Build a Fancy Farmhouse Table

[Hassin Bin Sober]

http://ana-white.com/2012/06/plans/fancy-x-farmhouse-table


I must admit, when my friends told me they wanted me to build this, I groused and moaned about working with two by four construction lumber. But the end product turned out pretty good. I'm sold.

We didn't use treated lumber mainly because it twists and warps too much. And this is going on a covered porch. Either way, I would rather not use treated and stain/urethane the piece instead.

The plans didn't include a design for the benches. We used the same design for the feet and table support piece and used solid left over 2x10 for the legs - I didn't see how the "x" design could work for such a short run.


We made two tables and have enough material for 4 benches. Only one bench has been constructed so far. I think we spent about $270 for materials.

This is the first one. A full 8 feet. We shrunk the next one down to 6 feet.

[Adsos Letter]

1. I really like this.

Is that pine or fir?

I like the look you got with the stain. Question: have you ever used a stain controller for woods like pine and fir?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

2. It's off the shelf 2 by lumber from Lowes. Pine.

If you look on their website, some people used cedar and fir etc.


My buddy stained it this weekend. I recommended a wiping non penetrating stain. It looks like he opted for regular old minwax - which is ok. I was worried a penetrating stain might show glue spots if he didn't sand thoroughly enough. I think I see a few spots but this can always be touched up with a pen.

I haven't talked to him so I'm not sure if he treated the wood. I had him text me a picture tonight. He says the picture doesn't do the finish justice so he sounds happy.

I can't remember the last time I stained pine. I work mostly with oak or cherry. I think I treated pine once a long long time ago. Mostly I'm just lazy and would probably skip that step for something like this.

If I did it again, I would make all the cuts per the cut list. I was a little bit skeptical the thing would turn out well so we built one and assembled it as we made cuts. Wasted a lot of time.

The second one went a lot quicker because we followed her instructions.

We didn't use any pocket hole screws. I put my foot down on that. I've had terrible luck pocket hole screwing soft 2 by lumber. It wasn't necessary anyway.

I think she has a relationship with the Kreg pocket hole tool people.

The design hides most all the fasteners. With the screws and a liberal amount of exterior grade glue, I think it will hold up.

[jeff47]

3. One suggestion for anyone who wants to put it in the weather

If someone wants to do the same but it will be exposed to weather, make the top similar to how a deck is built - put about a 16d nail's space between the boards. It gives room for expansion and contraction, and also rain drains through the gaps.

It is also much, much harder to seal properly, so you probably would need treated lumber. Age it in a dry place for at least 3 months, preferably a year, to make the wood workable....or just live with the warping.

[roguevalley]

4. I saw one where you paint a table the color you want, then lay slats from pallets side by side. then

you can verathane it or not.

[trueblue2007]

5. it is wonderful. good job