DIY Concrete River Table | How to Build a Concrete Coffee Table

I'll show you how to build a DIY concrete river table / concrete coffee table. Check out squarespace.com/jonnybuilds to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code JONNYBUILDS.
This week I'll show you how I built a round concrete "river" coffee table using conventional Quikrete concrete, rebar, and a welded steel 3 legged base. If you don't have access to a welder you could make a version of this concrete coffee table by wiring the rebar together and using hairpin legs for the base. To create the river pottion of this concrete river table I used a foam insulation cut out to create a knockout within the concrete form. I placed a rebar grid on top of that form during the pour, and chiseled through the concrete slab to reveal the rebar within the table.
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Materials:
Drill - amzn.to/3e1y2hD
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Pika Pen - amzn.to/3ga52pR
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#concretetable #concrete #industrial

[@JonnyBuilds]

I know I'll get questions about what happens if your coffee cup falls through the cut out, or why didn't I fill it with resin, so I'll address that here. First, this table is 30 inches wide, and the cut out is about 4 inches wide. That's 26 inches of usable space which is wider than most coffee tables. Second, filling this with clear resin would be needlessly expensive, and have a high likelihood of things going wrong combining construction grade concrete and epoxy. Finally, it just wouldn't look good. That said I do think combining this style concrete river table with a glass insert would be awesome, but that's an idea I'm saving for a future build. Thanks for watching, and I forgot to add the watch to the end word...😬. Comment "Ouch" if you watched 'til the end!

[@ChrisPage68]

Ouch! How's your hernia? 😜 I bet some high end furniture company will be selling copies of your design for 4x the price.

[@victoriarivera7638]

Ouch! Nice result.

[@JonnyBuilds]

That would be fine by me!

[@JonnyBuilds]

Thanks 🙏

[@Bobo-gm9fd]

The question I came here to ask and you have already answered it ,thank you

[@lafondawilliams]

when cuting holes in jeans wasnt enough we moved to tables

[@rskartik6887]

Humanity at its peak

[@parkwayconcepts8758]

Ouch! This thing is right up my alley. I love the "art" behind it. Rugged and broken.

[@barryrobbins7694]

Arnaldo Pomodoro is the master.

[@davepeck7633]

Your video inspired me to build one of my own, with a twist. Instead of a river, I cut my foam into the letter "H". I will be giving the table to my in-laws who's last name starts with the letter "H". I bought a masonry bit for my impact drill to create the holes in between the rebar in the letter, but I was burning though batteries too quickly. I switched to an air chisel and it worked great. Very easy to control and do some precision chiseling. I will be etching the remaining letters into the surface of the concrete to spell out their name. I completed the stand build yesterday. I angle cut the top corners as you did, but i ended up making them a constant, smooth curve. Thanks for the videos!

[@nafitron]

Your videos are super encouraging! I've stopped doing woodworking for about 2 years now after moving my shop to our new house. Your videos are motivating me to get back out there! You make things that are doable by everyone! Great work -- keep it up.

[@neilf4128]

This may be a bit out of context but I really want to give a shout to you Johnny. Thanks for your tips and tricks with resin epoxy. 1. Removing excess with heat gun and putty knife . 2. Taping the show side and filling from back side for a flatter and cleaner reveal.

[@SpencleyDesignCo]

KIller job Jonny! Really love this urban decay style!

[@lucidtrip3439]

Really creative and looks good too!

[@dmdesigndaco2776]

What a beautifull and raw design! Nice job!

[@Avocadomushroom]

Omg I love love love love this 😭 I want it 😍

[@robrobertson3806]

Another cool project. You never disappoint. Love the look of this table.

[@bradymcphail9690]

Jonny- another very cool build! It gave me a an idea for a build of my own. I cant think of good ideas on my own, I have to steal my ideas from the great makers and then make my little tweaks... So thanks man.

[@TheGuycaico2]

Ouch... I love this industrial style you've been doing, it looks amazing! Keep it up man!

[@JonnyBuilds]

Thanks for watching til the end!

[@FredMcIntyre]

Awesome work Jonny, turned out great! 😃👌🏻👍🏻👊🏻

[@EthanCarterDesigns]

I watched the video earlier this morning and the video and project are absolutely awesome! I really dig the urban decay design and so cool how you chiseled out the river. Great stuff as always Jonny!

[@JonnyBuilds]

Thanks Ethan! More like this coming down the road!

[@EthanCarterDesigns]

@@JonnyBuilds That's awesome to hear!

[@Grabarz23]

Pro tip from me: Next time just "borrow" the Manhole hatch from sewage well :D

[@JonnyBuilds]

So clever.

[@JTWoodworks]

You killed it on this project and video. I love how clean and simple the base is

[@JonnyBuilds]

thanks brother!

[@JoeMakes]

Love that patina look! It doesn't "hurt" me at all to watch the end (and all the lifting). Hope everyone is doing well!

[@donnie7578]

Excellent Coffee Table...Great Work!

[@JonnyBuilds]

Thanks!

[@applefanda_cz]

That look super cool! Good job! :)

[@justinglenn448]

Love it, awesome work looks sick.

[@TylerBellMakes]

Hot dang dude! Love that base

[@shitheadjohnson2797]

love seeing the rebar from the outside effect.

[@corneliuspeters2418]

This is a beautiful coffee table. Good work

[@JonnyBuilds]

Thanks 🙏

[@jimmerseiber]

This is awesome. When I make one I'll probably run the river all the way through.

[@appalachianmountaindesigns7713]

I like the concrete ideas. It's a different new look. Thanks for sharing. Until next time. *Chris*

[@PKedByBlade]

Damn. This is super cool!] well done!!

[@userbetty]

clean

[@normanmerrill1241]

Beautiful job...beautiful table...

[@Aleinux]

So gorgeous

[@cyberpunk4622]

Very interesting design, thanks for sharing

[@jma5177]

Excellent. Seus trabalhos (videos) são muito bons. Parabéns. Congratulations.

[@mr.coffeecreations4340]

Nice! I think I will try to make one table like this!

[@Ihaveaboyfriend]

Really really Nice

[@anthony5227]

You are artistic and creative as hell man. Great work

[@hvcustomcreationsklippel6779]

Love your work and videos

[@JonnyBuilds]

Thanks!

[@TheBlackEventorizon]

Perhaps a partial Resin fill on the hole would work? Invert the table, seal as needed (PP Sheet & Hotglue?) then add maybe just 1/2in of resin or maybe 1in so that the hole isn't completely filled. You get a 'complete' table surface, while still seeing the whole hole and exposed rebar. Having literally just done a river table myself and winced at the cost of the resin I calculated in the pour... yeah, I can see why you didn't! - Ouch!

[@MCsCreations]

Beautiful work, dude. It really looks fantastic!!! 😃 I watched to the end, but I didn't get what was to comment about. 😕 Stay safe there! 🖖😊

[@leinahtanharas]

Ouch! Love it 👍

[@joseraulberlangazarate7065]

Beautiful, I wish I had all the tools to give it a go, I don't have the skills to make it anywhere near that nice, but I'd love that on my backyard.

[@muratakyurek3550]

Mükemmel bir sanat tebrikler. Maşallah 👏

[@duckwrth2472]

Thought you where gonna use resin in it, who wants a coffee table with a hole in it?

[@androzatz]

Me too bro, i'm disappointed :(

[@johndabomb1183]

Same

[@lloydvicedo1340]

Just put glass on top of it.

[@hansdegroot8549]

Same

[@garagemonkeysan]

So cool. Beautiful table. Nice video, love the new shop. So much light! I see a fork lift in your future. : ) Mahalo for sharing!

[@JonnyBuilds]

Thanks!

[@DavidAbella]

Awesome job. Hope I have all your tools 🤯

[@yellowdogparty]

Cool style. It was also neat before you there away the rubble inside. It kind of had a Demolition Man vibe. :)

[@rjrj570]

I like it as is. thank you thank you for NOT using resin... even a glass top cover would be a better than resin

[@JonnyBuilds]

Thanks, I agree!

[@peterc938]

very cool

[@meme-sw1pc]

I smiled when you cut it too short, we have all done things like that, I am a new subscriber from Tasmania.

[@TheDimonkoV]

Cool!!! 👏👌🏻😌

[@raziel3726]

Craftsman!!

[@ljmz79]

Awesome looking coffee table! Love it! Maybe the legs could have been even more simple and have level tops instead of the angled cut. And like suggested in some other comments, a glass top would be a nice option, which would make whole table surface usable.

[@MrBLUEDEVILUK]

A coloured resin edge ring would look cool

[@greglawson3805]

Very nice work as usual, but ouch! You need a hoist!! Thanks for the vid.

[@vanessas2517]

I luv the look it gives me an idea or for you do light gunmetal resin so the bars are still visible with led light. I luv your videos and creative mind. Keep it up

[@JonnyBuilds]

Thanks!

[@waffle_chair9269]

Dang, I thought it was going to be expoxy in the river bit. Still very cool

[@jonhay75]

Nice.

[@josephxkendrick]

I liked the ball on the silicone to make the nice edge

[@JonnyBuilds]

Thanks brother!

[@tristandreemurr8755]

Everybody gangsta' till he takes that concrete and rebarb and makes a statue. (I'm referencing SCP-173 for anyone who couldn't figure that out.) themselves.)

[@georgiafreemantle7680]

Amazing!!! I love it.. and I think you should lift with your legs and not your back to avoid straining your back.

[@autopainterhamzaansari5712]

بہت خوب

[@970SHR]

Interesting build. Maybe replacing rebar with some twisted square bar instead

[@jma5177]

I'm from Brazil.

[@mra9743]

Really cool table, love the design. Would it have been easier to use 2 pieces of foam and sandwich the rebar with the ends out into the table? That way there only chiseling you need to do is clean up and the cosmetic stuff. Thoughts?

[@JonnyBuilds]

Seems easier in theory, but in practice would cause more issues. Lining up the foam inserts would be next to impossible during the concrete pour. Keeping the foam from floating up would have required extra framing to hold it down. You would still have to do the majority of the chiseling to give it the more organic appearance.

[@maderayvidacarpinteria]

Nice job! 😎👍🏻 I really liked the fact that you didn't use neither glass nor epoxy in the river hole. The way you did it gives the coffee table a real industrial look. Greetings from Playa del Carmen, Mexico ☀️🌴🇲🇽

[@JonnyBuilds]

Thanks! Also wish I was in Playa Del Carmen right now. Haven’t been diving in years and need to soon!

[@maderayvidacarpinteria]

@@JonnyBuilds Right now everything is closed in Playa because of the health situation. But once this ends, you're very welcome to come. Contact me if you do.

[@makerbobdesigns365]

Almost all masonry drills have a hammer only option and you can get chisel bits. That would make this a ton easier.

[@dfsont]

Ouch indeed. Hope the back bounced back, Johnny. Killer build. Curious - did you apply the same treatment to the rebar as you did the steel base? Could you apply it before pouring the concrete? PITA to do it after. This and your Makesgiving waterfall table are on my shortlist for a patio table. But if used outdoors would be great to limit rust on the rebar.

[@lejend69]

Very nice a little crush glass and clear epoxy would make this table perfect to use very nice work . And o yah some led lights lol . I know you told us why but I had to ask lol but it’s great work just wanted to bust your chops a little lol .

[@rskartik6887]

Every one : it looks unfinished Me : How tf am I supposed to put that on my bed

[@JohnSmith-yp3jm]

Next time you do a concrete table like this with the chipped out section, try filling it back in with clear epoxy and run fiber optic wires under the rebar. Then hook the wires to a light color changing device

[@katiemarek6741]

This is sweet! Your poor back, ouch!

[@JonnyBuilds]

Back rub?

[@MarkH10]

👇 Nice work.

[@Michaelton]

You and hack smith should collab

[@danielvandermeer9776]

You could fill the river with epoxy resin for a different look

[@deefisher5157]

very cool. i was expecting some clear epoxy in the river

[@gwaust1]

Love the table. Did you ever think about putting some of the pink foam on inside of the left and right larger areas? This would of left a 'hollow' void which would reduce the weight as well. Just a thought I had watching you lift the damn thing!

[@MouseGoat]

"Me no use math, ug me slap stone on metal and call it Table for morning fule." XD jk love this design and raw industrial feel it has, nothing like a table that will stand even if the rest of the house fell down on it.

[@TheZalaran]

This table arrived well packaged and on time. kzbin.infoUgkxn94T8Mu1iMnsLCMNOI9srXSsLkI4JXKW Like another reviewer advised, I pulled everything out and made sure everything was included (everything was!). I built it alone and it took me about an hour. The color is great and for the price the lift part works well. As others have mentioned, it’s not the smoothest opening/closing, but it works. The screws do show, but I plan to order white sticker covers if that bothers us too much. Really happy with this table! UPDATE: it’s been over a year since we got this coffee table and we still love it! It gets HEAVY use as our dining table, foot rest, and school desk. Over time, the opening and closing mechanism has gotten smoother. I added a new photo with the white screw cover stickers. They blend in perfectly and make it look a little cleaner. 100% recommend!!!

[@anthonycaldi7056]

You have Mad Talent! I thought you were going to fill the middle “cutout” with Epoxy? I wonder how that would look. Why don’t you try that?

[@curtispresten6506]

Ouch- Needs resin. You're right it would be more expensive, but the table just looks unfinished.

[@nikolalutov8898]

I mean...just an extremely thin and fully transparent layer on the very surface would do the trick. Not that expensive and you'll have a fully function countertop space!

[@coenraed]

Couldn't disagree more, it looks perfect the way it is. epoxy is way overused these days

[@JC-XL]

That's what I expected when I clicked on the video - to fill the hole with resin then polish it

[@randybobandy9828]

@@coenraed i disagree. Just because another of youtubers do alone ofnepoxy builds doesn't mean they are over done. I never come across epoxy tables in my day to day life.

[@milindjaiswal4375]

Can it possible to add epoxi resin .... that would look super cool

[@jadsonsilvajait8436]

Olá, deveria usar areia grossa molhada no lugar que vai ficar vazado, melhor que insopor, pois não precisa quebrar depois.

[@Lardothefox]

Would the concrete and steel be able to withstand the heat if I put this over a fireplace? It seems like it would make a great outdoor stove.

[@SuperQuantum69]

Awesome work! How would you protect the visible rods from oxidation?

[@JonnyBuilds]

Thanks! Sealer and wax on the rebar.

[@ChrisPage68]

Oxidation would enhance it.

[@jonny555ive]

Looks great, but I was really hoping for epoxy in the middle. I guess you could add it ? My 2 cents bro. 👍👍 Keep up the awesome work. Oh yeah..... "OUCH" har har

[@finnthehuman4928]

главное не двигать этот стол по паркету, будет оставлять за собой борозды в сантиметр глубиной 😄

[@FreeKiLLuminati]

i wish if you fill it up with Epoxy translucent.👌

[@NathanWeis1]

you should go back to this project and try pouring clear resin in the gap so it looks like a hole but you can use the whole table

[@user-qp1ej1nz3c]

Если бы залил внутрь, где арматура эпоксидная смола вот это бы круто смотрелось!!!

[@jakovsimenic6351]

u can buy netted rebar

[@lvmykdz5724]

Wow, just wow. It makes me want a welder so bad. Forgive me, but I don't see welding rods, how does the welder work, is it plug and play with replacement materials as needed? You certainly make this look easy, but it is certainly a trade I would like to learn. Thank you in advance.

[@homebodyhero4602]

It's a mig welder if you're curious

[@yeetusfetus999]

Ouch! How do u do it alone?

[@smukim]

Hi, Saurabh here from India... Nice build... Just 1 question... Can Epoxy bond with concrete? If it does... Filling the center river with plain or multi colour epoxy river... May be, if it works, it looks good... Just imagining

[@maxdnd1444]

Se attappavi il centro del buco con la resina avevi vinto👍

[@abhyantaradesigns1576]

How can we make light weight conceret for table?

[@matthewkenney8915]

yeah, can I get the table with the giant hole in the middle of it?

[@sheilamclaughlin963]

U don’t add some raw cement? I always do with quick crete they mix it light I always thought

[@user-su4ye2lg5o]

Супер

[@ecovasquez9476]

Is the Presto black patina water resistant? Can I also work on fabric or is it just a furniture/metal colorizer

[@barryrobbins7694]

It’s a chemical reaction with the metal. Look up “black oxide” on Wikipedia.

[@SirEdie123]

looks good... but I'm not sure it is practical to have hole inside cofee table... what about transparent epoxy inside hole?

[@liboryantonyharoespinoza4402]

En ese vacío algo de resina epoxi