Hardwood Flooring as a Tabletop
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
I told you about this table over a year ago, in my post Recent Finds June 18, 2012. This table landed on my doorstep. I love it when I don’t have to hunt for junk, so fun when it finds me.
I wonder why this has a number stenciled on the bottom of the top.
I removed the top.
I used my Homeright paint sprayer to give it a quick coat of black paint.
That was last year.
I contemplated putting a reclaimed fence top on it. It was rough, and when I sanded the wood, all of the patina was gone.
then.I.put.it.aside. for.a.year.
I recently dug it out of storage, and decided to use some spare hardwood flooring on it for a top. I was short one board using full length boards. I had to opt for adding two rows with one long and one short board. This picture is from a dry fit, to see if I like it.
I decided to go for it, I had nothing to lose. The table and the flooring were both just waiting for a purpose, and they both were freebies.
I had t rip the tongue off of one of the boards, and the groove off of another.
I worked on putting the boards together and gluing them.
After I glued all the boards I clamped them.
For added strength, I decided to use two supports underneath. I used two scrap pieces of wood.
I used my combination square to adjust the boards all the way around.
I screwed the supports to each board. I drilled pilot holes in the original brackets on the table, and attached the top to the brackets with screws.
Here is the new coffee table. I’m not loving it.
I do like the thickness of the table top, but being heavy, it makes the table a little wobbly. I believe I need to add another spindle about midway to the top.
You can see the little ripples in the flooring on each end.
Have you ever used flooring for a table top? This is not my first time, I used it on smaller side tables a LONG time ago.
Thoughts? Is this a project fail? Did I waste my time?
gail—
I have tried to upload a picture but an unable to.
PS..the number located on ‘the bottom of the top’ in YOUR Picture, is either a model number for this particular product. (NO: 240.) or the 240th unit made. Hard to say with this age. I have just come across an old solid maple table, which had both a model number and place of origin, hidden under a coat of paint. IT reads No 128, Colonial table company, Toronto, Ontario. Sad that there is no date, BUT I have found literature stating the company was around at the turn of the last century.
I have done a similar project, a coffee table..but I placed the boards so the tongues fit into the slot of another piece turned 90 degrees, at both ends. This eliminated the ‘wobbly end look’. I then cut the tongue off the one end of the flooring and the groove off the other end I then just sanded well. As my flooring pieces were shorter, I used another piece through the mid point of the table, thus creating an interesting design feature. For the legs, I used 4 random pieces, planed and then glued together to make a solid block for each corner.
You should have added an edging to “frame” the table top. This should have mitered corners and can be as deep as you like to add depth of the table top.
Did you leave the edges raw? Or did you create some type of trim/border?
Sad to say, the table still looks the same. I need to get it out and do something with it. I may totally rework it as the flooring probably is too heavy for the table.
gail
What did you do to the edges-? did you trim it out or just sand the edges ?
Love the idea.!
I have set this project aside, and have never gotten back to it yet. 🙂 I will eventually (probably) add some edge banding.
gail
Try routing the edges a bit to finish it up
Hi Gail! Know what you mean about setting it aside…sometime the right solution/answer/design has to hit you! I googled this b/c I’m making a large table from a giant (this sucker’s heavy) desk with steel supports & some heart pine flooring. I was trying to decide about leaving the tongue n groove on or not (& using other side). Why did you chose to cut yours off?Most of the ones I’ve seen have an edge added to it – so if you framed out an edge, (perhaps overhanging the table base?) then would this solve your problem? I love your table!
I would rip 1/2 ” or 5/8″ strips from the same wood or from something else if you like contrast and glue and brad nail it on the 4 outside edges as a band. It will hipe the ripples.
Thanks for the input Roger!
I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment.
gail
I have two end tables with same boards. To cover the ripples, could I use a water putty to put into the ripples? Then stain with a water based stain?
Jennifer,
The ripples on the end of the boards? That sounds like a lot of trouble. You could use edge binding (it irons on) That’s what I should have done with this table top-but the table top was really too heavy for the base anyway. It still waits in the storage garage for it’s new look. 🙂
gail
I love this idea! I have a 140 year old Victorian style house that I will be working on in the kitchen soon. I will be using some flooring I have left over from my master bedroom when it was re-floored a few years ago to re-face my kitchen cabinets. I plan on ripping them down to 3/4 in and then cut them to the size I need to frame in each cabinet door. I’ll use bead-board inside of each door frame.
About your bench, I agree it needs a little “something” added….maybe a design like a scroll or colored drawer pulls….just needs something to help it shine more. Love it but….just a tad too “calm” right now.
The table…I agree with others here….great idea! If it is top heavy like you said….the additional spindle will help steady it. Like the idea of running a trim around the outside so the ripples on the boards don’t show like they do. Will give it a nice finished look. About the dark color on the base….looks good but…the top needs to compliment that more. Maybe paint/stain that a little darker or paint the base lighter. Right now…to me….they look like they belong to other pieces and are only sitting together for a “visit”. Very nice though!!!
Renee
Treasures by Renee
I know this all happened last year and I am sure the table is gone, but after looking at the pictures and remembering my grandma’s old table, I had some thoughts. I think cutting the boards shorter and installing inside the frame will do two things. I think it will solve your top-heavy problem by lowering the center of gravity and thereby, help the wobble. It will also make it so that you have finished ends. Kill two birds with one stone. 🙂 I know I was not the first to mention this solution, (see above) but I wanted to second the idea.
I think you should use some crown molding or picture frame around the edges so that it extends above the table top. Then it will give the top a sense of being sunken in. Just paint the molding black and I like the black/wood contrast!
I love the idea of coming up with new purposes for these two things! I also agree with framing it, but I wonder if your base color (it looks black) should be a lighter color? I normally love black furniture, but I think it may not go great with the flooring. I do not think you wasted your time! Great re-do! I actually have a table that has a similar base, but a round top with many missing tiles. This idea may be easier than replacing and painting all those tiles! So, thanks for the tip!
You asked if anyone had made a table with flooring. I just posted about making 10 workbenches with gym flooring. It’s here: http://illjustpaintit.com/how-to-make-a-workbench/.
Thanks again for showing your readers Hometalk. I’ve had some great responses to my posts!
Gail, I agree with the framing like every one else, but instead of finding another spindle (good luck), could you maybe add support under the table with a triangle brace, or maybe L shaped brace? Maybe the framing could drop down a bit to hide any brace?
What a great table Gail! You really rock the power tools!
You are such a pro with your power tools! Not too many women have a table saw and can use it as well as you do!
Great job on a great table!
Susan
I agree with the framing and less contrast betw top and base. I have some oak flooring, not as thick, and have been wondering if I could use it for a round table top?? I bought an Ikea Liatorp table and the top isn’t solid wood, has started chipping. I want to replace it with a round wood top. If I put the flooring together the way you did and then took it somewhere to cut round?
You do great work!
I love the looks of it. How about just painting black on the edges? That would give it a finished look without any weight. Good job!
I’m working on a curb find dresser right now where I deep six’d the top due to its being pressed board. The new top is old tongue and groove pine attic flooring from the early ’20’s. I made a frame of the same wood and it anchors the piece. I painted the dresser Antique Tin and I like its industrial feel. I may put screws and washers all around and may even stencil the top with some subway art. Maybe you can stencil the numbers you found underneath on top.
Best of luck-you do nice work.
La Verne
I love this makeover! I think I would’ve been stymied by that old top on it. Thank you for the great inspiration. Blessings to you, Patti@OldThingsNew
Definitely not a fail. I’m with everyone else saying to frame out the table top all the way around, it will hide the ripples of the flooring. I’m also thinking you might want to lightly sand the table top and stain it using a driftwood finish to gray it up more, so that it blends better with the black base.
As for the wobbliness – is that truly because the top is too heavy, or could it be some sort of unevenness with the legs? Would taking it off a hard surface and putting it on a soft surface, say carpeting or an area rug, solve that? I don’t like the idea of a spindle in the middle of the base because it would mar the turned wood finish on the on the horizontal spindle already in place. What about using two spindles, inset at an angle so they form an inverted “V” and are attached to the horizontal spindle near its smooth part near where it joins the legs? I think that would be sturdier and not mar the look of the horizontal spindle.
Can’t wait to see how you finish this up!
I like what you’ve done so far – a pieced top is a great idea. But to make it lighter in weight, why not use some pallet wood or even some old fence boards and do many fitted pieces? Then use a stain (after sanding of course!) You’d end up with many different lights and darks, which the lights would bring out the black of the bottom of the table.
At any rate, I’m 100% positive that whatever you end up doing, it’s going to be awesome!
Not a fail – but like everyone else said I thing it needs some trim. I don’t know that I would have made the boards bigger than the framework. Is there any way to take the frame and flip it over so you can inset the boards into the frame? I would also add a spindle like you suggested. Otherwise love the look of the flooring. Good job. 🙂
Not a fail, just a work in progress even if it has to sit in time-out for another year.
Are you able to under cut the edges all the way around the top at an angle to get rid of the chunky edge as well as hide the ridges from view? Just an idea…
Or..are you able to trim the top down to fit inside the frame of the bottom?
I agree, do add the extra spindle for support.
If you leave the top as is on top of the frame, I would stain the top a darker color to go with the black frame and round off the corners to soften the edges. To me, there is too much contrast in the lighter colored wood on top of the black frame and the chunky edges look unfinished.
I like it!!! I think if you can, adding another spindle would help with the support and add some more detail.
Nice fix! I really like the look.
I think this came out beautifully! way to rescue it 🙂
I agree with everyone else – add a frame out of some kind – and yes, add another spindle. I think painting or staining the top would also add to the table. DEFINITELY NOT a fail! LOVE that you used the flooring! hmmmm, we have some left over flooring…..
GAIL. Gail. You are a genius. We have some leftover flooring from when we did the basement, plus a coffee table that needs to be re-worked. GENIUS.
I like it…but definitely agree that it has to be sturdy, so I would add that support you were talking about. I also like the ideas above of trimming it out all the way around! You can’t beat FREE!!
very nice work…I agree about framing out the top but I think I would stain or paint the flooring as well
Not a fail. I think it needs to be trimmed out but that will add more weight to it so I think you’ll need to add all the support you can. I love the look of it though.
Good morning Gail! I agree with the poster who commented on framing the top. I’m on a big milk paint kick right now and would do a color wash over the black in your favorite color, but that’s me 🙂 If you wash the bottom you need to do something to relax the top too. Love the idea of flooring on a table top – so many options! Its a very cute piece! Post it again when you do anything more to it! Take care! — Pauline
what a great idea and i love the look of it!
I don’t think it is a fail, but i do think it may need to be framed out around the edges. the ends make me think it would be better to do an edge framing of some sort.
as for the weight and wiggle, i do think another spindle would be in order. it would help the stability.
good save on the base of the table! The stenciled number is a model number i am pretty sure. perhaps even just for the top, they may have used the base on more than one style top.