Jeff, an occasional guest author here and owner of Degenhart Projects & Reviews, made a beautiful oak dining room table, using Pocket Hole Joinery for most of the table’s construction.
Starting materials consisted of S4 red oak boards, table legs, and Jeff’s finish of choice (red Mahogany stain + satin polyurethane). As for the tools, Jeff used a Kreg pocket hole jig, a corded drill, plenty of clamps, and many fasteners. Total cost was around $200.
The steps are fairly straightforward and easy to follow:
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Starting off with “S4” wood boards means that all you need to break them down is a circular saw or table saw; no planing or jointing should be necessary. Although a less economical option, it is also possible to purchase all boards pre-cut to size so that no sawing is necessary.
Additional details and photos are posted up at Jeff’s site.
Bruce
So, where can I buy S4 oak, or other species?
JeffD
@ Bruce – Lowe’s sells S4 Red Oak. The S4 designation means that it’s finished on all four edges and doesn’t need to be milled.
Stuart
Certain lumber yards may also provide S4 lumber. Or you can also purchase boards surfaced on both sides and with one straight-ripped edge, in which case you will need a circular saw with edge guide or table saw to break it down.
michael
I’m a little concerned about wood movement. It looks like the apron is screwed to the top all the way around. As that solid top expands and contracts with the season, it may rip itself apart. If you see it start to do that, there’s an easy fix. Just remove the screws in the apron, route a groove on the top inside of the apron, and use a bunch of “table top fasteners” from Rockler or elsewhere.
It looks great, though, and is a wonderful example of what nice stuff you can do quickly and cheaply.
Mike
So you can leave the pocket holes that hold the boards together if you just replace the screws going from the apron to the top??
Stuart
You definitely have a point there about the potential wood movement of the opposing grain side aprons. In addition to z-clips that fit into routed grooves, there are special angle plates that can be installed somewhat easier and quicker.
Ryan
Very cool! Can you buy the table legs pre-tapered like that? Also it looks like Jeff’s site is no longer active–did it move by chance?
Stuart
Yes, you can buy pre-tapered table legs. Home Depot carries a couple of table leg styles, and I’m sure there are plenty of other sources.
Looks like Jeff took his entire site down. If it moved, I don’t know where to – sorry.
JeffD
Thanks for the comments.
It’s been so long, but I bought the legs pre-made as I didn’t have the skills or patience to make tapered legs. I found them on a website that specializes in table/chair legs. Sorry, but I cannot remember the site.
Sadly, the website is gone as I had other priorities.
chris labbate
Just wondering if that is the Kreg K4 jig or ??? Maybe K5? I found a good online tool store and was just curious what your thoughts were on models? Any preference: https://www.thetoolstore.ca/viewItem.asp?idProduct=6154
Scott
Looks great. My concern would be movement at the connection of the apron to the legs.
How has this worked out?