These are a few shots from the build of our custom dining table that Toni and I decided to make after being dissatisfied with several aspects of the offerings we found locally.

The top is a heavy-duty worktop similar to a butcher block, and the legs are flat iron segments welded by hand in a trapezoidal shape. Toni sourced the legs, I sourced the top. We assembled them and I stripped the factory-applied finish with a random-orbit sander. The edges and corners were sanded to a pleasingly smooth finish and I stained it to a warm brown. We chose a set of 4 woven wire chairs to compliment it – one is barely visible in the second shot.

We hope to have this for many years, and to have many family dinners around it.

The pieces have all arrived and work is to begin…

Legs in place, but not yet fastened. (Please excuse the move-in mess in the background!)

Factory applied finish before sanding.

Legs bolted, top sanded, edges and corners softened (rounded) by hand. Pre-stain & polyurethane.

Legs bolted, top sanded, edges and corners softened (rounded) by hand. Pre-stain & polyurethane.

Legs bolted, top sanded, edges and corners softened (rounded) by hand. Pre-stain & polyurethane.

Legs bolted, top sanded, pre-stain & polyurethane.

Legs bolted, top sanded, pre-stain & polyurethane.

Legs bolted, top sanded, edges and corners softened (rounded) by hand. Stained & polyurethaned.

Legs bolted, top sanded, edges and corners softened (rounded) by hand. Stained & polyurethaned.

Same finish from different angles; I’m amazed by how much the light affects the appearance in the photo.