Simple pine table

[warrenp]

Hey gang. Here is my latest pine project which turned out much better than I had expected. This was the first miter that I have cut, not too bad. And I also built one of the mortise jigs to use with my router which made a HUGE difference in the joints.

The finish is painted which is not my usual preference, but the LOML designed and chose the paint and tile. We won't grout the tile until the paint dries for a couple of weeks.

The genesis of this project was the tiffany lamp that my stepdaughter gave us for Christmas and we didn't have a table to place it on, so I volunteered to build the table.

Anyway...learned quite a bit on this project. The first paint we used turned out to be a disaster and I had to sand it back down for a repaint.

I have had lots of hobbies, but I get more satisfaction out of woodworking than most of the others. I think this is because I can create useful objects that people will appreciate. Besides, where else can I get custom made furniture that is designed to fit right into a spot.

Note...this is not the final location...I just placed the lamp on the table for pictures. And I didn't build that small table beside the main one...I always pick up those simple pine pieces at the local festivals. Just something about them that appeals to me.

Anyway...let me know if you have any questions or constructive feedback.

Warren

[DaveW]

Nice! I wouldn't have guessed pine...

hmm.. maybe that's the direction I need to head! Of course, personally, I hate painting - I can't do it if my life depended on it! Any tips about the painting? (i.e., what was the first one, and why was it bad? what did you use the second time around?)

[ChrisD]

Nice work, Warren! A fitting home for a beautiful lamp. Your bride has a good eye for colors: I think the paint matches the lamp's base as well as the tile complements the glasswork.

You're certainly right about the satisfaction one derives from woodworking, especially when the final product turns out the way you envisioned it. And, in your case, it turned out even better!

Pine has a special place with me, too. My very first project was a bed made of construction-grade pine lumber. The client I built it for, who's 12 now, said someday his own kid(s) (a.k.a. my future grandchildren) will get to use it.

[JR]

Very nice! That tile is cool, going nicely with the lamp.

Yeah, painting is not the woodworker's first choice. But then most of our projects our not of our choice, either! It turned out really nice in this case.

JR

[crokett]

I like that Lamp. I would not have thought the table was pine either. Very nice work indeed.

[warrenp]

Dave,
I have also never liked the results of my painting, but this came out great.

Result was definitely trial and error. You should have seen the first pass. Anyone could get the results from the second pass after the paint pro over at HD told me what to use.

First, paint is latex which I would not have thought could give such a nice finish. Now by nice finish, it is not shiny smooth...it feels and looks a bit satiny with a very slight shine. Although Linda picked out the finish, my goal was to get that old-style brown finish.

Second, apply a good primer using a brush. I used Rustoleum Painters Touch Primer.

Third, DON'T use Rustoleum Painters Touch Kona Brown Paint. I tried several application approaches and it simply looked like a glaze with lots of streaks. That was sanded smooth and another coat of primer was applied.

Third (pass two), get a good quality latex paint and have the tint added. I used Glidden Evermore Semigloss Latex paint and applied it with a mini-roller that was about 1" thick at the suggestion of the HD expert.

Roll on two coats of paint and it will look great.

It was quite easy the second time around.

Although I really appreciate finely finished furniture, my nature is to design and build a project quickly. Geterdone as they say. I really don't like to have structural and machining flaws in my finished products, but I don't usually take the time to get them perfectly finished. In face, if you look carefully at the table, there are even some small open knotholes (1/4") on the legs. They were cut from a piece of 2x8 construction pine that I pulled out of the HD scrap bin for a $1.01.

The most expensive part of the project was (grin) buying a full sheet of 3/4" birch ply for the mortising jig. No, it didn't take anywhere near the full sheet, but it was cheaper in the long run to buy a sheet and have it cut small enough to fit in the car. And the most expensive part of the table was by far the tile top. That glass tile probably cost about $35.

Another advantage of building pine pieces is that I can build more things. Most of my family couldn't afford to spend hundreds of dollars for hardwood projects. So I get to build nice pieces that family can afford (or I can afford to build for them) and it satisfies my need to create sawdust.

Warren

[Turaj]

Very nice work Warren! I think you / your wife did a great job with the colour / tile!!

[John Hunter]

Very nice.

[Ed62]

Looks like a perfect home for what might have been a lonely, but beautiful lamp.

Ed

[Ken Massingale]

Very, very nice, Warren.
ken

[mater]

Very nice work and beautiful finish.

[GPA61]

Very nice looking table.

[Popeye]

Very nice, good looking lamp too. Pat

[lcm1947]

I agree, you can build several items out of pine for what one piece out of Red Oak would cost you. Now maybe one of these days when I get really good I might try a more expensive wood but for now I'm with you Warren, pines the way to go and it works so easy too. Great looking table. You should be proud of it as I'm sure you are by the way talk. Good job!

[warrenp]

Thanks for the kudos.

Warren