Herringbone Console Table, Top

Also: Herringbone Console Table, Legs

After looking at my storage of wood, I wanted to try my own version of this chevron table top from Addicted2Decorating.  However, lacking a circular saw or another way to make straight, long cuts, I decided to make a herringbone pattern instead.

We stacked and aligned blocks, making and disassembling patterns, my 3 year old girl and I, her mother 9 times her senior.  Our weekends have been wood-er-ful and my little helper has been so willing to work and encourage.  :)

This is what we have so far and the journey we've taken to get here:

Materials:

Console Table Top    

1 - 1/2" plywood 4'x8" $2.50 (leftover from bathroom floating shelves)

~5 - 1x2x4 douglas fir strips $7.00 (scrap pieces leftover from bathroom floating shelves, 2 - $1 pieces from City Mill discount area, 2 - $2.50 1x2s)

5 - 3/4"x1"x4' $3 (leftover from bathroom floating shelves)

Miter saw, wood glue (Titebond III), wood filler, sand paper and sanding block, damp rag for cleaning  Already owned

The amount I paid is based on pricing in Hawai'i. 
The herringbone table top cost $12.50 to build and the majority of my Saturday.

Process:

I started this project with my little helper, and my "best buddy."  She gets excited to work with me on projects, especially if it involves painting, or stacking many little blocks.

While my daughter ate breakfast with her grandma, I cut the pieces of the herringbone pattern with my little miter saw.  I cut square pieces and rectangular pieces about twice the width of the square piece.

I glued together 3/4" x 1/2" strips to create the ledge that would frame the herringbone pattern.

My daughter helped me dry fit the block pieces before we spent the rest of the morning gluing the pieces together.

We spent the rest of the day enjoying each other and letting the glue set.  At night, I returned to our block experiment and filled in all the cracks with wood filler.  After filling, I wiped the surface with a damp cloth, much like grouting tile. I sanded the surface lightly and then called it a night.

The next day, I glued the solid herringbone top to a leftover plywood plank and glued the frame edging I had prepared the day before.  I filled all the crevices with wood filler again, wiped, and sanded and set it aside to set and dry, again.

On this President Day Monday, my daughter and I woke, then let a crisp release of air as I opened these old containers of Golden Oak and Red Oak stain. 

 Using Q-tips to keep my daughter's hands clear of stain and cotton balls for me, I marked zig-zag territory for the Red Oak, while my daughter stained the frame Red Oak.

I applied a coat of Golden Oak zig-zags.  We continued this twice, then I went over the entire surface with Watco Danish Oil in Black Walnut, which reduced the above affect greatly.

Although the staining is only halfway done, this is what the table top looked like.  I appreciate how the initial Golden Oak and Red Oak stains were not entirely in vain. Even if covered by a darker stain, each section has taken on a slightly different wood tone, which was the subtle difference I was hoping to attain.