Simple Side Table | Build It | Ask This Old House

This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows how to construct a simple yet beautiful side table. (See below for a shopping list, tools, and steps.)

Shopping List for a Simple Side Table:
- 2x2 fir balusters, to make the table legs
- 1x4 fir decking, for fabricating the table aprons
- 5/4-by-6-inch fir decking, to make the tabletop
- Carpenter’s glue, for gluing together wood parts
- Narrow stick, to spread glue
- Cloth, for wiping away excess glue
- _-inch plywood and toggle clamp, to make tapering jig
- 120-grit abrasive disks, for random-orbit sander
- 1_-inch pocket screws, to screw together wood parts
- _-inch-thick spacer blocks, for creating a reveal between the aprons and legs
- Double washers and 5/8-inch screws, for securing the tabletop
- Furniture glides, to fasten to the bottom of each leg
- Primer and paint, wood stain, or clear polyurethane varnish, to finish the table

Tools for a Simple Side Table:
- Miter saw, to crosscut lumber to size
- Table saw, for ripping lumber to size
- Bar clamps, for clamping together the tabletop
- Random-orbit sander, to sand smoother wood parts
- Router and 1/8-inch-radius rounding-over bit, to shape the edges of the table legs
- Pocket-hole jig, for making pocket-hole joints
- Cordless drill, to drill holes and drive screws
- _-inch spade bit, to drill recesses for double washers
- Hammer

To build this table, Tom used stock fir that is normally used for building decks, including:
½" x 6" decking for the top
1" x 4" decking for the spreaders or rails to which the legs attach
2" x 2" balusters for the legs

Build It:
This Old House general contractor Tom Silva, This Old House host Kevin O’Connor, and special guests including Jimmy DiResta, take you through step-by-step DIY projects in this popular video series. From end-tables to cutting boards to wine racks to chicken coops and more, learn how to build from the best pros in the game. Segments include mention of all tools and materials needed to get the job done.

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Simple Side Table | Build It | Ask This Old House

[niflag]

I wish you would do a video where you show how to make all the jigs and the theory behind designing them!

[kristincollins]

I'm almost 38 yrs old and just found out about double washers! Thank you! I groaned as a kid having to watch these shows with my Mom but now enjoy them immensely.. I've built most of the furniture in my home and it feels so good to walk around and use what you've built with your own hands. I feel like these younger generations need to be forced to watch these shows as kids so building and fixing things that are broken doesn't become extinct with them.

[jennym]

Really interesting thanks.

My only suggestion would be to show a bit more of the finished product...maybe stained.

[Mucram-]

I wish I worked for Tom, he is so good at teaching his expertise.

[FattyMcPolka]

jigs used are way more complex than table!

[LuvWFT]

I wish they would give a shout out to Norm Abrams when they do furniture..I miss him on the show he created

[peteboldiesbutgoodies]

i got the desire to do it my self your way this old house but am still training about whole lot of years of training. I do know that table is built from years of work thanks this old house.

[SQLKC]

That festool sander sounds like it is on its last leg, time for a Harbor Fright run.

[losc]

They gave us like 7/16ths of a second to see the finished product 😂

[niva]

Mr Silva is a sweetie and my favorite :)

[richardkaz]

Crums, I wish i could get nice timber like that in Australia. It seems like all we can get is warped and knotted rubbish from the large hardware outlets or anything that approaches reasonable is anything but when it comes to price.

[luisalbertoperez]

Beautiful question....what is the best suggestion you have to protect the wood if the table were to be outdoors?

[AngieWilliamsDesigns]

Sure would like to know how to make that taper jig. I like it

[farikomike]

tommy has gone Festool mad!! $50, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000 for a Festool tape measure :-)

[stillu]

the only problem here is - if somebody owns a table saw, router and industrial sander.. chances are, they already know how to build a simple table...

[slivsliv]

Is he going to show a tutorial how to make that jig thats probably 5 times harder to make then the whole table itself? I want to know how the hell this guy makes everything look so freaking easy. I'm having a hard enough to maaking perfectly straight cuts on the table saw.

[Masteringd]

Double washers if only i could find them here in the UK, Nothing comes up with a search on google here in UK using the words Double washers .

[benritchsmith]

Do you flip after wiping away the glue and wipe the bottom?

[mikefas]

Can't squeeze all the glue out. That's a common myth in wood working. Wood absorbs it. Better to get it tight so no air bubbles...

[shadowblack]

lol.. buy used for cheaper or just from Ikea for a few dollars. cool project if you have the wood already