Tools and Materials

Tools

Materials

Note

Items may be Special Order in some stores. Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market. Paint colors may vary slightly from those shown. Availability varies by market for lumber species and sizes.

Build a Deck or Patio Coffee Table

Assemble the box frame for the table, build and attach the lid, and then apply a finish to the completed coffee table.

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Instructions

A person nailing together a coffee table frame using a nail gun.

From 1-inch x 6-inch cedar boards that are rough sawn on one face and smooth on the other, cut the long rails (A), short rails (B) and leg halves (C) to length (Project Diagram, Cutting List and Cutting Diagram).
Position and clamp the short rails (B) between the long rails (A) with the rough faces on the outside and nail them together (Project Diagram, Drawing 1). Repeat to make two additional table base frames.

A person adding construction adhesive to the corner of a table frame.

Clamp the leg halves (C) together in L-shaped pairs with the smooth faces on the outside of the leg. Drive nails to make four legs (Project Diagram, Drawing 2).
Position the three frames (A/B) edge to edge on their sides on your workbench, alternating the way the ends of the boards overlap at the corners. Apply construction adhesive to the inside of the table frame, align the top ends of the legs with the top edges of the upper frame and clamp the legs in place. The legs should protrude about 1 inch beyond the bottom frame. Drill countersunk holes and drive 1-1/4-inch deck screws (Project Diagram, Drawing 3).

A person nailing wooden slats to a table frame.

Cut the slats (D), center slat (E) and short trim (F) to length. Cut the long trim (G) about 3 inches longer than listed (Project Diagram, Cutting List and Cutting Diagram).
With the smooth sides facing out, nail one short trim (F) to each outside slat (D) with the top edge of the trim and top face of the slat flush (Project Diagram, Drawing 4).
To assemble the lid (Project Diagram, Drawing 4), lay two 32-inch-long scrap-wood strips on your workbench. Position the two slat/short trim (D/F) pairs upside down and the remainder of the slats in position with the smooth sides down. To achieve the 1/16-inch gaps on each edge of the center slat (E), press 4D finish nails against the edges of the center slat as spacers and tap them just into the scrap-wood strips.

Good to Know

The center slat is 1/8 inch shorter than the other slats, and there are 1/16-inch gaps on each side of the center slat in the assembled table, making the slat easy to remove to retrieve a cold drink.

A person using a driver to screw hinges to the table lid.

Drive nails through the long trim (G) and into the short trim (F) and slats (D). Don't nail the center slat (E) in place (Project Diagram, Drawing 4). Pull the spacer nails out of the scrap-wood strips, lift the lid off the strips and remove the center slat. Set the center slat aside.
Lay the lid upside down on your workbench and center the box on it. Screw a pair of hinges to a slat (D) and the side of the box (Project Diagram, Drawing 5).

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How to Build a Deck or Patio Coffee Table