This cedar nesting end table is by Nathan from Nathan Builds and is not only stylish but also functional. Perfect for outdoor settings, this project is beginner-friendly and can be completed in just a few hours!
Materials Needed:
- Cedar 2×4 offcuts (or 1×4 and one picket)
- TotalBoat Thixo Fast Cure Epoxy (or outdoor rated wood glue)
- Brad nails
- Teak oil (for finishing)
Tools Required:
- Miter saw
- Table saw
- Track saw
- Kreg workstation
- Sandpaper
Step 1: Prepare the Wood
Start by cutting your cedar scraps into 1.5 by 1.5 inches. This will form the body of the table. You can see the initial drawings I made, though I made a few changes during the build process.
Step 2: Create the Legs
For the legs, I decided to use half lap joints for added stability. I cut three pieces for each leg, leaving them a bit longer than needed. After laying them out, I eyeballed the angle I wanted for the legs, which turned out close to my drawings.
Step 3: Cut the Joints
Next, trace the angle onto the foot and leg pieces before trimming the excess. Set your miter saw fence to the width of your stock and adjust the blade to half the height to make the crosscuts for the lap joints.
Step 4: Assemble the Base
Measure where the tabletop side stretcher will go based on the height of the lounger. I repeated the cuts for the bottom half lap to ensure everything fits perfectly. For assembly, I used TotalBoat Thixo fast curing epoxy, which is a bit sturdier than regular wood glue.
Step 5: Sand and Prepare
Once the epoxy cured, I sanded everything down and trimmed both feet to their final length. I also cut down three horizontal stretchers but ended up only needing two.
Step 6: Cut the Tabletop Slats
Next, measure and cut the tabletop slats. I’m reusing leftover slats from the last project, which are about an inch in width. I epoxied and clamped the bottom horizontal stretcher in place.
Step 7: Assemble the Tabletop
Before the epoxy cured, I attached the tabletop slats to ensure everything aligned correctly. This Kreg workstation has a nice clamping feature which helped keep everything flat while curing.
Step 8: Final Trimming
Once everything was cured, I used my track saw to trim the tabletop side stretchers flush, and also trimmed any slats that were a bit proud on the sides.
Step 9: Sanding and Finishing
Finally, I did some final sanding and applied a couple of coats of teak oil. This really made the color of the cedar pop!
This was a really fun and quick project that only took a few hours to complete. I love how the angles of the sides mirror those in the lounger, creating a cohesive look for my outdoor space.
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