🖼️
The project:
The entrance/living space of my house had a tricky layout and needed a creative solution. Using merbau timbers on the bottom half and a slab of camphor as the table top I created an earthy entry table/ shoe rack that perfectly separated these two spaces. It's used for shoes and keys as you enter and drinks when you are on the couch.
To elevate the style of the merbau timber used in the legs and rack it was given a round flush trim route. Camphor was coated with tung oil for a satin finish.
- Materials:
42x42 Merbau timber for vertical legs and horizontonal supports
https://www.bunnings.com.au/specrite-42-x-42mm-2-7m-merbau-pre-oiled-solid-screening_p0517074
70x19mm Merbau for between shoe rack
https://www.bunnings.com.au/specrite-70-x-19mm-2-7m-merbau-pre-oiled-solid-screening_p0517075
Camphor locally sourced for the table top
Black British paints for the bottom half
https://www.bunnings.com.au/british-paints-4-seasons-black-low-sheen-exterior-paint-1l_p0207105?store=8199&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21119565770&gbraid=0AAAAADtbEB8aad55tYOsfpON21OdB5N5b&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6_HSBhCpARIsANvVltZT2slydNeeOgb3FEL5pgKuI_T-beLSeTIWKpfMGx8XmglsUCYcv7caAoPNEALw_wcB
Tung oil for satin finish
https://www.bunnings.com.au/gilly-s-250ml-100-pure-tung-oil_p0329965?store=8199&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21119565770&gbraid=0AAAAADtbEB8aad55tYOsfpON21OdB5N5b&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6_HSBhCpARIsANvVltaB7tOUo3ZwgmL2HYLUgAoz76IgSQ2E0yi5NcLo7iJSCXfyIm29yzEaAtNcEALw_wcB
Various timber screws, screw head caps, and felt stick on circles
- Tools:
Makita Circular saw
Rafter square
Makita Drill
Makita Trimmer
- Step 1:
Optional- I started by using a trimmer and flush trim rounded bit I further rounded the edges of the 42x42 and 19x42 merbau. I chose to do this as I love a soft round finish but it is completely optional as the edges are already prepped.
This should be done before cutting timbers to length as the edges are more likely to end up imperfect than the the centers
- Step 2:
I routed out the length of 42x42 That I was using on the horizontal shoe rack at the bottom of the table.
The route was 20mm wide and 5-10mm deep. Just enough to slide the decking boards in later
- Step 3:
Cut all the timbers to length. I chose all the measurements so that my tabletop would just lip over the top of the couch. I made the table with about a 20mm overhang on the tabletop to the legs. This varies due to the live edge timber.
- Step 4:
Pre drill and assemble the legs. On the shoe rack I only used timber glue for the slats as I didn't want to see nails or screws and because they were routed into slots and couldn't fall out.
The rest was pre drilled and used with Phillips timber screws. Pre drilling is essential for the merbau and the hardwood can split.
- Step 5:
Paint the legs of the table and follow the instructions on the bottle of tung oil to seal the tabletop.
- Step 6:
Attach the legs and the table top. I screwed up into the table top so the screws are not visible
I covered all screws with push in screw covers. I added felt stick on bottoms to the legs.
The table was surprisingly sturdy and doesn't have any wobble despite how skinny it is. If there is a wobble however make sure you level all the legs to suit the floor where it's going. Your project may be perfect but the floor may not be.
