I enjoy making custom wood furniture and was at one of the local cafes and asked if I could make a round custom dining table. My initial response was that I don’t have the tools to do that. However with a little thought and research I figured out a great way to make a solid durable custom table.
The custom table needed to seat 6 people research showed that a 48” round table would work perfectly. I decided to make the round table out of prime 2×4 lumber, so I purchased eight standard 96″ lengths, some high quality outdoor wood glue and lots of 3 Inch screws.
Using the table saw I cut the lengths in half to give the 48” required for the custom tabletop. Then laid the wood on the floor with the best side facing up, arranging the grain or knots in an aesthetically pleasing way.
To make the table, I started by drilling 3 holes about half way through the 2nd piece of wood to give the 3” screws the correct penetration. I then applied a line of glue, slid the wood back and forth to spread the glue evenly. Then securely tightened the 3 screws into holes I’d drilled. To keep the table flat, I then screwed two lengths of wood perpendicular to the bottom piece, allowing the following pieces to be attached easily and ensuring a flat table. Then repeated the steps for each of the 14 pieces to make a 48” x 49” rectangle. The custom tabletop was then left overnight to allow the glue to fully cure.
I measured to find the center and drilled a half inch hole for the pivot point. The jig is set up by mounting a vice to a saw horse and securing a half inch bolt into the vice. Then a washer is placed on the bolt to reduce friction and allow the tabletop to rotate freely over the saw blade. The bolt position was then adjusted to be the same height as the table saw and 24″ away from the blade to create the 48” wide custom tabletop.
With the blade fully retracted, the custom tabletop was placed on to the bolt and rotated several times and check to spacing. The distance between the center bolt and the blade was fine tuned to make sure the custom table would be as big as possible. I raised the saw blade slightly until it came in contact with the wood then rotated the tabletop 360° to start the cutting process. Raising the saw blade a approximately ¼” after each full rotation. Eventually the blade cut all the way through the custom tabletop providing a perfectly round circle.
With the custom tabletop still attached to the jig I started sanding the edge. Then slowly rotating the tabletop, providing a smooth finish. Sanding the entire upper surface of the custom table top provided a nice smooth finish. The process repeated on both side until the table was smooth and free from splinters. If required you could also add a routed edge at this point.
There
was a small amount of give in the table from the joins. It was strengthened to by attaching 2 pieces of 2×4 to the base to make the custom table completely solid. They were angled to the end to be aesthetically pleasing, then sanded, glued and screwed in place.
There are several options for protecting the wood. Personal preference, use and final location of the custom tabletop, would determine the level of prep and finished used. Some of the more common options include, wax, oil, varnish, stain, lacquer or paint.
Here is a photo of the table that I made. It is in Cafe Central in Bradenton
If you have any questions about custom wood furniture please let me know in the comment section. Would you would like me to make you a custom tabletop or other rustic piece or furniture? Please email paul@thehandybrit.com or call 813-624-2586.
You may also want to check out the smaller custom table, perfect for a coffee table or plant stand.
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12 Month Labor Warranty
Nest Pro Installer
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Awarded Best of Florida
Nest Pro Installer
Local Veteran Owned and Operated
workers compensation exemption
12 Month Labor Warranty
$1,000,000 General Liability Insurance
