From Door to Table

Here Is the six panel door we will be using.

We guys love the result of a finished project, we like knowing we did it and we built it.  Tools are a key part to this feeling but a place to fabricate our ideas has a more important role.  With very little money and some fun creativity, we all can have a place in the garage to build, relax and feed our construction instinct.

First we need a door, yes I said a door.  Not just any door, a solid core wood door.  They are usually use for front doors and have a fire rating to protect homes.  Old ones can be picked up at garage sales, antique shops or just on the side of a road.  If you see someone renovating a house, go and ask them for the door.  They are heavy and well made, thats why we will use them for a table.

Next we will need to get some 90 drywall mud and 2x4s to build the bench.  We will use the 2x4s to build legs in three spots of the bench.  The length of the 2×4 you will

One of the square legs to support the table.

need will vary depending on how wide of a door is found but it will add up to around five, 8 foot 2x4s.  Cut 6 of the 2x4s in to the same width of the door and cut 6 boards into the height you want, around 40 inch.  When they are all cut, build three squares, about 32 inch by 40 inch and screw together with 2 1/2 inch wood screws.  Set them up under the table with one at each end and one in the middle and get some help to place the door on top.  Now we need to fill in all the inlayed trim on the door to get it smooth.

Here is one of the inlays of the table before being filled using a 6 inch knife and a mud pan

There are two ways to do this, one is to buy a sheet of plywood and just screw it over the top of the door, this will cost about $6 to $20 depending how the type off wood you buy.  The other way is to buy a 18 lb bag of 90 drywall mud that dries rock solid in about 90 min.  Sheetrock’s 90 drywall mud will cost between $5 and $6.  Simply mix the powder with water till it is the consistency of mud and fill in any and all low areas.  Let it dry and put another coat on to get it smoother.  Let that coat dry and sand smooth, then finish with two coats of any left over paint you have setting about.  The paint will seal the drywall mud and give it a more finished look.

In less then a day and spending less then $100, $15 for the 2x4s, $6 for the drywall mud and $0 to $30 for the door you can have a solid table to feed your need to build and create.