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The Dream is Free, The Hustle Sold Separately

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Rebuilding an Antique Claw Foot Table

September 10, 2014 by Nick Sy

Hey all, Nick Here!

Antique claw table- before

A while back Beth and I acquired this sweet claw foot table from an elderly couple.  (what IS it about antique tables being painted yellow?!)

Long ago they had chopped it down from a full-size dining table into this sweet coffee table.  I knew that I wanted to restore it to its original purpose the second I set eyes on it.  Don’t get me wrong… it was a nice coffee table.  I am guessing as low as it set that it was probably modified some time in the seventies.

The table top just sat on the base and was pretty wobbly… this aided in my ability to persuaded my lover into letting me redesign it.

Rebuilding this amazing claw foot table

First step was to disassemble and take count on what we actually had to work with.  Everything was held together with “New Seng” hardware, dating this piece back into the early 1900’s. I am thinking between 1908 and 1917 based on the patents of the hardware.

Clawfoot Table

Notice the arrow, yeah that piece would have originally been around 26” not 10”.  This is the piece we will be redesigning and it is a good thing we are too because the wood was split in a few different critical areas.

Returning the clawfoot table to it's original glory

The pedestal was built out of white oak that measured 1 1/4” thick.    With a 1/16th” oak veneer wrapped around it.

Knowing that we intended to paint the piece, we went with Poplar wood. This still gives us the strength we need, while saving use about 50% on cost (if we went with oak).

We purchased our lumber from Lowe’s and cut them down to 28”.

Lumber from Lowe's to rebuild

Because it is difficult to find 1 1/4” pieces of lumber we, purchased 1” and 1/2” Boards gluing them together.

We glued pieces together to get the right width

Cutting the wood to get the perfect angle

Once the glue was set up, we set the table saw to have a 22.5* angle, ripped the one side measured 3 7/8” and cut the other side.  Like so:

IMG_1221

Once all eight pieces have been ripped down at 22.5* angles, we glued each joint using Titebond III and proceeded to assemble.

Clawfoot Table

Once it is assembled we took several ratchet straps and cinched them around the lumber, aligning and manipulating as we went.

 

Rebuilding the pedastal

Using my handy dandy yard stick, I marked a 10” circle on a pizza cardboard, cut it out, then trace on the top of the pedestal.

Perfect circle

Next up… sand until it’s round! JUST KIDDING. Can you imaging how long that would take?  Sorry, not pictured is me buried in a sea of wood shavings. That’s right we hand planed this baby to be cylindrical.  In all honesty it didn’t take long with a really sharp plane and a little muscle. You can get this thing done in a couple hours, and lets be honest… there is not substitute for running a hand plane down a piece of lumber. Ok maybe one, but we’ll keep it clean folks.

Once I hand finished with the hand plane, I got out the orbital sander and worked my way through 80 and 100 grit to smooth out the remaining rough edges and finished it off by hand with 150 and 220.

Sanding the piece to perfection

Now that I’m done sanding, I marked the location of the holes with a scratch awl and center punched the drilling locations.

Marking the holes

Then we used a 7/32” drill bit to drill pilot holes.  This keeps the wood from splitting when you assembly the rounded base.

Clawfoot Table5

We assembled the base using wood glue and 1 1/4” Kreg Screws.

Then we laid out the hole location for each legs 3/8” Studs.  Drilling a a start drill also 7/32” and then 3/8”.  I actually ended up using a Kreg Pocket-hole drill bit.

Assemble the legs and the top supports and we put the top back on.

Assembling the claw foot table

At this point, we’re done with the ‘rebuilding part’, and ready to dress ‘er up!

Time to sand the top

We’ll be painting the base and apron of the table, and Beth will be stripping the top surface to do her signature stain design! It’s going to be awesome! Stay tuned!

blank - Copy (3)

Disclosure! we’re SUPER HONORED to have been chosen as a “Lowes Creator”, and were provided with a Lowes gift card to HELP with the cost of supplies… but as always, all ideas, thoughts and opinions are 100% our own. Because that’s how we roll yo.

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Comments

  1. 10

    Debi says

    March 20, 2023 at 6:05 pm

    As everyone above has said, I’ve had this coffee table in my family for years! It was my grandparents first dining room table that they cut to coffee table size at some point. I remember it being avocado green before they had it dipped down to natural oak color. I received it after their passing, used it for many years, painted it white and then it has sat in two pieces in the garage over many moves. I can envision as you have worked your magic above. Thank you!

    Reply
  2. 11

    Sue Lorfeld says

    September 11, 2014 at 4:01 pm

    OMG! I have this table, it has been in my father’s family for generations! It had been sitting in my basement for years with paint can rings on the top and this summer I finally restored it. I love it and it came with 8 leaves, so I used it last Thanksgiving (with a table cloth, so no one could see the ugly top) and the entire family could fit around it. When I saw those claw feet I recognized it immediately! Nick you did a great job, it looks just like the original (or mine). I would be happy to send you photos if you’re interested. Looking forward to seeing your finished product!!

    Reply
    • 12

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      September 17, 2014 at 9:43 am

      NO WAY! That’s crazy! Would love to see pics! Our email is sawdustandembryos@gmail.com

      Reply
  3. 13

    Leslie @ House on the Way says

    September 11, 2014 at 3:42 pm

    OMG! I have this table! And I don’t live too far from you (just across the Mississippi River into Illinois) It has been in my dad’s family for generations and it has been sitting in my dirty basement with paint cans rings on top. This summer I finally restored it and I love it! It also has 8 leaves so at Thanksgiving I was able to get the entire family around one table. If you would like photos I would be happy to send them. Looking forward to seeing your end result!

    Reply
    • 14

      Sue Lorfeld says

      September 11, 2014 at 3:53 pm

      I wrote this comment above not (Leslie@House on the Way)! Sorry Leslie!

      Reply
  4. 15

    Leslie @ House on the Way says

    September 11, 2014 at 3:11 pm

    Can’t wait to see the finished product! Looks fab so far!

    Reply
  5. 16

    Rachel says

    September 11, 2014 at 3:04 pm

    Love it!

    Reply
  6. 17

    Sally says

    September 10, 2014 at 8:19 pm

    Those are some claws on that table! More like dragon feet. Seriously, your post about how to make a round column was interesting – we own a Victorian house and had to do very much the same thing to replace the bottom of one of the porch pillars. The top half was fluted, but fortunately the bottom was a cylinder – about 12 inches across. (It had rotted away at the bottom). Probably it had been turned back in 1909 when the house was built. Have you guys ever done any porch posts? I am thinking of doing a much smaller version of our columns for the side and back porches.

    Reply
  7. 18

    Amanda {NoDakNest} says

    September 10, 2014 at 2:49 pm

    “…but we’ll keep it clean, folks”. HAH! Loved this post, what a great transformation!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Colorful Wood Stain to make Artwork on Furniture - Sawdust and Embryos says:
    May 26, 2015 at 7:47 am

    […] in our garage for awhile now. The previous owners had cut it down to be a coffee table, and Nick rebuilt it to be a dining table […]

    Reply

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We are Nick and Bethany! Welcome to our blog, Reality Daydream where we share our DIY adventures!
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