Dining Room Table

One of my friends came over and fell in loveeee with our herringbone dining room table. Soon after, she asked me to help her build a table for her dining room and of course I said yes!! She showed me some inspiration pics, ordered some beautiful table legs, and we got to work!

Here was the inspiration for her dining room!!

TOOLS

Miter Saw or Circle Saw

Tape Measure

Speed Square

Kreg Jig w/ drill bit

2 1/2″ Pocket screws

1 1/4″ Pocket screws

Cordless Drill

Nailer with 1 1/4″ Brad Nails

Wood Glue

Wood Filler

Putty Knife

Hand Sander

Sanding Paper

Water Based Pre Stain Wood Conditioner

Stain

Water Based Polyurethane

Poly Brush

Rags (for wood conditioner & staining)

LUMBER LIST

(#)	DIMENSION
(3)	2″ x 4″ x 8′ (4 Supports)
(1)	2″ x 2″ x 8′ (2 Middle Support)
(3)	1″ x 2″ x 8′ Poplar (Table Trim)
(4)	1″ x 8″ x 8′ Poplar board (Table Top)
(2)	1″ x 6″ x 8′ Poplar board (Table Top)
(4)	Table legs (Found on Etsy)

CUT LIST

(#)	WOOD	LENGTH
(2)	2″ x 4″	@ 60″ (Long Supports)
(2)	2″ x 4″	@ 27 1/2″ (Short Support)
(2)	2″ x 2″	@ TBD (Middle Support)
(4)	1″ x 8″	@ 72 1/2″ (Table Top)
(2)	1″ x 6″	@ 72 1/2″ (Table Top)
(2)	1″ x 2″	@ 74″ (Long Table Trim 45 degree long end to long end)
(2)	1″ x 2″	@ 41 1/2″ (Short Table Trim 45 degree long end to long end)
(4)	Table legs	5 1/4″ x 5 1/4″ (Square base)

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Cost: Overall the dining room table cost $420!! (Including: lumber, table legs, sanding/staining supplies, wood glue, wood filler & screws)

STEP 1: CUT MATERIALS

The cut list above is based off a table size 74″ (L) X 41 1/2″ (W) X 30″ (H) with 5 1/4″ x 5 1/4″ leg bases. My friend found the unique table legs on Etsy and they were each about 29″ long.

STEP 2: DRILL POCKET HOLES

For a video on kreg jig instructions click HERE.

For your 1″ x 6″ and 1″ x 8″ boards set your kreg jig and drill bit to 3/4″ depth. Drill 5-6 pocket holes in each board making sure to stagger the screws like the picture below.

For your 2″ x 4″ support pieces and 2″ x 2″ middle supports, set your kreg jig and drill bit to 1 1/2″ depth. For each of the 4 (2″ x 4″) supports, you should have 2 holes in each end and 2-3 holes along the bottom (see picture below). For the two middle supports (2″ x 2″) you only need 1 hole in each end and 2-3 holes along the bottom.

STEP 3: ASSEMBLE TABLE TOP

Use wood glue and 1 1/4″ screws to secure each of the boards together. Make sure all of your boards are flush at the ends.

STEP 4: ASSEMBLE TABLE LEGS AND SUPPORTS

Use wood glue and your 2 1/2″ screws to secure the 2″ x 4″ supports to the table legs. I marked a 1/4″ gap on the table legs so instead of the 2″ x 4″ being flush with the table leg there is a little gap. Make sure that your pocket holes along the top of the 2″ x 4″ supports are facing down so that you can drill the screws down into the table top.

STEP 5: INSTALL MIDDLE SUPPORTS

Measure and cut your middle supports. Drill two pocket holes in each end and 2-3 holes along the bottom and screw them into your side supports using 1 1/4″ screws.

STEP 6: ATTACH TABLE TOP

Center the table base on your table top and make sure to check measurements all around. Our table has a 1″ gap on all corners (table leg to end of table measurement). Secure your base to the table top by drilling the 1 1/4″ screws in the pocket holes that you made in each of your support pieces.

STEP 7: NAIL ON TRIM

We cut the trim to size using a 45 degree angle on the miter saw so the corners meet perfectly. Use wood glue and a nailer (1 1/4″ brad nails) to nail the edging into your table top. Don’t worry if there are gaps in your edging and the table top, or in the corners. You can fill in these gaps with wood filler. (Pic from my herringbone table)

STEP 8: FILL HOLES / CRACKS

Use wood filler and a putty knife to fill in all the cracks, and gaps in your table top. Also fill in any little nail holes that are visible. This wood filler goes on pink and dries clear. (Pic from my herringbone table)

STEP 9: SAND Dining Room Table

Sand the entire surface of the table using a hand sander. Use a piece of sand paper to sand the table legs. Start with rough grit then work to fine grit. Be sure to get all the corners so they aren’t as sharp.

STEP 10: STAIN OR PAINT!

We first used a pre stain wood conditioner, stain, then a polyurethane. Follow directions on each can. I used the Natural stain for my herringbone table and my friend used Early American stain and a satin polyurethane so her dining room table has a medium to low sheen finish.