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
Ugh, tables are hard. The only one I’ve done so far is the $10 coffee table I got on eBay. It was… well, it was a headache and I’m still not happy with how it looks after hours of working on it. I might try one last thing when it warms up for good, but otherwise I’ll just drag it to the curb. Over it!
I would have just put it aside for awhile and gone on to a new project. You could come back to it later with a fresh perspective and maybe a whole different approach and direction. Creativity doesn’t like to be forced. It still could turn out to be very useful but maybe not with the original idea.
Awwww Gail, that totally sucks.
I can think of a few ideas for project salvation –but hind sight’s always 20/20 and you don’t need one more person telling you what to do!
If you don’t find an immediate buyer I sure hope you’ll just remove the legs to take up less storage and come back to it “later.” Maybe use the top’s boards in another project until further notice (that will really reduce the storage).
What price btw? I do really love the legs! Remember my farm table? http://freddyandpetunia.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/painting-outside-the-lines/
Catherine
Yeah, that gel stain is not very workable, but works well if you want to hide the grain of the wood. It takes much longer to set and dry than regular stain, and there is no going back to do touch ups once you put it on. And it does tend to look more painted than stained. But with that said, I had great success using it on my sister’s cabinets, but it was a learning curve figuring it out how the stuff behaves. I think I would of gray washed that table top, but oh well, hopefully it will sell on CL.
I hate it when I have a project that doesn’t turn out the way I want! I am sorry that is so frustrating! I am guessing either the stain was old or ruined, and I don’t know if you used pre wood conditioner, I always use it now… I don’t think it is ruined, It is still a beautiful table! I would go with white (and maybe distressed) legs like was suggested above, and try sanding down the top and see if the stain that is left over looks good, sometimes that look is really cool and rustic. Maybe even a vey light whitewash over the sanded down stain might work, just some suggestions. You are amazing Gail! I know you are done with this table, but it has no reflection on how awesome and inspiring you are!
if i had the way to you i’d gladly take your table from you! it is a great size, a tablecloth will always do well. i sew and would love to use that table! great attempt and time went into it.
Is it wrong this post made me laugh? I guess one has to know that frustration to see the humor!
Don’t be so hard on yourself, Gail 🙂 I love the table-especially the shapely legs 🙂
I’m sorry this table was such a bear for you! Just a bad combination of factors, I think. Some projects just never work out like they’re supposed to, darn it!
You know there are just some projects never work out the way we imagine. And we are always our own worst critic. But this table still has potential and hopefully it will find a happy home soon!
What kind of wood did you use for the top?
regular 2×6’s from the Home Depot… I guess they are pine? 🙂
Oooops, I didn’t read down far enough…that SUCKS about how the top did that!! Uggghhh, no wonder you want it gone! Don’t you hate projects like that?!