This Instructable walks you through how I build these side tables! This is a great intermediate skill level project that uses all solid wood and multiple joinery techniques. I hope y'all enjoy this project as much as I did!

Check out the video above for the build! If you like it, please subscribe to my YouTube channel and checkout some of my other projects!

If you want additional details head over to my blog!

You can grab the free plans over on Build Something

Supplies

Materials & Products (affiliate)

White Oak 8/4 (5 bf) & 4/4 (8 bf)
1-1/4" pocket hole screws, stainless steel
Gorilla glue
Varathane, Classic Gray stain
General Finishes, Exterior 450, satin

Tools I Used (affiliate)

Step 1: Rough Cuts

As with all woodworking projects, the first thing to do is lay out your boards, make your rough cuts and start dimensioning material. Making templates of the parts comes in handy here to help determine your initial cuts.

Step 2: Jigs & Templates

This project is made easier by building a few basic templates and jigs.

I made a template for the outer table top ring, a circle to fit inside that ring, the apron, and lower braces.

I also made a taper cutting jig for the legs along with a jig to cut the curved mortise in the top of each leg.

Step 3: Table Top

The table top is made up of an outer ring with several slats glued and screwed to it.

To cut the ring to it's final size, I used the router table and a flush trim router bit. For the center slats, I cut them to their appropriate sizes by screwing them to a circular template (spaced according to the plans), rough cutting them on the bandsaw, and then using a flush trim bit on the router table. Next I drilled pocket holes in the end of each slat and secured them to the outer ring with ss pocket hole screws.

Step 4: Table Legs

The table legs are the single most in-depth part of this entire project. But by breaking down the steps it's very doable. The first thing is to bring our stock down to size.

I then routed the curved slot in the top of each leg. This slot accepts the apron and needs to be fairly accurate and snug. The easiest way to accomplish this was to build a jig which you can see in the YouTube video.

After routing the curved slot I used a dado stack to cut the notch for the lower braces. Any number of tools can be used to cut this feature if a dado stack is not available.

The final task is to taper the legs which I accomplished using the taper sled in the photo.

Step 5: Apron & Braces

The apron and braces are made by first rough cutting to shape on the bandsaw and then using a template and flush trim bit in the router table to form them to their final shape.

I drill a series of counterbored holes in the apron to attach the legs to the table top.

For the braces, I drill a pocket hole in the each end for assembly.

Step 6: Assembly

To assembly the base, I dry-fit everything in place and use a combination of strap clamps and mini E-Z hold clamps to firmly hold everything in place. I use ss pocket hole screws and first secure the braces to the legs. I then flip the assembly right side up and drive screws through the apron into the legs.

With the base complete I center the top on the apron and drive screws through the remaining four holes in the apron into the table top.

Step 7: Finish

We decided on Varathane classic gray to stain the tables and followed up with General Finished Exterior 450 in satin.

Step 8: Free Plans!

I’d love to hear what you think about this side table! If you build one tag me on instagram with #woodshopmikeibuiltit