OK - I figured out how to upload the plans/tutorial. My first try.

This project came about because we purchased some Ballard Sutton outdoor furntiture for our covered porch. Then we looked at a matching bar with stools and it was going to cost (gulp)... $2,500. Next! But then after watching Ana's site and learning some tricks of the woodcrafting trade, decided to take the plunge and build console bar table myself. So I posted the plans in case they might give anyone else ideas, to copy, or just maybe an idea that could be further modified to suit for someone looking for similar options.

We were going for a natural finish to mimic the teak look. So I basically stared at the Ballard photo of the bar for about a week, started scratching out my building plan and what I would need. The bar table turned out great with Minwax Puritan Pine finish, followed up with Spar Urethane for outdoor clear coat to protect against humidity and temperature change (won't get wet).

Then, instead of wicker stools (Ballard were $350/ea), I made the outdoor style bar stools (with slatted tops) to look like the table. Finally finished all three stools, working an entire three-day weekend. Doing three stools at once meant a *lot* of wood cutting, sanding, etc, before I even got to the assembly. Of course, I learned from the bar table to stain the wood before putting too much together.

Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised at how well they turned out. The stools are 17 1/12" square, so they are a little larger seat size than a typical pull-up bar stool. But they feel quite comfortable this way.

I haven't added up the true cost to build, because I added in a new tool or two, had to replenish screws, sand paper, glue, etc. But my two receipts (table, then stools), came to about $200 including tools and various supplies I needed. Figure the lumber was about $100 for the table plus 3 bar stools! Not bad!

On a side note, this plan calls for a lot of 2x2 lumber, and I can *never* find good 2x2s unless I want to splurge for the finish grade pine or poplar (and I don't at 8x the price). 2x4s however, are quite good, cost $3, and are straight. So I started rip cutting the 2x4s into two 2x2s using a circular saw and setting up my own fence. That was a pain but well worth it, because I ended up cheaply coming out with great 2x2 legs and leg braces. If you have a table saw, this would be so easy.

Anyway, hope this helps someone. If not, I had fund doing it! Spring is here, cannot wait to use them.

-cstarliper

***NOTE: Uploaded my own tutorial PDF instead of loading individual photos and writing instructions into the web portal. It was quicker and easier this way.