EASY STEPS TO YOUR CONSOLE TABLE

Gather your supplies

• 185 x 19mm x 3m Tasmanian oak (1)

• 185 x 19mm x 2.4m Tasmanian oak (2)

• 135 x 19mm x 3m Tasmanian oak

• 110 x 32mm x 1.8m Tasmanian oak (2)

• 9.5mm x 1.8m Tasmanian oak dowel (1)

You’ll also need

Measuring tape; pencil; square; biscuit joiner; PVA glue; #20 joinery biscuits; hammer; clamps; timber baens; thin plywood strip; jigsaw; combination square; 5, 3, 9.5 and 10mm drill bits; drill; 30 and 50mm screws; circular saw; sharp wood chisel; straightedge; masking tape; belt sander; various grades of sandpaper; random orbital sander; microfibre cloth; black stain; lint-free cloths; furniture wax; super fine steel wool

Here’s how

STEP 1 Cut timbers for tabletop 2330mm long and lay on workbench so ends are aligned. Measure and mark points 100mm from each end then about 250mm apart. At each point, use a square to draw a line across the joint where they meet.

STEP 2 Use a biscuit joiner to cut slots in edges of pieces for tabletop. Align cuer with lines drawn in Step 1 and press into the timber. Remove sawdust from slots.

STEP 3 Sit 1 piece on edge and squirt glue into slots. Slide joinery biscuits into slots. Tap down with hammer.

STEP 4 Sit 3 clamps on bench with timber baens to protect edges of tabletop. Spread glue on edges of pieces, including in the slots of the piece without the biscuits. Sit pieces on the clamps so the marks across them are aligned. Clamp together to close join.

STEP 5 Aach 2 more clamps to top face of joined boards. Having clamps on both sides is a more even distribution of force that will stop joined boards cupping in one direction. Set aside for 24 hours for glue to dry.

STEP 6 Mark a point in the centre of a side rail that is 110mm from 1 long edge. On opposite edge, mark points 160mm from each end. Clamp a thin plywood strip to edge of board at these points. Bend centre of strip until it meets mark in centre. Scribe along line with a pencil to mark shape of the curve.

STEP 7 Use a jigsaw to cut along the line of the curve. Use this as a template to mark out and cut the curve from the second side.

STEP 8 Lay sides together then mark out for cross rails along top edge. Rails are 12mm from each end and 550, 1090 and 1630mm from 1 end. Use a combination square to transfer the mark across both edges. Also mark the thickness of each cross rail along the top edge.

STEP 9 Transfer lines of cross rails down the inside face of 1 side rail. Measure and mark side rail for screws which will go through it into cross rails. The screws are 35mm from edges at ends and 25mm from edges on other rails.

STEP 10 Sit this rail on top of the other, align and clamp together. Drill through both timber pieces at marked points using a 5mm drill bit.

You can put pot plants under your console table or tuck an ottoman there for extra seating. Clever!

STEP 11 Sit one rail upright on top edge. Spread glue on end of cross rails and bu into side so they meet drawn lines. Predrill using a 3mm drill bit, then screw through side into rails using 50mm screws. Continue aaching intermediate and centre cross rails to side in the same way. Make flush with top edge.

STEP 12 Sit this assembly on its side and spread glue along open ends of cross rails. Sit other side on top, then predrill and screw together.

STEP 13 Mark out for 185mm high and 12mm deep housing at the end of each leg. With circular saw set to cut 12mm deep, make multiple cuts across waste area of housing.

STEP 14 Use a hammer to smash out most of the waste timber, then use a chisel to smooth boom of housing.

STEP 15 From rebated end of leg, measure and mark a point 235mm down 1 edge. At other end of leg, mark a point 70mm from opposite edge. Use a straightedge to join lines, then cut along this line to create taper on legs. Make sure you end up with 2 pairs of legs that are the mirror image of each other.

STEP 16 Measure and mark out screw positions on table legs. Draw a diagonal line across boom of rebate. Make a screw in centre of this line, then others halfway along the line remaining on either side.

STEP 17 Spread glue on housing in leg and clamp against side so edge of leg is flush with end of side. Predrill through screw holes and screw together with 30mm screws. Repeat for all legs. Let glue dry for 24 hours.

STEP 18 Remove a few screws from side rails and drill out screw holes with a 9.5mm drill bit. Make holes about 50mm deep, using masking tape wrapped around bit as a depth marker.

STEP 19 Squirt a dab of glue into each hole and tap in a length of dowel. Repeat to remove all visible screws and replace with dowel. On legs, make holes 30mm deep and cut off excess dowel.

STEP 20 Predrill through width of mounting block and do a 5mm deep countersink using a 10mm drill bit. Glue and clamp to end and centre rails flush with top edge. Screw through mounting blocks into rails using 50mm screws.

STEP 21 Remove clamps and cut tabletop to 2300mm long. Sit tabletop face down on bench and centre leg assembly on it. Carefully predrill through mounting blocks into top so you don’t go all the way through, and join using 30mm screws.

STEP 22 Use a belt sander with 120-grit sandpaper to quickly smooth top. Switch to an orbital sander and work your way through sandpaper grades. To finish, hand sand to remove sanding scratches. This is essential as black stain will highlight them.

STEP 23 Remove dust with a microfibre cloth. Apply black stain to entire unit with a lint-free cloth as per product instructions. Leave to dry.

STEP 24 Apply 2 coats of wax to table with steel wool. Buff to a soš sheen.

FOR SHOPPING AND PROJECT SUPPLIES, SEE OUR STOCKISTS PAGE

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