Oak table

[Dale Allen]

I wanted to see how 'inexpensive' I could make a side table.
This is about 20 x 17 x 20" high. I used 2 oak balusters 1.25" square from the box store and some S4S oak from the local lumber yard. I think there may be a drawer too, not quite sure. Nothing is glued up and the top boards and the shelf boards are not yet finished to size. Also nothing is sanded yet. I think I like the look and the concept. Now the all the parts are cut I can determine the cost of the wood.

 

[mark james]

Very nice. I suspect the finished table will be beautiful.

 

[Dale Allen]

Very nice. I suspect the finished table will be beautiful.

Thank you Mark.

 

[Brotherdale]

It looks very nice. I am curious how inexpensive was to build?

 

[GaryMGg]

This will be a nice table.
Buying wood from any big box will drive up the cost though.
Here's how I produce a ROM estimate for material cost:
Take the cut list needed for the finished size product and
add up all the 4/4 parts in square inches to get Board Feet (BF).
BF = Len * width * thickness / 144.
Do the same for 8/4.
If you need any 12/4, do the same for it.
You can save a little by substituting twice as much 4/4 for 8/4
and doing glue-ups although this might sacrifice the look.

Finally, having my BF requirements for the final product,
I add 15-20% to allow for being selective and for defects.
Now, call the sawmill or lumber yard for material quotes.

For instance, your 20" tall table uses about 2.3 BF of 8/4 for the legs.
The rest is roughly 12 to 15 BF depending on the width of the aprons and stretchers.
Depending on location, oak is about $2 per BF.
Oak at Home Depot is about $7.00 per linear foot for 8" wide board:
this is $7.00 for .6667 BF as opposed to the cost from a sawmill.
Retail lumber stores such as Wall lumber list their premium oak for $2.30/BF.

They make special size bundles for shipping.
You might look into online sellers such as as Wall.

<—- no relationship to them!

Best,
Gary

 

[Dale Allen]

Gary, I was told there wouldn't be any math.:wink:

What I calculated is about $45 worth of red oak, and that would include some 1/2" BB ply for the drawer box. Add a set of drawer slides, some stain and polycrylic and I figure I'll have something over $50 invested. I'm thinking it would be worth between $85 and $100

I doubt I could have saved much by buying rough cut and planing it down.
There is a lot of time involved in that. But, that is my preferred method.
My next one will be a 3 legged hexagon table from rough sawn maple.

 

[TonyL]

Nice work! What type of joinery did you use to fasten the legs?

 

[GaryMGg]

Hi Dale,

I believe your completed table should be worth $200 or more.
Don't sell yourself short.
:wink:

 

[Woodchipper]

I like it! It's what I call plain elegance. Well designed and well made. My complements on the build.

 

[Dale Allen]

Tony, I use loose tenons on the sides and biscuits for the top sections.
I made some modifications to a dovetail fixture that allows me to make consistent mortises in the ends of the boards and another jig that uses the guide plate does the mortises on the sides. Tenon stock is cut from the same oak using up otherwise scrap pieces.

Gary, while I may consider my time and effort worth more, I doubt I'd get that price. However, I can always start higher and come down!:biggrin:

Thanks all for your comments and kind words.

 

[thewishman]

The front right leg looks like it would make pretty pens...