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Cedar Table Tops

~3'x3' outdoor table toppers made out of western red cedar and finished with a combination of sealing coats and marine finish topcoats.   These tops were built to encompass / fit over the existing table tops that were made of dark plastic composites.   A creative way to revive or give your outdoor furniture a new look, without the cost of buying complete new tables.   In this application, there were 3 separate tables, but all 3 could be pushed together to form a single table as illustrated.

Picnic Table with character

My goal with this project was to create a durable outdoor table that re-engineered what I consider deficiencies in the classic picnic table, as well as include some of the beautiful characteristics found on indoor tables.

 

The table is made from hand picked Select Douglas Fir, which has natural decay and insect resistance, along with beautiful patina and grain patterns. The wood in this case is dense and heavier, which can be a drawback, but in this application I chose the beauty of the wood over the final weight of the table.  The table top and seats have breadboard style ends that are mortised and tenoned to each cross member. These ends not only provide a clean look, but serve to prevent end board warp over time.   In addition, the top and seats are given additional support with cleats to help prevent sag.  All fasteners are carefully planned to provide excellent rigidity, and relocated to less visible locations, allowing the table design to showcase itself without visual distraction.  A bottom stretcher with exposed through tenons ties each leg pair together for additional structure and visual character.  The top itself is close in width to a full serving size dining table to minimize crowding, and the seats are pulled out sightly to allow for more comfort and leg room.  Finally, subtle curves and angles provide aesthetic beauty and flow.  The table is finished with a high quality marine sealer and top coat protecting against moisture and UV. 

 

NOTE: The six inch center on the table top provides a visual accent in this piece, but also can be customized for other applications; (ice buckets, planters, and other nifty ideas).  I am very proud of this table, and hope you like it as well!

Wine Bar Table Top

This top was constructed for the Wildflower Barn wedding event center in Driftwood, Tx.   Customer wanted a table top that was outdoor resistant, reasonably mobile/lightweight, somewhat rustic or aged, and would fit over varying sizes of wine barrels.  

 

The table is made out of select 4/4 milled Cypress, with the some plywood backing and inlays on the underside to accommodate each barrel.   The top uses 2 different coats of stain, one attempting to provide an weathered appearance, the other providing color.  It is then toppped with a few coats of marine sealer/finish.   The table top has some subtle contours on each corner.   Additional manufactured distressing through abrading, finishing, and other techniques, were performed to give it a slightly worn look. 

Cannot wait to see this in use...

Rustic Elegance 

Table made from western red cedar known for outdoor decay and insect resistance, selectively picked to provide multi-faceted color contrasts.  Design includes walk in style bench to provide easier entry and exit seating.  Knots in the cedar, along with a simple plank design, provide a warm, rustic feel, while varying curves add flow and subtle elegance to the piece.   Table is finished with base layers of 2 part epoxy, followed by multiple coats of marine varnish for added UV / water resistance.

Customer had wanted a picnic table for over 30 yrs, and this was a chance to design something special. 

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