VIDEO TUTORIAL: How to Build a Farmhouse Table Base

Thanksgiving is just around the corner! I don't know what got into me when I built this not so kid friendly dining table a while back (mid-mom crisis moment?), but I knew under my circumstances, I'd need to build a more crumb friendly table. My goal was to build and finish a dining table by Thanksgiving.

Table building doesn't have to be complicated or require extensive tools. In fact, I use standard homeowner tools and a Kreg Jig to build my tables. And complicated it is not. Unless you decide to add a drawer. We will get to that shortly.

On this table build, I am putting together three different videos for the main steps -

1. Building a Farmhouse Table Base (this video). The techniques used to build this base apply to any table - a coffee table, end table, console table - so if you need a table, this is a must watch!

2. Building a Tabletop (coming soon). The techniques in this video apply to anytime you want to join boards edge to edge to create wider width boards, including tabletops.

3. Adding a Drawer inside the apron (coming soon) In this video, I show you how I add a drawer to the table end aprons, but the techniques used to build the drawer apply any time you are installing a drawer with metal drawer slides.

I will follow up with the plans for this exact table as well, so stay tuned for that too!

So up first .... How to Build a Farmhouse Table Base!

A few quick notes on this video:

- The 1x6 aprons are a little wide for fitting an upholstered chair underneath it. I choose the 1x6 apron because I wanted a useable drawer on the ends, and also, the wider apron creates a stronger base. You want your table base to be stronger than your tabletop, to keep the tabletop from cupping or warping (and possibly affecting how the table base rests on the floor). I plan on adding benches for my set, but just wanted to make you aware that the vertical leg room under the 1x6 apron is tight.

- On this base, I decided to add the drawer on the end, using 1x3 furring strips instead of a full 1x6 apron. This was not enough support and the table racked side to side more than I could tolerate. So instead of doing a full length drawer, I made the drawer about 2/3 the size of the opening, and then added aprons over top of the furring strips. This did the trick and stabalized the table.

Thanks for geeking out with me on woodworking stuff. It's nice to know I'm not the only weird person out there obsessing about building stuff.

Have a great day!

XO Ana