How to Make a Dining Table Top from Walnut Planks

Walnut is a strong, sturdy wood. Use the wood for indoor or outdoor furniture, including a dining room table. A walnut plank dining room table can be stained to match other wood in the room or to be a bold centerpiece. You can make you own table with modest carpentry skills and tools. Once you master the basics of building a plank table, you can create smaller side tables or dining table benches to match, making a complete set. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Design the table. A 60-inch table holds six guests comfortably. If you have 4-inch wide planks, 15 will span across the table width 35 1/2 inches. The total table height should be 30 inches, which means if your planks are 1-inch thick, you will need to make leg posts 29 inches long. The legs attach to a support frame under the tabletop planks.

2

Measure and cut the planks to create the pieces for the top boards, legs, supports and aprons. Cut 15 tabletop planks 35 1/2 inches long. Cut four legs 29 inches long. Cut four support planks 56 inches long, 2 planks 32 inches long and 2 planks 54 inches long.

3

Build the support frame. Set the four 56-inch long support planks evenly apart. The planks should stand up 4 inches perpendicular to the ground. Set the two 32-inch planks on each side of the other planks, making a frame with two support planks going across. Place a mark on the side planks where each support beam sits. Drill two holes at each point, 1 inch in and 1 inch apart along the frame. Apply wood glue where the planks meet, and then screw the support frame together with 2-inch screws.

4

Center the 54-inch planks on the front and back of the support frame, flush with the top and bottom edges of the support frame. Secure with wood glue between the plank and support frame. Further secure the front and back apron panel by drilling a hole from the back of the support frame and then screwing in 1 1/4-inch screws.

5

Position the leg planks flush at the outside corner of the support frame against the front and back panel. Drill two holes from inside the support frame, and secure with 2 1/2-inch screws. Wood glue further secures the legs in place.

6

Sit the support frame flat. Line the tabletop planks on the frame. Mark each spot where one plank ends and another starts. Remove the planks one by one, and apply glue to the support the frame and put the plank back in place.

7

Apply a wood stain on the finished table by saturating a clean towel with the stain and wiping it on in smooth, even strokes. The more coats, the darker the stain will be.