A beginner DIY coffee table for less than £50

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This week I built a new coffee table for our living room, inspired by @Foureyes.Furniture and using just some simple DIY tools.
Leave me a comment with what you think of my project, and what I could have done differently.
Circular saw tips:
• I wish I knew this bef...
If you'd like to follow along with my future projects.
Consider subscribing: / @northernworks
Take a look at my other projects: • Furniture Projects
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Hi, I'm Pete. Northern Works is all about DIY furniture and home improvement projects that help us to consume less, and create more. I've got an ever-growing list of projects, and I'm excited to build things that I want to use, and that we'd love to see around our home.
If you value great design, but want to consume less of the fast furniture, then I'd love for you to join our community here on KZbin where we can learn together and share ideas.
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What I used in this video:
- Hardwood plywood: www.howarth-timber.co.uk/plyw...
- My cordless drill: amzn.to/3Cd6dBZ
- My circular saw: www.diy.com/departments/erbau...
- My trim router: amzn.eu/d/5FVgFI5
- A hand saw: amzn.to/3Sjkbbh
- A flat file: amzn.to/3r8Prxs
- Clamps: amzn.to/3SzoYVM
- Danish Oil: amzn.to/3ReDfGb

[@northernworks]

Hey everyone, I hope you enjoyed watching this project. If there was one tool I'd add in the future it's 100% a sander - my arm still hasn't recovered from all that hand sanding! Let me know what you think - and what you're working on...

[@Edd030427]

Just found your channel and watched a few vids... I'll be honest, the best thing about it is hearing a local accent!

[@abigailfoy3557]

That piece of plywood that was left over.. matching beveled coasters!

[@Noxhz]

Great video! Love the fact that you show people that you dont need huge workshops and every machine to make something great, making woodworking even more accessible for everyone! The table turned out great too!

[@northernworks]

Thanks! Yeah for sure, it definitely showed me that I can build more ‘interesting’ pieces despite not having loads of space and tools.

[@wonkycutsworkshop]

I've been binge watching your videos this morning. When I started woodworking, I had this delutional opinion that to be a good woodworker I need all these fancy tools. 5 years in, I do have a lot of nice tools but then I found your channel. You really have showed me that it doesn't need to be complicated with massive machine park and all dance brand battery tools to make something that works for you. Thank you. I'll be carrying on watching the rest of your videos. And maybe I'll learn something that I can apply when I record my new projects. Keep it up.

[@northernworks]

Thanks! Glad you’ve enjoyed them

[@kevinbrown6539]

Great effort. The leg design is a cool way of using plywood. I’m been relearning woodworking too. Mistakes are an important part of learning. Keep it up.

[@northernworks]

Thanks Kevin. Yeah, I’m really enjoying trying a bunch of new techniques and seeing how far I can take things. Hope to see one of your projects soon!

[@supermario1982171]

Just wanted to say I really enjoyed this video and your personality subscribed keep going buddy great channel

[@northernworks]

Thanks, appreciate it

[@pitsnipe5559]

Nice! Reminds me of a coffee table my mother had back in the early 1960’s.

[@northernworks]

Thanks - yeah it’s definitely on a mid-century vibe

[@christopherking2999]

Beautiful work, I wish you would have explained more about the leg and stretcher construction.

[@johnydowling3710]

Great job

[@pdominiquefr]

Great job! I also wanted to build the spider table from Foureyes Furniture using plywood so thanks for the inspiration.

[@northernworks]

Thanks Pierre, yeah it’s a great project to do - just a little time and patience with the router and it’s such a good looking piece from Chris

[@chenderson5490]

Great build and an amazing job. But! Respectfully disagree that the biggest mistake was not saying four power tools. THE BIGGEST MISTAKE IS THE TOTAL LACK OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE PUPPY!!! 😂 Your shop helper is adorable!! Found this video via RagnBone shout out. Great stuff

[@scottvanderhaeghen2000]

Well done! Looks fantastic!

[@northernworks]

Thank you

[@TheMrjoehughes]

I’m Happy to subscribe mate, great table you have made there and I’m inspired by this to make my own

[@northernworks]

Thanks chief! And hearing that is the best news

[@georgegriffiths2235]

Started watching your videos back to front in date 🤨 picked you up from a recommendation from the start making channel enjoying the content so far 👍

[@georgegriffiths2235]

Well that’s you binge watched 🤣🤣🤣

[@chris86evans]

Just stumbled on this after watching some Foureyes Furniture videos and it's an instant subscribe, love the vibe and what you're trying to achieve, especially as you're not using many more tools than I already own! I'm about to dive into the world of woodworking and it's great to see stuff like this.

[@northernworks]

That’s really good to hear! Aye, there’s a lot of amazing big workshops on KZbin. I love learning from them, and then working out how to do the same with my smaller selection of tools.

[@bighig88]

Excellent project and a great video. Very inspiring

[@northernworks]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it

[@ronytroche]

Amazing! I really liked it, I'm starting woodworking too and its great to see someone who does so much without tons of fancy tool, keep up the great content, love you dog btw

[@northernworks]

Thank you! Yeah, I mean I’d love a big table saw, but I just don’t have the space for big machinery but I’m determined not to let it stop me making furniture I enjoy. What are you building at the moment?

[@scottykav3362]

Loved it came out really nice does prove don't need a whole fancy workshop to make stunning projects.

[@bridevalley]

Great video, I like your approach!

[@northernworks]

I appreciate that, thank you!

[@rhinopaul115]

Great video. I love the design and and your delivery is great. BTW Archie steals the show..he's adorable.

[@northernworks]

I know, he’s hard to ignore! He’s a little terrorist when it comes to eating EVERYTHING in sight, though 😅

[@justinthierheimer6407]

Great job mate! That’s a really great project that you amplified using simple material and tools. Keep up the great work

[@northernworks]

Thanks, really appreciate it

[@91brunops]

Nice to see good furniture from people like "us". Congratulations!

[@northernworks]

Ha, thank you. I might not have loads of tools, but I don’t think that should stop us!

[@dan.w.hoover2556]

Nice!

[@northernworks]

Thanks

[@klutxzs]

Awesome work!!! Really loved it...will definitely make this my first project due to cost-effectiveness and fewer tools to use.

[@northernworks]

Thanks man, glad it helped you

[@stevereed5776]

Nice job, good to see these types of projects without the use of £5,000+ worth of tools. New subscriber so looking forward to seeing more in the future.

[@northernworks]

Yeah, true that. Amazing what a bit of the old elbow grease can achieve

[@nathanielannetts4542]

Found your videos recently, you deserve a much a bigger sub count for the content you put out. Really enjoy the vids, keep them coming 👍🏻

[@northernworks]

Thanks Nathaniel, that’s kind to hear

[@ivymoore4638]

i really wanna do this now, thank you for inspiring mate

[@northernworks]

Glad you enjoyed it - it was a fun project to do

[@billygruf]

Really enjoyed this video simple clever design with limited tools. Inspired to steal your design and build it for myself 👍

[@northernworks]

Great to hear! I’d love to see how it turns out - hit me up on IG and let me know

[@davidparkyn4716]

First time watching your channel,most excellent what you accomplished there, I added my subscription

[@northernworks]

Thanks David, glad you enjoyed it

[@christopherbrightman-white1961]

nice job

[@northernworks]

Thanks

[@rookie5788]

Hi, great video. Like it. Please more of it.

[@northernworks]

Thanks! Glad to hear you liked it

[@Malba1776]

Thanx for the video, we all need to remember to make sure ur power tools r not plugged n during blade changes

[@northernworks]

So true!

[@sthadley]

I came, I saw, I subscribed. I’m watching the desk build on the other screen rn (loving the joinery in that one). Please more like this. ❤ Can I request a chair next, in your northern/Japanese style?

[@northernworks]

Thanks, I’m glad you’re enjoying the videos. There is a chair on my project list! Hope to get to it soon 😅

[@MercUndGut]

First of all, I love it. It's a simpler version of the foureyes furniture table which I'd love to build but the videos of his feel intimidating when starting off - especially due to the equipment they use. How much degrees did you set your circular saw to when sawing the edges of the table?

[@northernworks]

Thanks! Yeah, that’s one of the reasons I wanted to try and build it - to see if it’s doable with simpler tools. Turns out it is 😅 I can’t remember exactly the angle - maybe 20-30 degrees?

[@mstev5956]

enjoyed the video thanks nice to follow a local lad

[@northernworks]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@graham8854]

Love your commitment to 3 tools 🙂 Love your table 🙂 I am inspired; great job! New sub here 👍

[@northernworks]

Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it!

[@ping170]

Amazing project with a sheet of plywood 👍 I guess you could just ignore the improvised "figure eight" and go with dowels and glue as ply shouldn't extend or contract much 😉

[@northernworks]

Aye, you could for sure. At the time I was convinced it would be important to be able to take the top off, but now I can’t see why I’d need to 😅

[@ping170]

🤣@@northernworks

[@margan59]

I'm glad I stumbled on your site. Question: How did you come up with the leg design?

[@northernworks]

Glad you found me! The legs were inspired by Foureyes furniture’s Spider coffee table - they’re a classic mid-century modern style

[@KevinAdams06]

Love your enthusiasm. Just made a keyboard wrist rest, then a monitor riser, now I have the diy bug. I’m going to try to make a table, similar to yours, using reclaimed wood for the legs, it’s cheap hickory board for the tabletop. Thanks for the inspiration! Would you be willing to post files? I can understand you might want to hold onto them to sell. Cheers!

[@northernworks]

Hey Kevin, glad you enjoyed it. Sounds like a similar DIY bug that I caught! I don’t have files - the legs are hugely inspired by FourEyes Furniture and I think he sells plans?

[@phildog75]

I'm not trying to be critical. My older brother, who passed a couple of years ago, was a carpenter and millwright. Always said, "Push a file, never drag it. I think you have been dulling your file. Just food for thought. I am enjoying your content so far and have subscribed and will share.

[@northernworks]

Great tip, thanks for sharing it

[@michaelwillson6847]

That looks awesome. I got your channel from kieth at ragnbone sub done working through your videos. Am currently starting on this venture doing tables chopping boards etc just been given the green light to workshop with power and heat so we'll pleased. I totally agree with the 4 eyes comparison those guys are sommit else don't no if u follow him but John malecki and cam at blacktail studio! 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@northernworks]

Amazing! I’d love a dedicated workshop. Glad you found me - I owe Keith a big thanks. Yeah, I watch most of the stuff from those channels, I think it’s brilliant how much people share their knowledge on KZbin

[@michaelwillson6847]

@@northernworks totally agree yea some the guys on here give every bit of knowledge and skills they have. Honestly I've been doing what your doing for year or so but the wife's getting sick the mess in back garden and it's not great having set up tools outside then it rains. 🤔 Another one check out John malecki if u don't follow him he does some bonkers stuff. Yea am well pleased getting it just need get set up and going. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍

[@philipwilliams8114]

Great channel pal. Super to find a new UK woodworker. Followed the link from @ragnbonebrown. Archie is a belter too 🐾

[@northernworks]

Thanks! Glad you found me. I was super honoured to get a mention from Keith. (I’ll tell Archie he’s the real reason for my success so far 😉)

[@robertleyland4252]

Loved the video's inspirational. Did you get the template/plans from Foureyes Furniture

[@northernworks]

No, I drew up my own templates based on some of the geometry and worked out the problems as I went along. I’ve not used his plans, but they come highly recommended

[@robertleyland4252]

@@northernworks Ok Thanks

[@user-dg8rq6fc1k]

Нас много таких как ты,парень! Так что вперед а народ подтянется!

[@northernworks]

Thanks!

[@galvandavis]

Nice! Do you think that desing cold work for a desk? I mean, 18mm plywood supported by 4 spots only. Would it bend?

[@northernworks]

Glad you liked it! I reckon you could play with that design and get it to work as a desk, yeah. Probably needs a thicker top, and not too large a span. Maybe add a fifth point in the centre to spread the load? Would love to see what you come up with if you give it a go

[@galvandavis]

@@northernworks just for curiosity, what angle those legs have?

[@bighig88]

Any plans for the legs?

[@northernworks]

To be honest, the legs from this table are modelled after Chris’s designs over at @foureyesfurniture. I think he sells plans for his table, so worth checking his channel out

[@borgona362]

a work of ART my friend !

[@northernworks]

Thank you!

[@stevenphillipmccormick9190]

I am inspired by your enthusiasm and for some reason your mistakes

[@user-gi8mz2om8t]

초보를 위한 작품이더라도 상판 다리 합판 두장 붙혀서라도 2.5cm 이상 두께로 만들었으면 좋았을꺼 같음

[@northernworks]

Thanks, glad you liked it! You could definitely make it thicker that way, if that’s the look you’re going for. It’s plenty strong enough with one layer though.

[@stefanfrank8572]

nice work - idk why, but your subscribe button dont work 🤷‍♂️

[@northernworks]

Haha - I appreciate it, thanks

[@antennasbc]

Great table? Uh no. I enjoyed the video but it's plywood. Not.for me, some might like it I suppose.

[@northernworks]

Fair enough! Glad you enjoyed the video, even if you didn’t like the final finish

[@viezefreddie]

Love this project and deffo going to create the same coffee table. Any chance you can share some design plans? And what kind of thickness plywood did you use? Cheers! Keep it up

[@northernworks]

Thanks Merijn, glad you liked it. I used 18mm hardwood ply - construction grade really. You could use something nicer, like birch ply, but it’s just what I had left in the offcuts pile. I don’t have plans - this table is a reinterpretation of one of Foureyes Furniture’s tables. I think he sells plans.