Double lidded coffee table
This country style double lidded coffee table was relatively easy to build. After all, when you are trying to achieve a rustic looking piece of furniture, bumps and dings, scratches and dents are favorable. 🙂
I actually built this from 2 x 12 stair tread lumber, about the cheapest lumber in the store at the time. The expense came in purchasing wrought iron strap hinges and ring pulls.
I used a very crude finger joint style corner and the trim piece on the bottom was from a 2″ router bit molding profile. The rest of it was straight boards. I Â have bought a whole bunch of the hinges to make a few different style projects. Since the finger joint corners were strong by themselves, I used hinges are corner straps as a decorative piece.
To finish it I first gave it some dents and dings with various sharp objects, and then knocked down the corners and edges with a rough bastard file. Then I took a cloth and gave my garden shovel a good scrubbing (no water). The rust and dirt from the shovel was then rubbed into the wood surface and into those rough, pitted areas I created with the bastard file. I then gave it a light sanding with 150 grit, wiped it down and gave it 3 coats of clear polyurethane. After it dried for about a month I gave it a couple good coats of furniture wax.
Smooth as a baby’s bottom 🙂 I choose the polyurethane because over time and sun exposure, it provides the most dramatic color change. (photos updated 2009)  See also the end tables and entertainment center.
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