Coffee Table Made From Reclaimed Lumber
Distressed lumber
Using lumber from a 75 year old demolished house, built a coffee table for my son who enjoys the distressed lumber look.
What you will need
Enough old lumber to build a table
Pocket screws
Glue
How to do this project
1
![pine boards, up to 2 inches thick, of varying lengths, widths and thicknesses](https://craftlog.global.ssl.fastly.net/m/ve/b64-199653-1485268160022-b3B0aW1pemVGb3I9ZGVza3RvcGhoZCZsYW5ndWFnZVRhZz1lbi1VUyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU3RhcnQ9MSZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU2l6ZT0x.jpg)
Gather the materials needed. In my case, i had access to demolition lumber pine boards, up to 2 inches thick, of varying lengths, widths and thicknesses
2
![find any imbedded nails. Once this is done, rip the boards into 5 inch wide boards. Since the original boards were 12 inches wide, cutting them down to 5 inches is to prevent the table top from warping.](https://craftlog.global.ssl.fastly.net/m/ve/b64-199653-1485268160022-b3B0aW1pemVGb3I9ZGVza3RvcGhoZCZsYW5ndWFnZVRhZz1lbi1VUyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU3RhcnQ9MiZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU2l6ZT0x.jpg)
Remove all nails and fasteners. I am lucky to own a metal detector to help find any imbedded nails. Once this is done, rip the boards into 5 inch wide boards. Since the original boards were 12 inches wide, cutting them down to 5 inches is to prevent the table top from warping.
3
![table surface. I like nail holes, dents, scratches, imperfections. Once that is decided, plane the opposite side of each board to achieve a uniform thickness. Ensure that each board edge is 90 degrees to the planed side. I kept the 2 outermost edges of the table top in their rough state.](https://craftlog.global.ssl.fastly.net/m/ve/b64-199653-1485268160022-b3B0aW1pemVGb3I9ZGVza3RvcGhoZCZsYW5ndWFnZVRhZz1lbi1VUyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU3RhcnQ9MyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU2l6ZT0y.jpg)
Determine which side of each board has the most character to be used as the table surface. I like nail holes, dents, scratches, imperfections. Once that is decided, plane the opposite side of each board to achieve a uniform thickness. Ensure that each board edge is 90 degrees to the planed side. I kept the 2 outermost edges of the table top in their rough state.
4
![able top.](https://craftlog.global.ssl.fastly.net/m/ve/b64-199653-1485268160022-b3B0aW1pemVGb3I9ZGVza3RvcGhoZCZsYW5ndWFnZVRhZz1lbi1VUyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU3RhcnQ9NSZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU2l6ZT0x.jpg)
Dry assemble the boards to see how to best arrange the boards to form the table top.
5
![the rough top side of the boards.](https://craftlog.global.ssl.fastly.net/m/ve/b64-199653-1485268160022-b3B0aW1pemVGb3I9ZGVza3RvcGhoZCZsYW5ndWFnZVRhZz1lbi1VUyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU3RhcnQ9NiZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU2l6ZT0x.jpg)
Glue the boards together being careful not to have any glue squeeze out on the rough top side of the boards.
6
![re edge at both ends of the table. Attach 2 inch wide breadboard ends made of the same material to hide that clean edge with screws into the ends of the slab with wood plugs to hide the screws.](https://craftlog.global.ssl.fastly.net/m/ve/b64-199653-1485268160022-b3B0aW1pemVGb3I9ZGVza3RvcGhoZCZsYW5ndWFnZVRhZz1lbi1VUyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU3RhcnQ9NyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU2l6ZT0x.jpg)
Once dry, cut the assembled wood slab to length to achieve a perfectly square edge at both ends of the table. Attach 2 inch wide breadboard ends made of the same material to hide that clean edge with screws into the ends of the slab with wood plugs to hide the screws.
7
Using Cut-offs, build 4 inch X 4 inch legs by laminating wood pieces and cutting to length.
8
![ing 3 inch pocket screws. Attach the table top to the aprons using pocket screws.](https://craftlog.global.ssl.fastly.net/m/ve/b64-199653-1485268160022-b3B0aW1pemVGb3I9ZGVza3RvcGhoZCZsYW5ndWFnZVRhZz1lbi1VUyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU3RhcnQ9OCZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU2l6ZT0y.jpg)
Cut 3 inch wide table apron material and attach the 4 legs to the aprons using 3 inch pocket screws. Attach the table top to the aprons using pocket screws.
9
![Surface sand the top with 80 grit sandpaper to achieve a fairly smooth top without removing too much of the material. Vacuum the top.](https://craftlog.global.ssl.fastly.net/m/ve/b64-199653-1485268160022-b3B0aW1pemVGb3I9ZGVza3RvcGhoZCZsYW5ndWFnZVRhZz1lbi1VUyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU3RhcnQ9MTAmcmVuZGVyQ2xpcFNpemU9MQ==.jpg)
Wire brush the tabletop to remove grit, sawdust and any foreign material. Surface sand the top with 80 grit sandpaper to achieve a fairly smooth top without removing too much of the material. Vacuum the top.
10
![hane.](https://craftlog.global.ssl.fastly.net/m/ve/b64-199653-1485268160022-b3B0aW1pemVGb3I9ZGVza3RvcGhoZCZsYW5ndWFnZVRhZz1lbi1VUyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU3RhcnQ9MTEmcmVuZGVyQ2xpcFNpemU9MQ==.jpg)
Apply your favourite stain. I then applied 7 coats of satin finish polyurethane.
11
![](https://craftlog.global.ssl.fastly.net/m/ve/b64-199653-1485268160022-b3B0aW1pemVGb3I9ZGVza3RvcGhoZCZsYW5ndWFnZVRhZz1lbi1VUyZyZW5kZXJDbGlwU3RhcnQ9MTImcmVuZGVyQ2xpcFNpemU9NA==.jpg)
From demolition materials to handsome coffee table
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