My neighbor decided that he wanted an end table a bit larger than the table I previously built for him. (See here) This time he wanted a table 18-inches tall and a 20″ x 20″ base. He also wanted the finish darker than before which was SYP stained with pecan stain.
Construction
I constructed the table with Southern Yellow Pine for the frame and 1/4-inch plywood for the side panels. The cabinet was stained with an antique walnut finish and sealed with polyurethane. After viewing the table, my neighbor requested a darker shade than walnut. Following some research on refinishing over polyurethane, I discovered MinWax PolyShades. I bought a can and applied two coats of the espresso shade, followed by five coats of MinWax Warm Semi-Gloss polyurethane, sanding between each layer to achieve a smooth, glossy surface.
Swivel leveling feet were used for the for the bottom of the legs. Brushed gold 3-inch cabinet cup pulls were used for the drawers. My neighbor also wanted a shelf on the bottom for magazines. I had an extra set of drawer slides so, I made the shelf into a drawer so that it could be pulled out to view the magazines and easily make a selection. My neighbor was very pleased with the end table when finished.
Conclusion
I was also satisfied with the outcome of my neighbor’s end table. My wife and I transported it across the yard and placed it on his front porch. Afterwards, I phoned him to inform him that there was a package waiting on his porch. The expression on his face as he stepped outside was unforgettable. It was evident that he was delighted with the end result.
Now, I have to replace the old end table I built for myself several years ago. I’m thinking about building that one in walnut. That’s on the agenda because of my neighbor’s end table.
