How to Build a Square Table Out of Two-by-Fours

Making the Tabletop and Legs

• 1

  Lay a plank of 20-inch 2-by-4 lumber flat on the work surface, with a 4-inch face against the work surface.

• 2

  Apply wood glue to one of the 2-inch edges of the lumber plank. Abut a second plank of 20-inch 2-by-4 lumber against the glued edge of the first piece and press the planks together.

• 3

  Apply wood glue to the outer 2-inch edge of the second 2-by-4 plank, and abut a third plank against the glued edge. Repeat twice more so you have five 20-inch planks of 2-by-4 lumber glued together side by side, creating the tabletop, which is a 20-by-20-inch square. Use F-clamps to hold the pieces together while the glue dries.

• 4

  Glue five planks of 18-inch 2-by-4 lumber together in the same manner as you did for the tabletop. Repeat again, so you have two sets of five glued 18-inch lumber, which will be the legs of the square table. Set them in F-clamps while the glue dries.

Sanding and Finishing

• 5

  Sand the tabletop and leg panels with a sander, as well as the two remaining planks of 20-inch 2-by-4, which are the support planks for the underside of the tabletop.

• 6

  Brush off all the sanding dust from the tabletop and leg panels with a clean rag.

• 7

  Finish the tabletop, support planks and leg panels with your chosen wood finish. Applying finish before you assemble the table ensures a more even coat of the finish, and is easier to apply when the panels are flat on the work surface. Let dry thoroughly before assembly.

Assembling the Table

• 8

  Lay the tabletop flat onto the work surface with the underside facing upward.

• 9

  Stand the two leg panels up at right angles on top of the tabletop. The planks that make up the leg panels should be lined up with the planks that make the tabletop. This not only adds a streamlined look to the aesthetics of the table, but helps secure the integrity of the tabletop planks as well.

• 10

  Glue the legs in position and then glue the two support planks into the corner created by the joint between the top of the legs and where they meet the underside of the table.

• 11

  Drill a pilot hole, sized for 2 3/4-inch wood screws, through the support planks into each plank that make up the tabletop, and each of the planks that make up the leg panels. Stagger the position of the pilot holes so that the screws going into the tabletop and the screws going into the legs do not collide. There will be 10 pilot holes per support plank.

• 12

  Drive the 2 3/4-inch screws into the pilot holes and turn the table over to stand it on its legs.