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Build idea

Mid-century walnut coffee table

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a low walnut coffee table with angled legs and a lower shelf on a rug concept — not a real build.

A walnut coffee table with splayed, tapered legs wedged through thick cleats under the top, and a lower shelf. The solid top and shelf are fixed with slotted screw holes so both can shrink and swell.

Rough size
About 44 in long x 20 in wide x 16 in tall
Wood
Walnut

Tools you might use

  • Table saw with blade guard, riving knife, push sticks, and a featherboard
  • Jointer and planer, unless you buy surfaced lumber
  • Miter saw
  • Drill press with 3/16" brad-point and 1" Forstner bits
  • Band saw
  • Disc sander, for tapering the wedges
  • Router
  • Tenon saw, flush-cut saw, sharp chisels, block plane, rasp and file, sliding bevel, marking gauge, combination square
  • Wooden mallet
  • Bar clamps

Our tool picks for this idea: Wood glue

Need bar, pipe or parallel clamps? See our clamp picks.

Need a drill press? See our drill press picks.

Drilling with a Forstner bit? Read our Forstner bit guide.

Not sure which push stick or push block to use? Read our push stick and push block guide.

Need a block plane? See our block plane picks.

Need chisels? See our chisel picks.

Need a miter saw? See our miter saw picks.

Key techniques

Line diagram of the finished mid-century coffee table. Front view: a 44-inch walnut top, 16 inches tall, on four tapered legs that splay 8 degrees toward the ends and are wedged through two thick cleats under the top, with a lower shelf whose top is 6 1/2 inches off the floor. End view: the 20-inch top overhangs the 17-inch cleat, and the two legs stand straight with a stretcher between them.
Diagram of the finished piece. Sizes are approximate, not a tested plan. Reader build photos welcome.

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