A modern coffee table with a solid hardwood top and tapered legs. This project introduces mortise and tenon joinery and teaches proper table construction techniques.
| PIECE | QUANTITY | DIMENSIONS |
|---|---|---|
| Table top boards | 4 | 3/4" x 5" x 42" |
| Legs | 4 | 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" x 16" |
| Long aprons | 2 | 3/4" x 4" x 34" |
| Short aprons | 2 | 3/4" x 4" x 14" |
Mill all lumber to final thickness: 3/4" for top and aprons, 1-1/2" square for legs.
Glue up table top boards edge-to-edge. Use biscuits or dowels for alignment.
Once dry, flatten top with hand plane or sander. Cut to final dimensions: 20" x 40".
Cut mortises in legs for apron tenons. Mortises should be 1/4" thick, 2-1/2" long, centered on leg.
Cut tenons on apron ends to fit mortises. Test fit should be snug but not forced.
Taper legs on two inside faces, from 1-1/2" at top to 1" at bottom.
Dry-fit entire base assembly to check all joints.
Glue and clamp base assembly. Check for square and flat.
Once dry, sand base smooth and ease all sharp edges.
Attach top to base using table top fasteners in grooves routed in aprons.
Sand top through grits up to 220.
Apply finish to all surfaces.
For a natural look, use Danish oil or tung oil. For more protection, apply 3-4 coats of wipe-on polyurethane, sanding lightly between coats with 320 grit. The top surface should be especially durable to withstand daily use.