Last Updated on October 12, 2012 by Kristi Linauer
Yesterday, I posted an in-progress sneak peek of my DIY coffee table on the A2D Facebook page, and people had some very interesting guesses as to what it was! A coffin? A raised flower bed? A bookcase? Ha!
No, I didn’t build a coffin. In fact, I built a factory cart-style coffee table out of old cedar fence pickets. Want to see how it turned out? Here it is!
Woohoo! It’s finished!! And to think, I started off with this…
John and Alice were having their fence replaced, and I just couldn’t bear to see this gorgeous wood with all of this lovely grayed patina heading for the landfill!! I wish I had projects for all of it, but I didn’t…and I don’t have anywhere to store old wood.
I do love how the aged wood looks as a coffee table. That’s a finish that no amount of paint and faux finishing can replicate!
But my favorite part? Oh, that would be these little rope pull handles that I put on each side. I think this touch just “makes” the coffee table, don’t you?
Overall, I’m quite pleased with how it turned out. In a perfect world, I would have been able to find antique metal wheels for a bargain. That didn’t happen, so I opted for these black wheels from Lowe’s.
And of course, working with old weathered wood can be quite challenging because it’s generally warped and can be brittle in places.
But I managed, and I love it. I even came across one board that had what appears to be a date scratched into it. It’s meaning will remain a mystery, but the character it adds is a perfect touch.
I also ended up making this cart taller than an actual factory cart would be. I just really wanted it to be a more standard coffee table height. It ended up being just under 18” tall.
And here’s what it looks like in the room…
Of course, I’m still a ways away from being finished with the decorating in this room, so it’s still looking a bit sparse. I’m keeping an eye out for the perfect rug, so that will lighten the area some.
Edit: Here’s the coffee table in the finished room…
So do you want to make your own? Keep reading for complete instructions. And if you don’t have any old fence picket, keep your eyes open for them! People are always replacing privacy fences and discarding the old pickets. Or you can even check websites like Craigslist and Freecycle to see if anyone is getting rid of their old fence wood. You’ll need about 15 6-foot pickets for this project.
Project Cost:
Approximately $100. Does not include cost of pickets, which you can probably find for free.
Materials:
- One sheet of 1/4″ MDF measuring 24″ x 48″ (Home Depot sells these pre-cut),
- Two pieces 1″ x 8″ lumber, each 8 feet in length,
- One piece of 2″ x 4″ lumber, 12 feet in length,
- Wood glue,
- Four 5″ wheels,
- Screws and washers (if needed) to attach the wheels,
- Eight feet of 1″ jute rope,
- Water-based clear coat.
Tools & Supplies:
- Nail gun with 1″ and 1.5″ finishing nails (if you don’t have a nail gun, the entire thing can be put together with a hammer and nails or screws),
- Miter saw,
- 150-grit sandpaper,
- Paint brush.
Instructions:
I started by cutting my 1″ x 8″ lumber. I needed two pieces that measured 47.25″ in length, and two pieces that were 24.25″ in length.
Next I cut my 2″ x 4″ lumber into pieces that measured 10.5″ in length. These will be the legs of the coffee table. (Note, I only cut 8 pieces, and used 2 per leg. But I would highly recommend using 3 pieces per leg.)
I then used wood glue to glue two pieces of the 2″ x 4″ lumber together, and clamped until they dried. I repeated this with the other pieces. (Again, I would recommend gluing 3 pieces together for each leg, rather than 2 pieces.)
Rather than using a separate clamp for each leg, I just put them all in the same clamp and left them to dry while I moved to the next step.
Using the 1″ x 8″ lumber that I just cut, I used wood glue and my nail gun to make a frame for the coffee table. (Note: If you don’t have a nail gun, you can use screws for this step.)
I placed a bead of wood glue on the edge of the 1″ x 8″ lumber, all the way around the frame.
Then I placed the 1/4″ piece of MDF on top and nailed it to the frame with my nail gun.
At that point, it looked like a big plain box.
I turned the box over, and unclamped the legs (by this time, they were dry enough), and placed a leg in each corner of the box. I secured the legs using wood glue and my nail gun, shooting the nails from the outside of the frame, through the frame and into the leg.
With all of the legs secure, I turned the table over and stained the top and the sides. This stain didn’t really serve a decorative purpose. The reason I did this was so that if any of the frame showed through the reclaimed wood (through knots or cracks), the frame would basically disappear. If it was left unstained, it would be very noticeable if it showed through knot holes.
With the frame complete and stained, and the legs attached, I was ready to start adding the cedar fence boards. I cut several pieces to 24″ in length, and attached each piece with wood glue and my nail gun.
I started on end, and attached them as shown.
Then I worked my way across the entire top, and to the other end.
When I had all of the top covered with fence boards, I had excess board extending past the frame, so I used my jigsaw to cut off the excess board. You can see in the picture below how the last board on the top is narrower than the others.
I covered the sides of the table last, cutting the boards long enough to cover the cut ends of the fence boards on each end, and I attached them so that they also covered the cut ends of the fence boards on top of the table.
At this point, the construction was basically complete. This how the table looked from underneath. (You can see that the MDF I used for the top had previously been used for spray painting.)
I then flipped the table upside down, and attached the wheels to the legs with wood glue and large screws and washers.
The final step was to attach the jute rope handle to each end. I started by tying two knots in the rope. This was no easy task, as this rope doesn’t bend easily. But after working with it, I finally got the knots in place.
I then drilled the holes in the end of the coffee table for the rope to go through. I actually didn’t have a drill bit large enough for the rope I selected, so I the largest drill bit I could find, and drilled three holes right next to each other for each end of the rope. It wasn’t pretty, but the knot in the rope covered it.
Then I secured the rope in the inside of the frame. I had intended to secure it by tying a knot inside, but I didn’t allow myself enough rope. I didn’t realize just how much rope the large knots used!! So I had to get creative with how I secured it. So definitely make note of this, and allow yourself, PLENTY of extra rope. (I bought six feet of rope for two handles. I recommended in the “Materials” section that you purchase eight feet.)
The last thing I did was give it a quick sanding with 150-grit sandpaper (just enough to remove any splinter-causing rough spots, but not enough to remove the patina of the weathered cedar), and then give it at least two generous coats of Polycrylic clear coat. I chose to use the water based clear coat because I wanted to keep as much of the grayed patina as possible, and oil-based polyurethane tends to give wood a yellow/golden hue. I wanted to avoid that, so water-based Polycrylic was a good choice for this project. I really concentrated on getting it well-coated in all of the cracks and knot holes.
And when it was dry, it was finished!
Helpful Hints:
- Be very careful working with old fence boards!!!!! Old pressure treated pine boards can contain arsenic. To be on the safe side, wear something to cover your nose and mouth while cutting/sanding, and then be sure you seal the boards VERY well when finished.
- Look out for splinters and nails!! Those old boards can bite you if you’re not careful.
- Double check your measurements before cutting. Please don’t just go by my measurements. Your MDF board may be a slightly different size than mine, and you’ll need to adjust the measurements of your frame boards and fence boards.
Variations:
- If you’re not fortunate enough to come across antique wheels at a bargain, then you can paint the wheels or use a sponge to dab on black and brown paints for an antiqued look.
- Dress up the top with a stencil to look like an old company logo.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I hope you’ll join me on my DIY and decorating journey! If you want to follow my projects and progress, you can subscribe below and have each new post delivered to your email inbox. That way you’ll never miss a thing!
80 Comments
Matthew Linauer
June 1, 2011 at 2:01 pmsureis quiet here today. Love the coffee table. Can we have one at home Kristi.
Cwschmitt
June 1, 2011 at 2:25 pmLooks great. The first thing I thought was that I LOVED the rope handles on the side. You can do amazing things with a pile of old wood. =)
Denise Baker Morris
June 1, 2011 at 2:25 pmI love it! Of course, I'd paint it white 😉 An ivory rug would be perfect!
Randi
June 1, 2011 at 2:26 pmI love it! So rustic and fun and the rope handles are great!
Laurie
June 1, 2011 at 2:28 pmLooks great- I agree, you can't fake that finish.
Rhonda Young
March 28, 2022 at 5:56 pmActually, you can. I re-use a pickle jar filled with vinegar, drop in some steel wool til it pretty much dissolves. Takes a week or 2. Brush this on any wood and you would be amazed at how old it will look when it dries. I wanted an accent wall to look like an old barn but the cost of old barnwood is ridiculous. I used the rough side of plain plywood plus 2×4’s to make Bat on Board look. The varience in grays, browns and even black is incredible.
Tesa
June 1, 2011 at 2:28 pmIt looks awesome! I am inspired. Myabe I'll get around to doing something with some old pallets soon! 🙂
Pam Cartwright
June 1, 2011 at 2:32 pmLove this – great job!!
Kim
June 1, 2011 at 2:33 pmI love it — you are so talented!
Jean
June 1, 2011 at 2:34 pmI absolutely love it! The rope handles give just the right touch. Can't wait to see how you accessorize the room. It is going to be beautiful. I also love those drapes!
Michelle Rachels
June 1, 2011 at 2:39 pmI looks great with that couch!
Christy Hollar
June 1, 2011 at 2:41 pmI love it! I so wish I could master a saw! You did a great job… the aged look makes it perfect.
Katie Kildal
June 1, 2011 at 2:46 pmThis is gorgeous! It reminds me of the factory cart from RH (which is over $1000!) Thanks for the inspiration.
Jeannine Bruner
June 1, 2011 at 2:57 pmlove it! And if you wanted, you can easily "age" the cut ends of the wood with steel wool & vinegar, so it doesn't look like freshly cut wood. 🙂 I may be raiding some palette piles… 🙂
Beestockdale
June 1, 2011 at 4:04 pmSo neat!
[email protected] Beautiful Life
June 1, 2011 at 4:16 pmThat is a great rustic look…you did an awesome job!!!
Angela N
June 1, 2011 at 4:31 pmI totally love this! Such a great reuse of materials. And I love your addition of the rope handles. I know you were on a budget, but I am so sorry to say the wheels ruin it for me. Absolutely love the rest of it though.
Jeri
June 1, 2011 at 4:31 pmI commented on your FB post. I should've came here instead! I love it!! You did a fabulous job! wish I was that talented =)
casey Kiehne
June 1, 2011 at 5:27 pmCan't wait for the DIY instructions! Looks great in your room…
Anne Sullivan
June 1, 2011 at 5:50 pmIt's gorgeous! And didn't end up looking like a coffin at all. 😉 I was surprised it wasn't painted some bold color, but I love the way it came out!
Lucky7design
June 1, 2011 at 6:00 pmLove it….you did a fantastic job. I have a clumsy 14 month old so I had to switch out my wooden trunk to a soft ottoman as a coffee table. This is such a great use for old fence panels…awesome!
If I come across any vintage wheels I'll be sure to get your address and send them to you!MJLucky 7 Design
Missy
June 1, 2011 at 7:00 pmI LOVE it!!! :0) You did a marvelous job building it too! hugs
MissyMy Cottage Charm
Oak floors
June 1, 2011 at 7:47 pmCongratulations! Your table looks great! It goes very well with your wooden floor. Also, the rope handles really give the rustic feel.
Stacy Haugen
June 1, 2011 at 10:05 pmYAY, I <3 it!
Helen
June 2, 2011 at 1:17 amNicely done…:)
Laurie
June 2, 2011 at 9:26 pmWOW!!! I LOVE it!!! You are so goooood!!!
Terri Roberts
June 3, 2011 at 3:18 amI love it! I would have never thought of that.
Jennifer Bradshaw
June 4, 2011 at 3:35 amI just saw this on Tatertots and Jello. This is amazing! I have got to find some old abandoned wood planks somewhere – I keep seeing these awesome projects. Great job!
Jan @southernjunkin
June 4, 2011 at 1:23 pmGreat job and great idea! Love, love the rope handles!
Blessings!!
Jennifer
June 4, 2011 at 7:58 pmGosh – I LOVE that!! What a fun project. And it turned out so great. It reminds me of something from Restoration hardware!
I shared it on my TT&J facebook page and pinned it to Pinterest 🙂
xoxx
Jen
Sunday Burquest
June 4, 2011 at 8:00 pmWow – the coffee table is so cute! Way to go!
Nobreaks
June 5, 2011 at 1:09 amWow…wjat a great way to re use!!!! [email protected]
juliaterpstra
June 5, 2011 at 6:28 amI'm in LOVE! I need one ASAP! jules
www.thecraftinme.blogspot.com
June 5, 2011 at 3:08 pmThe ropes do give it a great finish, awesome job!
Jill
June 6, 2011 at 7:13 amHow fabulous! What a creative way to use those old fence pailings!
I would love if you came over and linked this project to my
weekly Round Tuit party at:
http://jembellish.blogspot.com/
Have a great week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
LAUREN WEST
June 6, 2011 at 3:32 pmlove the coffee table im over from the girl creative and im your newest follower.
Amber A
June 6, 2011 at 3:42 pmAwesome job! I love it! This would be awesome as an outside storage box/coffee table on my deck. I have a bunch of old wood I can use to make one. Thanks for the inspiration!
H is for Handmade
June 6, 2011 at 3:52 pmI am so in love with this table! We JUST tore our old fence down last week and I had my husband save me a lot of the planks before hauling them off to the garbage. I knew there was a craft/decorating project just waiting to be whipped up with them! Thanks for the great idea!
Mindy Northrop
June 6, 2011 at 4:14 pmLove this!
Brooke
June 7, 2011 at 4:16 amIt looks fantastic in your room! I love old weathered wood, and a factory cart is a great build for it
Katie
June 7, 2011 at 4:32 amFantastic job! I like the extra height you gave it.
Kathy
June 7, 2011 at 4:48 amThis turned out great. Who would have thought some wood could become something so cool. The rope handles are a great touch too!
Desiree Campbell
June 7, 2011 at 5:12 amThis is what I call PURE AWESOMENESS! I would love for you to share it at my link party Wednesday evening. So clever!
elmore5
June 7, 2011 at 2:09 pmFabulous! Green and thrifty-and beautiful, too!
Olivia Juenke
June 7, 2011 at 2:57 pmI love it!
Annie
June 7, 2011 at 7:31 pmLOVE this! I've had a slight obsession with reclaimed wood lately, and I'm dying to make a couple of crates just like your table to keep toys in. LOVE LOVE!
Jennifer @ Social Salutations
June 9, 2011 at 11:17 amWow – so awesome!!! I think I may need one of these!
– Jenn @ Social Salutations
Kathy C.
June 9, 2011 at 12:43 pmLove the rustic flair! You should definitely post this in my DIY linky party! It's so inspiring!! Awesome job!
http://lovelacefiles.blogspot.com/2011/06/first-everlinky-party.html
Alicia @ Thrifty and chic
June 10, 2011 at 5:23 pmI love this! I've been wanting to do this for years now 🙂 Bravo!
I've featured you at http://www.thriftyandchic.com. Come grab a button!
~Alicia
Sommer
June 10, 2011 at 9:00 pmYes! Yes! I love it. You did a fantastic job on this piece! In an ideal world I could just buy one of the ones from restoration hardware but hey, we improvise right? It's what we crafters do best! Please join my party this weekend at http://designergarden.blogspot.com/2011/06/vip-party-18.html
Beverly {Flamingo Toes}
June 10, 2011 at 9:36 pmKristi I LOVE your coffee table!! I think you did an amazing job on it! Thanks so much for linking this up to Think Pink Sundays! I featured you today! http://www.flamingotoes.com/2011/06/crush-of-the-week-think-pink-highlights/
Thestoriesofa2z
June 11, 2011 at 1:21 amFabulous!
Stacy Stacy
June 13, 2011 at 5:18 amLove the rustic look of the planks, what a find! I'll definitely being making this, it's such a versatile design I think I will make the wheels hidden underneath so it looks more stationary but has the functionality of movement & use antique dresser drawer handles for the sides…Thanks for sharing!
Stephanie Lynn
June 15, 2011 at 1:59 amKristi – Love the texture and colors the old planking add to this piece. The rope handles are a cool addition too! Another fantastic job – I am so glad it wasn't a coffin =) ~ Stephanie Lynn
Tlcmotley
June 16, 2011 at 2:45 amI love it! Make me one! The rope handles do add a really nice touch.
Joy Conley
June 16, 2011 at 2:33 pmI think the coffee table looks great and I love the rope handles as well. They are the perfect accent.
Amy
June 16, 2011 at 5:46 pmSo great! much more personalized than a store-bought one! love it.
angie
June 18, 2011 at 1:27 pmi really like this!! i've been brainstorming coffee table ideas for our screened in porch and i'd definitely like to put casters on so i can move it around when we need to. great job!
Katie Olthoff
June 18, 2011 at 6:09 pmOOH! I love it!! Seriously!
debbie_mann
June 27, 2011 at 5:17 pmi love this table you did.. im on the lookout now for some boards..
Thriftydecorchick
August 11, 2011 at 2:20 pmHow am I just now seeing this? This is fantastic!! I love it. Now I need to find some old boards. 🙂
Espresso Maker
August 13, 2011 at 4:54 pmIt looks amazing! I am inspired. When I see
how people create I feel that I would love to do something like that by myself.
However I’m not sure about all these carpenters’s business. It looks a little
bit dangerous for beginner.
Derrick
December 22, 2011 at 7:15 amWhat stain did you use for the frame? This is awesome.
Kristi
December 22, 2011 at 7:51 amI’m pretty sure I used Minwax Special Walnut.
James Quinn
January 2, 2012 at 8:24 pmI want to use old wood like this for rustic picture frames. Anybody doing this type of frames? Please email me with pictures of your work. Thanks, appreciate.
[email protected]
Vanessa
January 28, 2012 at 12:22 pmCould you please tell me which stain you used on the frame? It’s a really nice ‘weathered’ look and I’ve been looking for something just like that for an upcoming project. The table turned out super cute btw…very inspiring!
darcy m DeBlanc
February 2, 2012 at 9:50 pmI have an endless supply of wood as we own a construction/remodel co. I am sooooo making this, thank you for the Idea 🙂
Recycle, Reduce, and Reuse… on the Ranch. | Tu Media Naranja
February 3, 2012 at 1:28 pm[…] Salvaged wood coffee table […]
Diy Fridays
March 30, 2012 at 1:17 pm[…] Salvaged Wood Turned Rustic Coffee Table Factory Cart-Style Coffee Table […]
monica
May 20, 2012 at 5:57 pmI wonder if I could make something like this out of pallets, & if it’d be cheaper? This would be awesome for outdoors, to store my gardening tools in over-winter….I could weather it with sealer 🙂
Coaster Antique Nation Type Coffee Table, Cherry Finish | COFFEE TEA REVIEWS
May 25, 2012 at 7:03 pm[…] Price tag: $ 394.99 Value: [wpramaprice asin="B0012L3RK6"] Dimensions: 50"L x 30"W x 19"H. Finish: Cherry. Materials: Wood. Coffee Table Antique Nation Fashio…e Country Style Coffee Table, Cherry Finish" […]
Simple DIY cart-style table
July 3, 2012 at 10:27 am[…] Turn the table over the stain the top and the sides. Now the fun part begins. You can finally attach the fence boards. Attach them using glue and the nail gun. When you’re done, flip the table upside down and attach the wheels and then the jute rope handles. Not your coffee table is complete and ready to be a part of your living room décor.{found on addicted2decorating}. […]
Designher
September 17, 2012 at 10:12 pmnice work and I really like how you post so many how to pictures.
14 Inspiring DIY projects featuring reclaimed wood furniture
January 14, 2013 at 6:35 am[…] This is a cart-style coffee table also made from reclaimed pieces of wood. As you can see, the wood is quite old. It was used to create a rectangular box-like structure that then got casters and became easy to move around. The rope handles are the detail that gives it a very charming and unique look. It’s a lovely piece to be added in any living room.{found on addicted2decorating}. […]
upcycling ideas {perfect pallet projects} - the space between
March 11, 2013 at 6:09 am[…] Potting Bench from Better Homes & Gardens Cart Style Coffee Table from Addicted 2 […]
Leonie
July 8, 2013 at 10:56 amI’m really enjoying the theme/design of your web site. Do you ever run into any web browser compatibility problems? A few of my blog audience have complained about my blog not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Opera. Do you have any recommendations to help fix this issue?
upcycling ideas {20 perfect pallet projects}
April 21, 2014 at 11:12 am[…] Potting Bench from Better Homes & Gardens Cart Style Coffee Table from Addicted 2 […]
Jessica susan
October 10, 2017 at 10:56 pmYet another project that makes me wish that I were more handy! I love how this turned out.
Tori
April 2, 2018 at 12:02 amDo you know anything about how long the chemicals (arsenic etc.) remain in the wood? I mean for example, say you have a pinepressure treated fence. It been outside in the elements for the past 15-20 years…wouldn’t most of the chemicals leach out?
Kristi
April 2, 2018 at 7:24 am“The EWG study shows that pressure-treated wood up to 15 years old exposes people to as much arsenic as newly treated wood.” From here –> http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/archweekarsenic.htm