How to Build a Pier Coffee Table

Tables in any room of the house have the potential to either set off the room dcor or clash with it. To be certain that your coffee table looks like you want, the best way is to design and build your own. This way you are certain that the design and even the color or patterns on the table will match the room's dcor perfectly. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Measure up from one the end of one western cedar post 19 inches and make a mark. Place that post on the table of the electric miter saw and cut at a 45 angle, leaving the 19 inch mark the longest point.

2

Measure from the point of the miter on the leftover post 40 inches and make a mark. Cut a 45 angle towards the inside of the 40-inch mark. Next, measure from the point of the leftover post down 19 inches and make a mark. Set the electric miter saw on zero and cut the post off square. Repeat steps one and two with another post. With the remaining post, cut two pieces 29 inches long.

3

Turn the two 40-inch pieces so that the miters are facing down. Make two marks from the pointed edge inward at 2 inches. Drill pilot holes on those marks into the miter. Do this for both ends of the 40-inch pieces.

4

Place the mitered pieces on a table in such a way that you have two of the 19-inch pieces coupled with one of the 40-inch pieces. Apply some glue to one of the miters on a 19-inch piece, join it with one of the miters on the 40-inch piece and then secure it with the 10d finish nails. Repeat this for all the remaining pieces.

5

Lay the u-shaped frame on its side and drill one hole on either side of the miter joint. Be certain this hole goes all the way through the post. Now, stand the frame up so that the two 19-inch legs are sticking up.

6




Apply some glue to one end of a 29-inch piece, place it against the miter and then secure it to the miter with the 6-inch wood screws. Repeat this on the other end of the u-shaped frame and then secure it to the other u-shaped frame. Stand the table frame upright and run the router with the -inch rabbeting router bit around the inside perimeter. This will be where your plywood top fits.

7

Set the fence of the table saw at 34 inches. Cut the -inch plywood across the grain. Next, set the table saw at 30 inches and rip the piece you just cut. This will leave you with a piece of plywood that is 34 by 30 inches. Run some glue around the inside of the groove you cut with a router and place the plywood on the table frame. Drill pilot holes around the perimeter of the plywood and then secure it with 6d finish nails.