Hardwood Floor Topped Table Tutorial

Remember my Husband-Made Kitchen Table?

At long last, we finally have some instructions on how to create one yourself! Unlike the Barn Door Track, this project could probably be finished by a beginner, or at least someone who has used these tools on smaller projects a time or two.

The base of the table was inspired by this tutorial on The Art Of Manliness, but we modified it to give us enough space to seat one person at each end of the table. We also opted not to paint the bolts because we liked the look of the exposed hardware.

Tools and materials for the table base:

Nail gun
Wood glue
Table saw
Miter saw
Wood chisel
Drill,  3/8″ drill bit and 1/4″ drill bit
Ratchet set
(8) 3/8 x 6 lag screws
(8) 3/8 x 3 lag screws
(16) 3/8 washers
1 box 1 1/4″ wood screws
(3) 4″ x 4″ x 8′ solid wood pieces
(3) 2″ x 4″ x 8′ solid wood pieces  

The diagram below will give you a visual of how to cut the wood and put it all together (click on it to see it larger). For more specific instructions on how to piece the base together and cut the notches, please refer to the original tutorial on The Art of Manliness. 

*Note- To prevent splitting your 2x4s when attaching the legs to the top of the base, drill a 3/8″ pilot hole through the 4×4. Hold the 2×4 flush against the 4×4, then use a 1/4″ drill bit, and drill through the 3/8″ pilot hole to create a smaller 1/4″ pilot hole with a 2.5″ depth for the 2x4s.

The top of the table is made from leftover hardwood flooring pieces (from the floor we installed last year).

Click through if you’re on my homepage to see the 2nd half of the tutorial.

Click on the image to see it larger.

Tools and materials needed for the table top:

Nail gun
Miter saw
Table saw
Finishing sander
Wood filler
Wood glue
10 90 degree angle brackets (we used these)
Hardwood flooring pieces

Start by having the hardware/lumber store cut your plywood to size. See diagram above for dimensions.

If you don’t already have hardwood flooring lying around from a previous project, you’ll have to buy about 25 sq. feet of it. We used utility grade hardwood (which is the least expensive option), but you can use whatever you’d like as long as it’s real hardwood flooring.

Apply glue to the plywood, and then adhere the flooring pieces to the plywood, using your nail gun, like you would if you were installing it on the floor.

Continue row by row, making end cuts where needed to keep it the size of the plywood piece.

Take a piece of hardwood flooring (or 2 or more, if needed*) that is the length or width or the table, and rip it down to 1.5 inches wide. Line it up to the side of the table top, glue and nail it down.

*You may not wind up with hardwood flooring pieces that are long enough to edge the table, so you’ll have to take 2 or more pieces and join them to match the total length or width of the table.

We made a 45 degree corner cut at the end of each edge piece for cleaner corners, but you can choose to leave the ends flat. Just adjust the length of the other edge pieces to account for that.

Use your wood filler to fill in any cracks and holes in the table top. We use the JB Weld Kwik Wood Epoxy/Putty stick for large holes.

Sand the table top. We started with 60, then sanded again at 80, and finally at 120 grit sandpaper.

Clean it well, then stain to your liking. For our table, we used Minwax Ebony stain, followed by Minwax English Chestnut. Then we applied 3 coats of Minwax semi-gloss polyurethane.

After the final coat of polyurethane is completely dry, do a light sand with 220+ grit sandpaper.

To attach the table top to the base, lay the table top face down on the floor, then center your upside down base on top of it.

Here’s a view of ours upright, taken from underneath.

Use 2 90 degree angle brackets (like these), to attach the base to the table top on each long side, and one on each short side.

Use the other 4 angle brackets to secure the legs to the top of the base, like this:

Add family, and enjoy!