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Message
Building Coffee Table
Posted on 11/21/19 at 8:20 pm
Posted on 11/21/19 at 8:20 pm
So the wife wants a fancy coffee table that’s ~$700 therefore I’m going to try and build it.
The Color chosen is a dark walnut stain and the legs I got are a maple. They are 4x4 bulky balusters.
How careful do I need to be on choosing the wood for the rest of the table in order to match the finish? I was planning on just building the rest of it out with some poplar when I thought it was to be painted. Now with the dark maple I’m having second thoughts.
The Color chosen is a dark walnut stain and the legs I got are a maple. They are 4x4 bulky balusters.
How careful do I need to be on choosing the wood for the rest of the table in order to match the finish? I was planning on just building the rest of it out with some poplar when I thought it was to be painted. Now with the dark maple I’m having second thoughts.
5
Posted on 11/21/19 at 9:25 pm to eng08
If your staining you need to go with the same wood or something similar imo. Birch has close to the same appearance as maple.
Posted on 11/21/19 at 10:31 pm to jojothetireguy
quote:
If your staining you need to go with the same wood or something similar imo. Birch has close to the same appearance as maple.
This.
Besides, poplar doesn't have much of a grain pattern and it will look completely out of place with the maple legs.
I've used birch and maple many times and they work well together.
ETA: Before staining the whole project, take some samples of both the maple and birch to give a test run with the stain to see what it will take to get them close in color and tone.
This post was edited on 11/21/19 at 10:33 pm
Posted on 11/21/19 at 11:21 pm to eng08
It will take some trial and error to get the stain the way you want it and to get different woods to match. You may need to use a wood conditioner (like Charles Neil Wood Conditioner - watch some of his videos) before you stain to even out the absorption. I also had better luck on one project using a water based dye instead of an oil based stain.
I probably spent close to $100 on different products for one project before I found what worked well and matched my old bedroom furniture.
You may end up wishing you had just spent the $700, but I hope that doesn’t happen.
I probably spent close to $100 on different products for one project before I found what worked well and matched my old bedroom furniture.
You may end up wishing you had just spent the $700, but I hope that doesn’t happen.
Posted on 11/22/19 at 5:50 am to ChEgrad
All good info. 
Posted on 11/22/19 at 6:58 am to fishfighter
A few things you can do to get even stain. Sealer coat of shellac, fill grain with timber mate, or make a slurry with mineral spirits while sanding.
Posted on 11/22/19 at 7:43 am to eng08
Why not just use maple for the rest of the table?
Posted on 11/22/19 at 8:03 am to mikie421
quote:
A few things you can do to get even stain. Sealer coat of shellac, f
I do this when staining cypress. I don't use straight shellac though, I cut it and make what is called a "Piss Coat" using 2 parts denatured alcohol to 1 part shellac.
It dries real fast, is super easy to sand and get a very smooth finish after the product raises the wood grain and allows the stain to be absorbed very evenly on the wood surface.
Posted on 11/22/19 at 8:13 am to eng08
I would definitely go with maple. Your local mill works shop should sell it for cheap and they can even surface it for you for a small fee.
Posted on 11/22/19 at 8:46 am to Chuckd
Ok thanks, I was just being a little cheap thinking of using poplar vs maple since I thought I was painting
Posted on 11/22/19 at 10:40 am to ChEgrad
quote:
You may end up wishing you had just spent the $700, but I hope that doesn’t happen.
Nah! Always more fun and satisfying to build.
Posted on 11/22/19 at 11:17 am to Boudreaux35
quote:
Nah! Always more fun and satisfying to build.
No better feeling than saving money by turning a $700 dollar project into an $800 dollar project.
Posted on 11/22/19 at 12:31 pm to Aristo
quote:
No better feeling than saving money by turning a $700 dollar project into an $800 dollar project.
Raises hand.
Posted on 11/22/19 at 12:32 pm to Aristo
quote:
No better feeling than saving money by turning a $700 dollar project into an $800 dollar project.
I look at it like this: Why spend $700 on a piece of furniture when you can spend $700 on tools and get the piece of furniture thrown in for free?
Posted on 11/22/19 at 12:59 pm to Sigma
YES!!
Posted on 11/22/19 at 1:20 pm to Sigma
I think I got most of what I need, even if the hand tool takes longer.
I need to keep all my digits so I tend to eschew power tools if I can.
I need to keep all my digits so I tend to eschew power tools if I can.
Posted on 11/22/19 at 6:56 pm to eng08
quote:
I think I got most of what I need,
Nope, if this is being requested by the wife, now is the time to buy that tool you've always "needed" because it will be for her!
Posted on 11/22/19 at 7:03 pm to eng08
How big of a table?
Also, are the legs hard maple or soft maple? I would assume soft but you need to be sure.
Be careful with maple it can be splotchy with stain sometimes. A coat of shellac prior can help if it is.
If you’re planning on using maple with poplar you’ll need to paint it, imho. I just built my wife one a few months ago. It’s huge though for a coffee table.
ETA: this is prior to it being painted.
Also, are the legs hard maple or soft maple? I would assume soft but you need to be sure.
Be careful with maple it can be splotchy with stain sometimes. A coat of shellac prior can help if it is.
If you’re planning on using maple with poplar you’ll need to paint it, imho. I just built my wife one a few months ago. It’s huge though for a coffee table.
ETA: this is prior to it being painted.
This post was edited on 11/22/19 at 7:05 pm
Posted on 11/22/19 at 7:14 pm to Aristo
Catch 22, I don’t have room for more stuff
Posted on 11/22/19 at 7:17 pm to bbvdd
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