I never really thought about how to make a coffee table using chair legs and hardwood flooring, but one day while I was looking for something to make, I took a second look at the base of these chairs....
So, I got these chairs from a local reader last fall, and they’ve just been hanging around ever since.
Don't you love the look of these chairs and how Donetta painted and distressed them?
First, I removed the legs from the back, and decided to leave the 2 front sections intact.
To complete the skirt, I placed one of the former pieces on my table saw in order to get the correct width to rip the 1x’s that will become the front and back skirt. (I removed the saw blade laying on the fence before I turned the saw on)
NOTE: I used 1x4’s (soft wood) In hindsight, I wish I had used a hardwood for this.
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To secure the sides with the new front and back, I used my Kreg Jig to drill pocket holes.
Even though I was using ¾” 1x’s I used longer 2” pocket hole screws because I was sort of “hitting” the original dowel holes and the shorter ones were not securing the joint well enough. I did set the bit to drill ¾” material.
A right angle clamp makes it a lot easier to connect the joints.
For strength, I added some small 1x’s for bottom braces from side to side.
I thought it would be great to use hardwood flooring for the table top. I did it once before and hit a snag and NEVER finished this project from THREE years ago.
But I have a PLAN!
I started by measuring the boards and cutting them to size. I left the tongue and groove portions on all of the boards except the two end pieces. Of course I used Gorilla Wood Glue and scrap boards and clamps to make the table top.
How to Make a Coffee Table
Here’s what the table base looks like. I patched the original dowel holes on the right and left sides.
Now, here’s the plan—to FRAME the table top to cover up those pesky ridges on the ends of the table top.
I used some scrap 1x’s and mitered the corners.
Apparently the table top was not exactly square, but I can fix this problem.
I didn’t like the color of the flooring so I started sanding it to remove the finish. Because I wanted this to be a quick and easy project, I decided NOT to remove the entire finish in order to stain the table top.
I used wood putty in the crack of the mitered corner, then sanded it really well to make it look like a perfect mitered corner. This is a dry fit.
This is where it goes ALL wrong! I mixed up some diy chalky paint primer, BUT instead of spraying it with my beloved Homeright Finish Max, I decided to use a cheap chip brush—which really wasn’t the problem. The problem was with my impatience in the heat and humidity to put on the paint too thick. I had been working a couple of hours each morning from 8-10 am to beat the heat and didn’t want to drag out the tarp and/or sawhorses. Big mistake.
I did however take the time to make some small paint pyramids with the corners I cut off of the frame for the flooring.
After painting two coats of the chalky paint primer, I then did two coats of Beluga in semi-gloss.
Okay, so it gets worse! If y’all think I don’t make mistakes, I’m here to tell ya I do!
To attach the tabletop to the base, I used my Kreg Jig to drill pocket holes on the skirt of the table.
Oops! Do you see the problem? ugh! Again, heat and humidity was my foe! I don’t work well when it’s hot. In my haste, I placed the jig in the wrong position and ended up drilling the pocket hole on the OUTSIDE of the skirt! ohhh gee!
Okay, let’s try this again! I drilled several holes all around the INSIDE of the table skirt.
After drilling the holes and placing the tabletop upside down, I secure the skirt to it with more pocket hole screws.
Here it is, in all it’s glory. The story could end here (especially on the blog post) because y’all would never really know—but truth in blogging here on MRL.
I could have even strategically taken pics without you even knowing about this colossal boo boo.
If you look close you can see the brush strokes from the thick paint. I actually ended up taking the coffee table/bench into the house so the paint could cure some.
Plan B
After leaving it in the house for a week or so it was time for plan B. I sanded the top back with my orbital sander. I felt like the legs and skirt looked okay.
While I was working on some chair projects using my Finish Max and some Beluga SATIN paint, I rested the table on my DIY easy sawhorses. TIP when spraying the tops of furniture with my Finish Max, I try to keep the piece vertical instead of horizontal.
After a couple of light coats on the top, I ended up doing a light coat on the skirt and legs because I felt they were too glossy to go with the new satin look of the table top.
I think it looks so much better with less sheen.
This is the before and after of the two paint sheens. It’s so difficult to photograph black furniture. The sheen of the legs is pretty true to real life. The sheen on the top looks incredibly flat in pictures, but it really isn’t as flat as it looks.
Have you figured out the best part about this coffee table? It will definitely double as extra seating when you use it as a bench! It’s that sturdy.
This is a heavy duty table, and I’m so pleased with how it turned out. I have taken it to my booth at Vendors’ Village in Louisville KY. (This project sold the day after I put it in the booth)
You can see the succulent planter in my post Succulent Planters-Rotted Tree Trunk Pieces.
I’ve been trying to tidy up the garage, and jokingly call this the summer of THE CHAIR. Can you tell I love making projects out of chairs?
Be inspired by these other project ideas from old chairs from me and some of my best DIY friends.
go out and save and old chair!
gail
Related Content:
How I used one of the chair backs for a jewelry organizer here
See one of my first, and an all-time favorite chair projects here
Sandra B Haynie
I have been following you for some time and have never commented, but after seeing this project, I just have to tell you that I think you are amazing. I am blown away every time you post a project and would love to have a third of your talent. Just keep on posting and inspiring us to do more.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Sandra,
Thank you so much for being a friend of My Repurposed Life, and for leaving a long awaited comment. 🙂 I really don't sit around and think this stuff up, it happens when I hit the shop and just start tinkering. At the beginning of the post I said something like I've always wanted to make a table out of chair legs, but that really isn't so. Silly google makes us say things so that they can have the right wording for SEO (search engine optimization) I am headed right now to change that to say, I never really thought about ....
Anyhoo! thanks for stopping by, and taking the time to leave a comment-it really wasn't so hard, was it?
don't be a stranger!
gail
Lisa
Love this table! I was wondering, did you mix the Behr paint and primer with the plaster of paris for your primer or did you use another paint and then finish with the Behr? I hope that makes sense. I'm much better at building something than I am at finishing it. Also, I have done the exact same thing with my kreg jig and for the same reason.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Lisa,
Thanks for stopping by and asking a great question. This is the way I do 99% of all of my projects. I make a paste of the plaster of paris and water, add that to the very same paint I plan to use to finish off my project. I use that for the primer, then use the paint just as it comes out of the can for a topcoat.
It's the lazy way of quickly finishing a project with very little prep. (generally) Think about red paint for a project. Use the RED paint (with plaster of paris) for primer, then the RED paint for the topcoat. voila! done in record time--unless you screw it up like I did with this project. 🙂
Oh, how I love that Kreg Jig-when I use my brain. Happy to know I'm not the only one.
You can see the recipe I use for my primer here: https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/diy-chalky-paint-recipe-makes-a-great-primer/
Have fun with your projects!
gail
Deb Ashley
I love this piece <3
Wendi @ H2OBungalow
This is fabulous! I can't believe how many ways to repurpose a chair you come up with! Pinned and sharing on my FB page! Have a great week:)
Susan
I wish I was your neighbor, Id be peeking over the fence all day long just watching your amazing work!
You are so good and every creation is amazing!
🙂
Donna Churchill
This is beautiful!!
Dina Lanzendorf
Gorgeous table! Love it!
Kraig Elliott
Where do you keep all your wood that you collect? Do you keep it in your garage, or leave it outside, or do you have another way to store it? I am interested because my garage gets overrun by the wood and furniture and I have little room to actually work on the projects. Thank you for all your help and the enjoyment of seeing your imaginative creations. Many blessings
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Kraig,
I'm fortunate to have an extra garage next door to store my projects and projects in waiting. I have a one car garage that holds all of my wood and tools. All the magic happens in the driveway in front of the garage. Generally I can use my saws in the garage, but at the moment that's a little tricky. I'm awaiting cooler weather so I can clean out the garage. It's too hot here in Kentucky to do any projects outside.
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment.
have fun creating!
gail
Kraig Elliott
Thank you for replying. I appreciate it!
Christina in FL
Wow, Gail, what a transformation! Gorgeous and I love the less shiny finish also. No surprise it sold right away. 🙂
Thank you for all the details.
Sheila Nye
Wow this looks great! Not surprised a bit that it sold in one day. You rock!!
girlfromwva
thanks for sharing your journey with us. SO glad how the table turned out; i am not surprised it sold SO fast!
Barbara
I LOVE this!!
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Thank you Barbara...I was very frustrated with the paint, but so happy I stuck with it.
gail