Add a bit of bling

Labour: 7/10 (constructing the table requires hard labour)
Skill Level: 6/10 (foiling is delicate work that requires concentration)
Time Needed: Weekend

Shopping List

Tabletop

• two 1200 x 450 x 16mm (top and bottom panels)
• two 1168 x 120 x 16mm (long sides)
• two 386 x 120 x 16mm (side panels)
• four 120 x 120 x 16mm

Legs

• four 632 x 220 x 22mm

Other

• professional wood glue
• ±forty 6mm x 40mm cut screws
• wood filler
• spray can of contact adhesive
• silver or gold leaf (available at most craft shops for about R65 for 25 10 x 10cm sheets)
• goldfinger varnish – protects decorative metallic finishes
• foiling or goat’s hair brush
• foam roller
• multisurface primer
• water-based enamel/acrylic PVA (for the legs)

Tools

• sharp pencil
• tape measure
• cordless drill and 2.5mm combination countersink drill bit (available as part of a set or individually)
• jigsaw
• router
• corner clamp
• combination square

Project Notes

• The components for the tabletop were cut from 16mm supawood, while the legs were cut from 220 x 22mm pine.
• Silver or gold leaf is very delicate and requires a degree of patience; apply one or two sheets to another surface in order to get the ‘feel’ for it before moving on to the intended workpiece.

Get Started

1 First make the tabletop: measure and mark out 16mm-wide bands at both ends of the long sides (1168 x 120 x 16mm). Then use cut screws and glue to construct the frame, as shown. Use the combination square to make sure all angles are at 90º, with the longer sides overlapping the shorter sides.

2 Fill all the screw holes and blemishes using the wood filler, then paint a coat of multisurface primer over the entire surface.

3 Add some profile detail to the edges of the top and bottom panels by using a router and bit, then paint with primer and PVA.

4 Once the primer is dry, apply a thin coat of spray contact adhesive to the sides of the framework.

5 Carefully separate the sheets of silver leaf before applying them to the sides of the frame.

6 Place the bottom of the sheet onto the (slightly tacky) surface. Gently work the foil against the outside of the framework.

7 Use the brush to ‘dab’ at the edges and joins. Finally, apply the goldfinger varnish.

8 Mark out the shape of the legs on the 220 x 22mm planks,then use the jigsaw to cut these out, as shown.

9 Place the top of each leg, in turn, in position (diagonally across the corners) and trace the outline onto the 120 x 120mm leg supports.

10 Fix the legs to the supports by drilling pilot holes and screwing from the top, as shown. Paint the legs using a primer, followed by the colour of your choice.

11 Now fix the legs to the base of the tabletop framework.

12 Position the framework onto the base, drill pilot holes and secure from underneath. Place the tabletop onto the structure, make sure there is an equal overhang all round and trace the outline. Turn the top over and fix four offcut pieces of wood 16mm from this line, to prevent it slipping.