This project was designed and built by Matthew from Build It Make It, who made a beautiful walnut table for his sister’s new home.
Materials and Tools Needed:
- Two 12-foot long pieces of walnut (8/4 thick, 10.5 inches wide)
- African mahogany for the base
- Quick-setting epoxy (West Systems)
- Super glue
- Baking soda
- Rubio Monocoat finish
- Chalk paint (Rust-Oleum charcoal)
- Figure eight fasteners
- Clamps
- Router sled
- Planer
- Self-centering drill bit
- Sandpaper (various grits, including 60 and 220)
Step 1: Selecting and Preparing the Wood
Matthew visited the lumber store with his sister to select the perfect wood for their project. They chose two pieces of walnut that were thick and wide enough to create the entire tabletop.
Step 2: Flattening the Boards
Since the walnut boards were too wide for his jointer, Matthew used a router sled he built to flatten one side of each board. This ensures a smooth surface for gluing later.
Step 3: Planing the Boards
After flattening, the boards were run through the planer to achieve a uniform thickness. Matthew was pleased with the results, as the wood looked fantastic.
Step 4: Gluing the Tabletop
Once the boards were prepared, Matthew laid them out in the desired order and direction. He sanded a couple of boards with 320 grit sandpaper to create sawdust, which would help hide any glue squeeze-out during the assembly.
Step 5: Flattening the Top and Bottom of the Table
Matthew decided to flatten both the top and bottom of the table using the router sled, ensuring a perfectly level surface.
Step 6: Filling Knot Holes with Epoxy
Before moving on, he taped over the visible knots and poured epoxy into the holes to fill them. This not only adds to the aesthetic but also strengthens the table.
Step 7: Sanding and Filling Minor Voids
After the epoxy cured, Matthew sanded the entire tabletop with 60 grit paper. He also filled any remaining voids with super glue mixed with baking soda to create a strong, dark filler.
Step 8: Cutting the Tabletop to Size
To ensure the table would fit in his truck for delivery, Matthew cut the tabletop down to five and a half feet long.
Step 9: Routing the Edges
He used a router to create a chamfer on the edges, giving the table a refined look while keeping the thickness of the top.
Step 10: Applying the Finish
Matthew sanded the tabletop to 220 grit and applied a Rubio Monocoat finish, which enhances the walnut’s natural beauty.
Step 11: Building the Table Base
For the base, he used African mahogany. After cutting and tapering the legs, he painted the base with chalk paint to match his sister’s decor.
Step 12: Assembling the Table
Matthew used figure eight fasteners to attach the tabletop to the base, allowing for wood movement. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the table as it expands and contracts with humidity changes.
Step 13: Final Touches and Delivery
After attaching the legs and adding pads, the table was fully assembled and ready for delivery. Matthew was excited to see how it looked in his sister’s home.
Conclusion
This custom walnut dining room table not only serves as a functional piece of furniture but also as a beautiful gift that celebrates family. If you enjoyed this project and want to try it yourself, be sure to check out Matthew’s plans!