Table top?

[Bsmith]

Mrs wanted a coffee table a bit bigger than what we have but not too big either , so I got this frame and cut 2/3ds off it so it is a suitable size and as it's lightweight steel, I brazed it back together.

Not really a welding forum question, but I wonder if someone knows what material would be best to make the top from? Looks like the last top had been set inside the box sections but I intend to go over the top with a bit of overlap. My thoughts are towards some kind of gloss coated mdf, maybe 18mm thick, but I would just have to buy a cut piece and the edges would need sorted as they would be rough. Anyway, something black as I am also making a shelf unit to match and it is to be black.

 

[Mark 5]

Where does one start, I understand you are keeping frame black, if it were me I would go for a semi gloss finish, would consider a two colour job, if kept one colour I can see the frame not black but oxide red, terracotta would be my choice.

Top, use black glass or furniture pine board, route the edges and stain or 12mm ply with a glued copper sheet or a floor tiled top or scaffold board glue filled clamped together to make a top, sand belt the bejesus out of it and clear lacquer as a seal, mind you it will be a real heavy coffee table.

 

[Onoff]

- Reclaimed scaffold boards

- Cast concrete. Make a mould out of timber. Silicone tool the internal edges to give rounded corners on the eventual slab. Scatter a few handfuls of bright scrap, brass fixings look nice or broken coloured glass. Cast your concrete with black dye in & a bit of decent mesh halfway up. When dry invert and buff the top level and flat with the appropriate disc. Lots of polyurethane sprayed on thereafter. Plenty of vids on GazTube. You can buy counter top mixes too.

 

[winchman]

Kitchen cupboard place should be able to make a top or we have a local glass place who would cut and Toughen a top

 

[Morrisman]

- Reclaimed scaffold boards

When we were building the house in the Philippines we saw a dining table on some web site, rusty metal, raw wood plank top, $1000 The wife loved it, but I wasn’t paying that sort of money, so made one myself. £50 worth of angle bar and some rough construction timber planks. It went quite well with the colours and style of the house.





I even brought it back to the UK after everything went down the toilet over there, it lives in my front room.

 

[Ton-up]

That would probably have had a glass top.

 

[TEO]

Mrs wanted a coffee table a bit bigger than what we have but not too big either , so I got this frame and cut 2/3ds off it so it is a suitable size and as it's lightweight steel, I brazed it back together.

Not really a welding forum question, but I wonder if someone knows what material would be best to make the top from? Looks like the last top had been set inside the box sections but I intend to go over the top with a bit of overlap. My thoughts are towards some kind of gloss coated mdf, maybe 18mm thick, but I would just have to buy a cut piece and the edges would need sorted as they would be rough. Anyway, something black as I am also making a shelf unit to match and it is to be black.

View attachment 465851

What are the dimensions?

 

[Mark 5]

When we were building the house in the Philippines we saw a dining table on some web site, rusty metal, raw wood plank top, $1000 The wife loved it, but I wasn’t paying that sort of money, so made one myself. £50 worth of angle bar and some rough construction timber planks. It went quite well with the colours and style of the house.

I even brought it back to the UK after everything went down the toilet over there, it lives in my front room.

Great job, Philippines, what is the timber?

 

[Erie Fred]

There was a fad a few years ago for D.I.Y. pour in place concrete kitchen counter tops.

Your top is small enough it could be made outside in a form, could get pretty creative with the outer edge shape, the color, and textures on top as well.

 

[Islander71]

If you use wood make sure you allow for differential movement between metal base and top.

 

[gaz1]

plywood and acrylic/epoxy will do what you want id use 1/2" though and then i can use a smaller piece to strengthen and also support the underside

 

[Bsmith]

plywood and acrylic/epoxy will do what you want id use 1/2" though and then i can use a smaller piece to strengthen and also support the underside

Yea, that is the sort of way I was thinking about going, but I don't know anything about using epoxy.

What are the dimensions?

Not sure, just whacked it together and squared as it looked about the right size then took photo and came home. Will get sizes tomorrow night.

 

[Bsmith]

That would probably have had a glass top.

Think you would be right, maybe the glass got broken then the frame was no good to previous owner.

 

[Morrisman]

Great job, Philippines, what is the timber?

I have no idea, it was just rough sawn planks that looked suitably interesting. It is very, very hard though. I sanded it and put a couple of coats of polyurethane varnish on.

 

[Bsmith]

if kept one colour I can see the frame not black but oxide red, terracotta would be my choice.

Got to agree, frame red oxide colour and black top would be nice.

 

[Bsmith]

What are the dimensions?

60cm x 42cm x 43cm high

 

[TEO]

60cm x 42cm x 43cm high

Sorry, I should have been clearer, what size top are you looking for, any overhang etc.?
I'm thinking of the worktop offcuts I've saved from jobs, walnut might work for your table. Maybe you'll find offcuts on fbm or the like.

 

[Onoff]

It's very nice, btw how long was it in the back of your van? There's a competition on here...

 

[Bsmith]

Sorry, I should have been clearer, what size top are you looking for, any overhang etc.?
I'm thinking of the worktop offcuts I've saved from jobs, walnut might work for your table. Maybe you'll find offcuts on fbm or the like.

Yea, have found someone with some bits of pine boards that I was thinking of joining with biscuits and screwing a piece of plywood underneath, then maybe a torched/burned wood and laquered finish after sanding. Kind offer though, I appreciate, thanks.

 

[Bsmith]

It's very nice, btw how long was it in the back of your van? There's a competition on here...

I have cut 2/3rds off it and it is such lightweight steel that I had to braze the end back on. I won't be high on the winners list as it went in the back of the estate car no problem.