Large Farm table
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About a year ago, during my Spring Fling 2013 I spied this table at a local thrift store. It was cheap at only $8. I loved the legs, and the drawers.
As soon as I unloaded it from the truck, I got busy painting it. You can read all about how DIY Chalk paint makes a great primer in my post Big Ole Table. I painted it, and gave it some wipe-on-poly to protect it…. however, being shiny black, showed all of it’s imperfections (water damage). I was unable to sell it.
For months I had big plans for it—to become a large farm type table using 2×6 lumber. In the late fall, I bought the boards, and worked on it a little here and there whenever the weather was warm enough.
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A few weeks ago I started the assembly process. I ripped all the boards on my table saw to get a straight edge to try to prevent the “crumb catcher” grooves.
I used my Kreg Jig to make pocket holes to join the boards together. It’s the same process I used on my DIY Kitchen Island
I recently bought this variety pack of Kreg screws on Amazon.
I sanded, and sanded, and sanded on this dude, the front and the back!
Then…. I got very frustrated with the whole process and apparently didn’t take any pictures (which isn’t all that surprising, since it’s hard to take pictures while you have stain on your hands)
Here’s what I did—1 coat of Hickory Gel Stain by Minwax, and 3 light coats of Minwax Polycrylic. While sanding in between the coats of polycrylic, there were some high spots that got the stain removed. I wasn’t about to start over, so that is why you see the light spots all over. After all the sanding, I can’t believe there WERE any high spots.
I’m so over this table. I just want it g.o.n.e. YESTERDAY! It’s taking up too much storage room.
I am a faithful user of all Minwax products. I’ve used the gel stain before and loved it—even though for the life of me I can’t remember what I used it on. I wasn’t a fan of how the stain took to this wood. It almost looked like the table was paint brown instead of stained.
I took the trouble of installing the drawers to the bottom of the table so they will still operate.
While moving it in and out of the garage, it got some boo boos on it.
I still love the legs, but that’s all I love. I plan to market this on Craig’s list as a craft table. I think it would be awesome in a craft room. I am not sure anyone would want it in their dining room.
Korrie from Red Hen Home does fabulous tables. She knows I worked on this, and I have a huge appreciation for all the tables she makes. I will never do another.
gail
see more table projects here
This is CRAZY! My daughter just showed me a table like this on Craigslist ($20), we were wondering if the top could be removed, but have the skirting still in tact, but because she is Denver, I had no way of knowing! This is exactly what she had in mind. I did a farmhouse table for my other daughter, but I was able to see that the top came right off!
This turned out beautiful!! Too bad she wasn’t in your area, I’m sure she would take it off your hands, lol!!
Always amazed at the ideas you come up with….now I have to wonder, I know you did not throw out the original top, what will you do with that?
I love the Minwax Gel Stains. I’m thinking yours looks really dark, did you wipe off after letting it sit for awhile? I would just sand the heck out of it, taking away a lot of the stain and make it really distressed looking.
I think it is beautiful. I love the character it has.
I feel your frustration but I agree with the comment above I love imperfections as a piece “owner” but when it comes to me creating a piece I have gotten just as frustrated as you have when it does not turn out like I want it. But every piece has a place 🙂 I love yoir blog it inspires me and keeps me motivatef! And I love rhis table with all it’s imperfections 🙂
I discovered using the pre-conditioner prior to staining fresh wood really helps. A lesson hard learned myself!
Sorry to hear it gave you such trouble. Its still a nice looking table. My hubby recently refinished a table that belonged to my grandmother. My sister used it outside to wax their skis on. It also has great shapely legs that thankfully, were not messed with. He was able to send the planks through his plainer (just one side) and got all the wax off. They were all sanded down to bare wood. He put a wonderful walnut finish and some lacquer on it and the end result left me speechless. Don’t give up. It’s just one table. Give it a weathered finish and sell it as ‘rustic country’.
I think you’re being too hard on yourself because you had this vision from the start. The table is great and I too love that it isn’t “perfect”.
Most farm house tables have boo boos. Personally, is distress it a little more. Market it as “rustic”. There are no rules to rustic decor.
I enjoyed your blog. Thanks for sharing.
Well if I wan in the market for a table I would have you paint the bottom white and I would take it, I love the fact that it is NOT perfect but then again that is just my silly style I guess. I think it is a cute table but of course I would have to have the table base white. LOL 🙂 Thanks for sharing hun and have a great day. 🙂
Beautiful piece of work. Very tasteful as well!
Wow.
I would have painted the top black like the rest of the table.
Sad it did not take the stain.
Do you think the stain may have been frozen or over heated in shipment to the store?
Diane the stain was old, and it may have gotten too cold last winter. Since I’ve never used gel stain before, I’m not sure what the consistency should be. I love the look of paint and stain together, so I was soooo wanting this piece to turn out great. good luck with your old table.
Hello,
I am following you and your projects for a while now, cause I love upcycling furniture too. I also experienced fails before, but I think this table still can be saved to be a fine kitchen table. Just a suggestion but I would sand it down again. Paint the legs a nice shade of white and just stain the top in a colourless stain or chalk paint or wax it. 🙂
Greetings
Isabelle