We needed a sturdy table that we could put our son up to. We looked around at a few different options and discovered this plan that we could build on our own for the same price it would have cost us to buy a used table. I have built a few small things like a bookshelf and a headboard, but this is by far the biggest project I have ever done. It took about 5 hours on a Friday afternoon and about 8 hours on a Saturday to get the construction and first coat of stain on. After that we put 3 coats of a satin polyurethane on over the course of the next several days. We are really happy with how this turned out and it was a relatively simple project.
Estimated Cost
$150 including extra stains for testing.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Before applying any stain or conditioner, we took several tools and distressed the top. We put Minwax quick-drying preconditioner on before using any stain. We used a weathered grey stain first, wiping it off almost immediately. We immediately followed that by using a dark walnut that we left on for about 5-7 minutes before wiping off. After the stain dried we applied 3 coats of satin polyurethane, sanding with a finishing paper between each coat. We applied all the products with foam brushes.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner