Build Your Own Tables

Image Gallery In one weekend you can build a sturdy, useful kitchen table. LEN CHURCHILL

Want a great table? Build it yourself! Thanks to innovations in construction materials, joinery systems and wood finishes, it’s never been easier to make a durable, beautiful and inexpensive wooden table in just one weekend.

Every table has at least three kinds of parts: legs, aprons and a top. But before you begin preparing any of these, start with some design work. When it comes to the height, width and length of your table, you’ll find it helpful to remember a few standard dimensions as you sketch ideas and refine your design. Most kitchen tables are about 30 to 32 inches high. Width should be at least 34 inches, with 34 to 38 inches of perimeter length for each person’s seating comfort. A coffee table is usually 16 to 18 inches high; a bedside table works well at 26 to 28 inches tall.

Click here for a downloadable illustration of the table dimensions.

The thickness of the tabletop depends on the material you are using and the size of the table being built. Three-quarter-inch-thick plywood makes a pretty good tabletop for most applications, though it does look thin on large designs. If you are using dimension lumber, three-quarter-inch thick is good for small tables — up to about 18 by 24 inches; 1-inch lumber is fine for medium size tables, up to approximately 24 by 36 inches. Anything larger should be 1 1⁄4 to 1 1⁄2 inches thick.

Click here to view the downloadable construction illustration of four examples of joining the table legs to the apron pieces, plus detail on attaching the legs and top.

Start at the Top

You can choose from several potential tabletop materials. The one that makes the most sense depends on the tools and skills you have, the size of table you’re planning to construct and your preferences for the design.

Veneered plywood and particleboard offer the easiest way to build a tabletop because these sheet materials come ready to finish after just a light sanding. Building supply outlets will even cut sheets to your specifications — a big help if you don’t own a table saw. On the downside, fancy veneered plywood is often more expensive than a similar amount of rough-cut lumber, and it isn’t commonly available in thicknesses greater than three-quarters of an inch. That’s too thin for the best appearance on all but the smallest tables, though there’s a way to make plywood look a lot thicker than it really is.