Among the most rewarding parts of working for this (and I would assume any) woodworking magazine is to build then write about a project, send an article out into the world, then have pictures come back to you of pieces others have built based on what you’ve published. And while we design and build pieces … Read more
Take the easy way out: Find sizes without measuring.
By Robert Lang
Pages 62-63
This small coffee table is a great introduction to building furniture. It doesn’t require much material and it’s an opportunity to develop your skills. This project is sturdy, attractive and easy to build. All of the parts come from standard widths of lumber. I used poplar from my local home center, and I made the table from one 6′-long piece of 1×8, one 8′ length of 1×6 and two 8′ lengths of 1×4.
Start by gluing the top from two pieces of 1×8 and one piece of 1×6. If you are cutting the parts from 6′- or 8′-long boards, leave them a couple of inches long, then trim them to the final length after the glue has dried.
The goal during glue-up is to keep the faces of the boards aligned. Use a couple straight strips of wood below for a level work surface and, if you need to, clamp straight pieces across the top and bottom to hold the edges in alignment while the glue dries.
Let the glue dry overnight, then trim the top to length. Clamp a straightedge across the top to guide your jigsaw or circular saw to make the cut. When the top is at its finished size, set the blade of your combination square at 2″ and draw lines in from each corner on the underside of the top.
Download the PDF of this article for the drawing and cutlist:
Contemporary Coffee Table
Video: Learn a quick and easy method for finding the center of an edge with a combination square.
Plan: Download a free SketchUp model for the “Contemporary Coffee Table.”
Articles: All the “I Can Do That” articles are free online.
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These 500 tables are more than just practical places to set a coffee cup or notepad; they’re inspired works of art. Esteemed juror Andrew Glasgow has selected a wide array of styles and forms, from pieces that showcase masterful woodwork to ones that feature alternative materials and aesthetic sensibilities.
Click here to buy this inspiring book.
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This is a model of a reproduction Gustav Stickley side table. Read more
This small Shaker style table is perfect as an end table or as a nightstand. Read more
A great way to try cold-bending, learn a new band-saw trick and fire up the hand-held power planer. By Christopher Schwarz Pages: 42-48 From the February 2004 issue #139 Buy this issue now Almost any discussion of the legendary furniture designs of Charles and Ray Eames begins with plywood that has been formed into seemingly … Read more
A one-of-a-kind table reappears after 100 years. By Robert W. Lang Pages: 56-61 From the November 2006 issue #158 Buy this issue now Most original Gustav Stickley furniture can be easily identified by model number. This was, after all, factory-made furniture and pieces were designed to be made in multiples. When you come across an … Read more
