertakes. It can be as simple or as complex a project you feel comfortable with when you learn how to make a coffee table.

Steps

What is a coffee table?

  1. Consider that a coffee table is approximately {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}-to-24 inches (400 mm-to-600 mm) high by {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}-to-{{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} long (600 mm-to-1,200 mm) wide. It will generally have 4 legs and is used in a living room or den.
    • The parts of a table consist of the top, legs and skirts (aprons). The legs and top are connected to the skirts.
    • Material types and designs used for a coffee table depend on your skills and the type of tools you have available. Hardwoods such as oak or maple are more difficult to work with, while soft woods like pine or birch are easier to work with. The coffee table is often the choice for first-time furniture projects.

Making a wood coffee table

  1. Mill and cut the wood type you have chosen to the length, width and thickness appropriate for the table. The milling process should remove any defects and flatten surfaces that are cupped, making them ready to join together.
  2. Join legs to the skirt by a mortise and tenon joint.
    • A mortise is a square hole you make in the leg sides to a set depth so that, when you make your tenons on the ends of the skirts, the tenons will snugly fit into the mortise.
    • Tenons are made by removing material from the end of the skirt until they slide into the mortise you created on the leg with no gap between the skirt and leg joint.
  3. Dry-fit the mortises on the legs and tenons on the ends of the skirts. You do not need glue. Make sure that all the pieces fit and there are no gaps or looseness to the joints. It is better to find out now if there is a problem than when you have glue on the pieces and you are ready to clamp up the base for your coffee table.
  4. Start to glue the pieces with the longer sides first. Apply glue to the inside of the mortise using a small disposable brush to spread it along the sides.
  5. Insert the tenons and clamp them into place. Allow the glue to set before you attach the skirt tenons to the two sides. Glue the ends skirts to the legs the same way as you did with the side clamping.
  6. Check and make sure that the table legs are square by measuring from one corner to the other. Corners should be the same distance apart. Adjust the clamps by trial and error until they are in the correct position. Remember to work quickly because the glue is drying.
  7. Assemble the top. This is often the most difficult part in making a wood coffee table. Create the top from one piece of plywood cut to the correct dimensions.
  8. Edge the top piece with an adhesive-backed wood veneer tape. This is the simplest way for a novice woodworker to make a coffee table.
  9. Set the top on its edge. Unroll the tape from end to end, cutting it to length using a utility knife. Peel away the backing and firmly press the tape onto the edge.
    • Use a hand roller or flat iron to press firmly onto the edge - some tape requires pressure and heat to activate the glue. Repeat on all 4 sides.
    • Use a trimmer knife or laminate trimmer to clean up the edge of the tape on the finish side of the table.
  10. Attach the top to the base by using "S" hooks designed to hold the table to the skirt.
    • The "S" hooks are inserted into slots cut into the skirt (apron) by using a biscuit jointer. A biscuit router bit attached to your router works well if you don't have one. Center the bottom on the table top with the table placed upside down on a flat surface. Insert the "S" hooks into the slots and attach them to the bottom of the table top using screws.
  11. Finish the coffee table by using multiple coats of polyurethane or spare varnish after you have sanded the table as smooth as possible using progressively finer grits of sandpaper. Also, use "000" steel wool to rub the wood down between the coats of polyurethane or varnish. Use furniture wax to give it a protective coat when the finish has thoroughly dried.

Tips

  • Different glues have different set times. The slower it sets, the more time you have to adjust the pieces before it dries. Be sure you wipe off any excess glue or it will cause finish problems when staining the wood.
  • Pre-cut and milled wood parts for a coffee table are available at woodworker supply houses.
  • Never undertake a woodworking project without a clear set of plans showing dimensions and hardware needed. This will keep you from straying off course during the construction process.
  • A mortise and tendon joint is the most common joint used in furniture making. This joint, while time-consuming to assemble (requiring hand and power tools) will last a lifetime.

Warnings

  • Excessive glue often creates difficulty in getting a solid fit with a mortise and tendon joint.

Things You'll Need

  • 24-inch x 48-inch x 3/4-inch or (600 mm x 1200 mm x18 mm) plywood for top
  • Wood for legs cut to a minimum 1.5-inch x 1.5-inch (or 36 mm x36 mm) in length
  • .75-inch (18 mm)-wide minimum wood for skirts
  • 13/16 inch (19 mm) pre-glued wood veneer edged tape
  • "S" hooks with screws
  • Wood glue
  • Disposable brushes
  • Electric sander
  • Table saw
  • Drill with .25-inch (6 mm) drill bit
  • .25- and .75-inch (6 mm and 18 mm) wood chisels
  • Claw hammer
  • Edging trimmer
  • Utility knife
  • 120, 180 and 220 grit sandpaper
  • Biscuit joiner or router with biscuit bit

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Sources and Citations

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