DIY Slatted Wood Coffee Tables

Making your own coffee table is not only a satisfying do-it-yourself challenge, but it also provides a talking piece in the lounge room, as you can tell guests proudly "I made it myself." If a suitable piece of timber for a whole table top is unavailable, or too expensive, you can always make a slatted coffee table that is just as simple -- and attractive, as well. A DIY slatted coffee table should be straightforward for someone with a bit of woodworking experience, but is more than manageable for a novice as well.

Lumber, 2-by-4 inch
Lumber, 2-by-2 inch
Lumber, 1-by-3 inch
Saw
Carpenters glue
Clamps
Drill
8 wood screws, 2 3/4 inch
Chisel
4 carriage bolts, 6 inches
4 washers
4 wing-nuts
20 wood screws, 1 5/8 inch
Wood putty
Sander
Paint/varnish

Instructions

- 1
  Cut the 2-by-4 lumber into two lengths of 32 inches and two lengths of 16 inches for the tabletop rails. Cut the 2-by-2 lumber into four lengths of 16 inches for the legs, and two lengths of 8 inches for corner braces. Cut the 1-by-3 lumber into 10 lengths at 22 inches for the table top slats. Miter -- cut on a bias -- the ends of the 8-inch corner braces to 45 degrees.
- 2
  Arrange the tabletop rails into a rectangle, with the lumber sitting on its 2-inch face. The ends of the rails should touch to form 90-degree corners on the inner edge, and leave a space between the outer ends where the table legs can fit.
- 3
  Glue and clamp the corner braces into each of the corners formed by the table rails. Let dry for an hour.
- 4
  Drill a pilot hole, sized to fit the wood screws, into each end of the corner braces. Screw the corner braces into the rail pieces, securing the rails together.
- 5
  Divide one end of all the leg pieces into quadrants measuring 1 square inch. Divide one quadrant in half diagonally, creating a triangle with one of the corners of the legs. Chisel out along the diagonal line, chiseling 3 inches down the leg to create a flat plane on which to bolt the legs to the table rails.
- 6
  Insert the legs into the spaces between the tabletop rail ends, with the flat chiseled planes facing outward next to the rails. Glue and clamp in place and let dry.
- 7
  Drill a pilot hole, sized to fit the carriage bolts, through the center of the flat plane on the legs, into and through the corner brace on the inside of the table rails. Bolt the legs onto the table rails, securing the bolt with washers and wing nuts against the corner braces.
- 8
  Invert the table, so that it is standing on its legs. Evenly space the slats over the rails, with the two edge slats extending an inch over the edge of the 16-inch rails. The slats should have a 2-inch lip over both ends and about 1/2 inch of space between them. Secure the slats in place with a 1 5/8-inch wood screw through each end into the table rail.
- 9
  Apply wood putty to the screw holes, then sand the table once the putty is dry. Paint or varnish as desired.

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