| Once you have located the right DIY coffee table | | | | Construction |
| plans, completion of your project will take just a few | | | | Read any woodworking plans completely before |
| hours. Coffee tables can be created with just a few | | | | starting the project. DIY coffee table plans, like other |
| supplies and tools, many of which you probably | | | | woodworking plans, will include a list of the necessary |
| already have on hand. Then some stain, varnish or | | | | materials, tools and finishing products. Before starting, |
| paint and you're done. In fact, the longest time involved | | | | assemble the necessary wood, fasteners, hinges and |
| may be choosing the style of table that you want to | | | | tools to complete the project. It is frustrating to be half |
| build. | | | | way through a project only to find out that you need |
| Plans | | | | to run to the hardware store. |
| Table plans range from simple to complex. Many plans | | | | Finishing your Project |
| indicate the skill level needed to complete the project. | | | | Before you begin constructing your table, you should |
| Beginners should choose plans that will allow | | | | have selected a finish. Regardless of what type of |
| inexpensive wood to be used. That way if a mistake | | | | finish you have chosen, sanding and applying the finish |
| is made, it will not be a costly one to replace the | | | | before you start constructing is the proper way to do |
| miss-cut section. | | | | it. Using this method you can sand hard to reach |
| Intermediate and Expert level woodworkers started | | | | places like inside corners or around spindles. Once |
| out by completing simple projects. Each completed | | | | constructed, the coffee table will have a professional |
| project adds new skills. The availability of pre-cut | | | | look if finishing occurs before assembly. |
| wood, spindles and routed trim will allow beginners to | | | | Recycled Materials |
| tackle some of the more complex coffee tables plans | | | | There are many recycled materials that can be |
| with ease. | | | | recycled into beautiful pieces of furniture. With good |
| Wood Choices | | | | coffee table plans, you can use wooden freight pallets |
| The type of wood that you choose to use to build | | | | to build a table with drawers or hidden compartments. |
| your coffee table may be determined by what type of | | | | Drop leaf coffee tables made from recycled barn |
| table you are making. If it will be holding a significant | | | | timbers or salvaged wainscot from an abandoned |
| amount of weight, a hardwood would be the best to | | | | house might become a treasured family heirloom. |
| use. Cypress, oak and walnut are three strong woods | | | | Once you get started using recyclable materials with |
| that have tight grains and accept stain and varnish well. | | | | which to build, you may run out of room before you |
| Tables with spindle legs like a butler's table can be | | | | run out of projects. |
| made from softwoods. Softwoods like maple, ash and | | | | Choosing to build a coffee table is a way to be |
| poplar are light in color but can be stained to match | | | | introduced to the joys of woodworking. By starting |
| wood floors or existing furniture finishes. Beginners | | | | with coffee table plans first, more detailed and difficult |
| may want to use pine, as it is inexpensive and easy to | | | | projects will be easy. |
| work with. | | | | |