How to Build a 16 x 16 Slate Top Side Table

Slate is a durable and attractive natural material. It is commonly used as a building material for flooring, walls and other home furnishings. Slate is an ideal material for a table top. To make your own slate side table, select blue or gray slate for the table top and maple for the base to create a stunning contrast. The slate top would measure 16-by-16-inches and the base would be 14-by-14-inches wide and 32 inches high.

8 maple boards, 1-by-3-inch, 14 inches long
Miter saw
Wood glue
2 frame strap clamps
4 maple boards, 2-by-2-inch, 32 inches long
Hammer
Box of finish nails
Nail set
Fine-grit sanding pad
Wood finish
Paintbrush
4 adhesive-backed rubber pads
Slate slab,16-by-16-inch, 3/4 inch thick

Instructions

- 1
  Lay one maple board with the 3-by-14-inch side flat on the table of the miter saw. Adjust the saw to cut a 45-degree angle. Cut each end at opposing 45-degree angles so that one side of the board has long points and measures 14 inches. The other side should be shorter. Cut the other seven 1-by-3-by-14-inch boards in the same manner.
- 2
  Place four 1-by-3-by-14-inch boards together to form a square. The 45-degree ends of the boards should fit together like a picture frame. Put the remaining four 1-by-3-by-14-inch boards together in the same manner.
- 3
  Apply wood glue to the ends that join together. Clamp each square assembly together with frame strap clamps. Allow the glue to dry for 24 hours and remove the clamps.
- 4
  Stand the 2-by-2-by-32-inch boards up vertically and rest them on one 2-by-2-inch end. Place one 2-by-2-by-32-inch board in each inside corner of one square. The ends of the 2-by-2-by-32-inch boards should be flush with the top side of the square. Hammer two evenly spaced finish nails through the square into each side of the 2-by-2-by-32-inch boards where they adjoin with the square.
- 5
  Fasten the second square about 16 inches up from the opposite ends of the 2-by-2-by-32-inch boards in the same manner as you fastened the first square in step 4.
- 6
  Center a nails set on the head of each finish nail and tap the end of it with a hammer to set each nail into the surface of the wood about 1/16 inch. Fill each nail hole with wood putty, using a putty knife. Allow the putty to dry for 24 hours. Sand the putty flush with the surface of the wood, using a fine-grit sanding pad.
- 7
  Brush an even coat of wood finish onto the table assembly with a paintbrush. Allow the finish to dry for four hours and apply a second coat.
- 8
  Stand the assembly upright so that the square at the ends of the 2-by-2-by-32-inch leg boards is facing up. Place an adhesive-backed rubber pad on the ends of the 2-by-2-by-32-inch leg boards. This will keep the slate top from sliding around.
- 9
  Center the slate slab over the ends of the leg boards and rest it on top of the rubber pads.

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