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Project 1:  Building a Dinner Table

Materials & Tools:

• 5 – 2x8x10 Premium Grade
• 4 – 4x4x8 Premium Grade (untreated)
• 1 – ¾˝x4x8 MDF 
• 4 - 3˝ Locking Casters
• 16 – ⅜˝x 6˝ Lag Screws W/ Flat Washers
• Table Saw, Miter Saw & Circular Saw
• 16 Gauge Nail Gun W/ 2˝ nails
• Drill W/ Long ¼˝ bit & 1¼˝ Forstner bit
• Wood Glue & 1½˝ - 1¾˝ Wood Screws
• 36˝ Pole or Bar Clamps (8 – 10)
  

Cut List:

 

• 2 @ 94˝ Long Supports (square both ends)
• 2 @ 30˝ Bottom Brace
• 2 @ 29½˝ Top Brace
• 2 @ 18” Middle Uprights (connects the top & bottom braces)
  

2x8x10’s – Table Top

• 5 @ 6½˝ x 112˝ (rip boards to 6½˝ then square both ends to 112˝)

¾˝x4x8 MDF – Table Top Base

• 1 @ 30½˝ x 8ˊ (rip sheet to 30½˝)

Step by Step

Building the Base...

1. Make all your cuts according to the cut list.  Make sure both ends of the long supports & the middle uprights are square.
2. Join one end of the middle upright to the center of the bottom brace and the other end to the center of the top brace.  Do the same for the other upright.  Use wood glue & the 6˝ lag screws (2 in each end) for this step.  Note:  Make sure to pre-drill & countersink the lag screws.
3. Attach each end of the long supports to the leg sections you made.  Attach one long support in the center, flush to the top.  Attach the other long support flush to the bottoms of the middle uprights.  Use wood glue & 6˝ lag screws as in step #2.
4. Attach the 4 casters to the bottom of the base, at the end of each 30˝ bottom support.  Use 1 – 1½˝ pan head screws.
   

Attach the Table Top Base...

1. Cut the MDF according to the cut list.  Center the piece of MDF on the top of the table base and attach it with glue and 2˝ wood screws.  Note:  The Table Top will sit on & attach to the MDF.

Building the Table Top...

1. Cut the 2x8’s according to the cut list.  Line up and edge glue the pieces together.  Clamp the 5 pieces together using the 36˝ bar clamps spaced every 10 - 12˝.  Note:  Make sure the table top remains flat while it dries.
2. After the glue dries, remove the clamps and sand the table top using a belt sander and/or orbital sander.  Round over the edge of the table top; using a router W/ a round over bit.
3. Stain the table top & table base.
   

Attaching the Table Top to the Table Base...

1. Center the table top on top of the MDF.  Attach the table top to the MDF by screwing from underneath through the MDF into the bottom of the table top.  Use wood glue & 1¾˝ wood screws.

Note:  You may need to bring the table top and base into the room separately before attaching them to each other.  This will depend on your door size.