DIY Rustic X Coffee Table (Plans by Ana White)

In recent weeks, my sister has expressed great interest in woodworking.  She sent me a picture of a coffee table someone built following Ana White’s plans for the Rustic X Coffee Table.  She wanted to build it too!  We spent a weekend constructing the coffee table, and in this post, I’ll share the steps we took to build it.

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Tools and Supplies

The following items are some of the tools and supplies we gathered to create the Rustic X Coffee table.  Check out Ana White’s plan for a more detailed listing.

• Kreg Jig (for joining boards)
• Kreg Right Angle Clamps
• Japanese Hand saw and Guide
• Rockwell VersaCut Circular Saw
• Rockwell JawHorse
• Charles Neil Pre-Color Conditioner – To prevent blotching
• Minwax Wood Finish (Jacobean 2750)
• Vermont Natural Coatings PolyWhey (Satin)

Building the Coffee Table

The Rustic X Coffee table complements plans Ana created for the Rustic X Console table.  The matching console table is a project I built a few years ago.  You can check out the build details for that project here.

Step 1:  Cut the boards to the appropriate lengths.

My sister and I used my Japanese handsaw and guide to cut the 2×2, 2×4 and 2×6 boards.  It was a nice arm workout.

I used my mini circular saw to cut the 1×12 board into the appropriate sized portion.  I really like the weight of this saw.  I splurged and purchased the kit.  The kit includes a track guide which makes accurate cuts pretty easy!  The only negative to this saw is it cannot cut 2x or thicker materials.

Rockwell VersaCut Circular Saw

Step 2:  Drill pocket holes

Next up, we used my Kreg Jig and created a ton of pocket holes.  I own the Kreg K5 Pocket Hole Jig and the Kreg Jig Master System.  Between the two, the K5 is my favorite model because it requires less effort to adjust the settings.

Step 3:  Assemble the frame

We had a really poor selection of 2×2 boards to choose from.  Twisted or bowed, take your pick!  Clamps were an absolute must for this project.  My Kreg right angle clamp was incredibly helpful for forcing the boards into place.

We decided to drop the x’s because our boards were so warped, and it was a battle not worth fighting.

Step 4:  Install the bottom shelf

We joined two 1×12 boards together to form the bottom shelf of the table.  Installing the shelf was the trickest step in the whole project (thanks to the super warped wood).  We used lots of clamping and mallet to get everything aligned and in place.

 Step 5:  Assemble the table top

We used pocket hole joints planking 2×6 boards together to form the coffee table’s top.

Step 6:  Attach the coffee table top to the frame

Finally, we screwed the table’s top the the frame.

Finishing the Coffee Table

Step 1:  Apply pre-stain conditioner.

Before applying the stain, we coated the table with Charles Neil Pre-Color Conditioner to prevent blotching.

Step 2:  Apply the stain

Next up, we added one coat of Minwax Wood Finish in Jacobean.  Unfortunately, my sister was disappointed with the color once we applied it on the table.  The stain was a darker color than she was expecting.

Step 3:  Seal the table

We sealed the coffee table with a couple layers of Vermont Natural Coatings PolyWhey.

The Finished Coffee Table

My sister really enjoyed building the coffee table.  I think she has found a new hobby in woodworking.  She is already plotting her next project!