How To Make A Wood Table Top: 8 Easy Steps For Beginners?

Handmade wooden tables bring a rustic, intimate look to your interior space. Learning how to make a wood table top helps you save time and achieve unique results. Creating a wooden table for beginners is not difficult if you understand the principles, prepare enough tools, and understand the steps. The article below will guide you on how to make a wooden table top in detail and some unique ideas for making wooden tabletops for your reference.

How To Make a Simple Wooden Table Top?

Many people learn how to make a wood table top and how to finish them, but there are too many complicated instructions to get started. Lumber Grand will guide you in 8 simple steps, easy to follow even for beginners:

1. Step 1: Select The Wood And Cut It

The first thing you need to do is choose the right type of wood. Common types of wood used for tables are pine, maple, and oak, and make sure they are dry and not warped for the best results.

Measure and calculate the desired table top size: thickness, diameter (for round table top), or length - width (for square, desk table top). Once you have the final table top size, you can use a circular saw or table saw to cut it.

Select the wood and cut it to make a wooden table
Photo: ©photology2000 on Canva.com

2. Step 2: Place Them Where Assembly Is Required

Once you have the boards you want, lay them out as you like. Arrange the boards so that they line up, adjusting the sides so that the star patterns fit together nicely and snugly.

This step is essential in the process of how to make a wood table top that looks seamless and well-aligned. Once the boards are in place, mark them with stickers so you know how to install them yourself.

Arrange the wooden panels in position
Photo: ©photology2000 on Canva.com

3. Step 3: Mark The Position And Glue Them Together

You can use a grinder to process the contact surfaces between the boards to ensure they are tight and fit. Smoothing the surface will help the glue bond the wood panels more firmly, increasing the durability of the table top.

Next, specialized wood glue is applied to the contact surfaces between the marked wood panels. Press the boards tightly with a specialized clamping tool or a heavy object. Remember to clean off excess glue on the surface of the wood panels before they dry.

Attach the wood panels with glue
Photo: ©AscentXmedia on Canva.com

4. Step 4: Trim, Smooth And Sand

Depending on the type of glue, the drying time will be different. However, we recommend leaving it overnight for the glue to stick firmly. Check that the board is firmly bonded and uniform. After the gluing process, we will proceed to the sanding and trimming steps to shape the table top.

• Using a hand planer or sander to smooth the surface is how to make a wood table top smooth and flat.

• Trim the edges of the tabletop to create rounded lines, avoiding sharp edges or wood chips that are dangerous for you when using.

• Finally, sand the entire wooden surface thoroughly, gradually increasing the level to make the surface smooth.

Sanding and smoothing wooden table surfaces
Photo: ©stocknroll on Canva.com

5. Step 5: Add Optional Details

You can use wood stain or keep the natural color of the wood to preserve the rustic look of the wood. Once the surface has been treated to be smooth, you can decorate it with wood paint or mother-of-pearl inlay, according to your preference.

Wood painting is how to make a wood table top to become impressive and unique. You can use chalk paint (matte finish in classic style) or non-toxic natural milk paint.

Use a brush to take the pre-mixed paint and paint in the direction of the wood grain to create impressive color lines on the tabletop. With chalk paint or milk paint, the drying time is quite fast, so you don't have to wait too long to do the next step.

Decorate wooden table top with colorful paint
Photo: ©christianhorz on Canva.com

6. Step 6: Apply A Protective Finish

Next, we will guide you on how to protect the table top by applying a layer of polyurethane, oil, or your preferred wood finish. Commonly used oils for tabletop protection are Tung Oil, Danish Oil, Boiled Linseed Oil, and Mineral Oil. You should apply 2 to 3 coats of this protective oil to finish a wood table top, increasing water resistance and durability. After each coat of protective oil is applied to the tabletop, wipe off any excess oil and wait 2-4 hours (depending on the type of oil used) for the first coat to dry before applying the next coat.

Apply a protective coating to wooden table tops
Photo: ©Oleksandra on Canva.com

7. Step 7: Let Dry

After applying the final coat of oil, you must allow the table to dry completely before using it. It will usually take about 24 hours for the protective coatings on the table to dry before finishing. After the table top is dry, polish it to increase aesthetics.

Wait for the topcoat to dry completely.
Photo: Gen Chose

8. Step 8: Attach To The Table Bases

Finally, your table top is complete; attach it to your table bases. Choose the appropriate mounting method depending on your table base type. However, the best way to attach a wooden table top to a sturdy table base is to use screws to screw directly to the table top.

• First, turn the tabletop upside down and place the base under the tabletop, the center of gravity, or the corners of the table where the base will be attached.

• Use a drill to screw the screws directly into the table top.

• You can use additional wood glue on the base and tabletop for added durability.

Attach the tabletop to the bases
Photo: Vivianemarassi

Some Great Ideas For Making Unique Wooden Table Top

Wood is easy to create, bringing impressive furniture and decoration to the kitchen or living room of the family. Suppose you do not know how to make a wood table top with an interesting design. Try some ideas for making artistic wooden tabletops, which we suggest below!

• Use the best wood for epoxy table by arranging them in the shape of a river, simulating nature right in your home.

• Use split or punctured wood panels and fill them with deep blue Epoxy to give you a work of art.

• Use burnt or burned wood to burn the wood as desired, highlighting the wood grain and creating a highlight for the tabletop.

• You can decorate by inlaying shell materials or mother-of-pearl on the wooden table top with unique artistic shapes.

Ideas for making artistic wooden tabletops
Photo: Lumber Grand
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Making a wooden table at home is not difficult but requires complete preparation of tools and takes more time. However, the results will be unique and meaningful because they result from your labor. Hopefully, the above article will help you understand how to make a wood table top or give you ideas on how to finish a wood table top for your space.