Online Extra

mahogany

End Table

This elegant solid-wood end table makes a

OVERALL DIMENSIONS:
great
complement to the coffee table.
If you liked the mahogany coffee table project in issue No. 209
NOTE: All parts are made from
of Woodsmith, then youll prob#/4"-thick hardwood except
TOP
where noted
FRAMES
ably want an end table or two
K
to fill out your new living room
set. And this table is the perfect
companion piece.
It shares many of the same con- #6 x 1!/4" Fh
24
woodscrew
struction details and techniques
B
with the coffee
table, but in a GRID
NOTE: This is
taller, square package. Here, Ill CROSS
PIECES
walk you through a few of the
C
A
SHELF
differences in the construction of
(16!/2" x 16!/2")
the end table. You can refer to the
J
coffee table article for the details
A
on the techniques.
longer legs. One difference thats
easy to see is that the end table is
4#/8
taller than the coffee table, so the
B
16!/2
legs are longer. Other than that,
GRID FRAME
C
RAIL
theyre made exactly like the legs
A
on the coffee table.
GRID FRAME
OVERALL
DIMENSIONS:
NOTE:
Grid
frames
square design. Also, this end table
STILE
and cross pieces are
is square rather than rectangular. made from !/2"-thick
So while the rectangular coffee x 1"-wide hardwood
table had a number of front and
D
LEG
NOTE: Glue up leg from
back parts that were longer than
three oversize, #/4"-thick
the end parts, many of the parts
boards. Trim to size,
Typical Plywood
then add !/4"-thick
on this table areendgrain
identical lengths,
hardwood facing
(#/4" shown)
as shown in the
drawing at right.
Theyre machined and assembled
a.
the same way as before.
3%/8
grids & top. As for the grid frames
and end table top, they also have
K
some differences worth noting.
NOTE: This is
15
!/4
The top features tongue and
groove joints between the frame
1#/4
G
pieces and the panel (detail a).
FRONT SECTION
Youll find more information on
VIEW
these parts on the next page.
Woodsmith No. 209 Online Extras

Page 1 of 3

TOP PANEL
(17!/8" x 17!/8")
L

17!/2
G

TOP
RAIL
SHELF
FRAME

6&/8

H
I

16!/2

16!/2

SHELF
CLEAT

18!/2

23!/4
NOTE: Four sides of
the end table are
identical except there
is no grid at the front

BOTTOM
RAIL
E

LEG
FACING

!/16" gap
!/4
!/4

!/4

2013 August Home Publishing. All rights reserved.

OVERALL DIMENSIONS:

End Table Grid Frames

#/4" MDF wedges

One of the unique features of the coffee table is

the X-shaped grid panels that enclose the back
and sides of the table. The end table also has these
panels, but there are a few differences to these
panels that are worth noting.
identical grid frames. First of all, the three grid
This is in size. The
frames for the end tableNOTE:
are identical
dimensions for the grid frame rails and stiles are
shown on page 1, as well in the Materials List on
the following page.
cutting the cross pieces. The process for assembling
the cross pieces and cutting them to size remains
the same, except the final size of the cross piece
assemblies is different. As a result, the MDF carrier board used for many of the table saw cuts is
also different. The dimensions youll need for the
end table carrier are shown at right.

Align joint lines

with centerlines
on carrier

Waste

Carrier
NOTE: Center
cross piece assembly,
then glue on wedges

7!/2

4#/8

NOTE: Carrier is
#/4" MDF

Tongue & Groove Top

Top
frame
blank
Rip
fence

Typical Plywood
endgrain
a.
(#/4" shown)

NOTE: Make one pass,

turn workpiece end
for end and make
second pass

END
VIEW

!/4
!/4

Cut a Centered Groove. With the saw equipped with a standard table saw
blade, set the rip fence to cut a groove just off-center on the frame piece.
After making the first cut, flip it end for end to center the groove.

2
L

Aux.
rip
fence

TOP PANEL

a.
Dado blade

END
VIEW
!/4

is
!/4

Make the Mating Tongue. Bury a dado blade in an auxiliary rip fence,
and cut along both faces of the panel to make a centered tongue. Sneak
up on the depth of the cut, and check the fit in a groove in a frame piece.
Woodsmith No. 209 Online Extras
2

60

S:

NOTE: Crosspiece
blanks are 10" long

2#4

Probably the biggest difference between the mahogany

coffee table and the end table is the top. On the coffee
table, rabbeted and mitered frame pieces accept beveled
glass panels. But the end table features a solid-wood top
panel with tongues around the edges that fit in mating
grooves in the frame pieces.
part preparation. Fortunately, this change is a pretty
easy one to make. You can get started by cutting out
three narrow boards to make up the top panel, and
then gluing them edge to edge. When the glue dries,
sand the panel smooth, and cut it to final size.
As for the the top frame pieces, you can simply cut
all four parts to width and a bit longer than needed for
now. Dont miter the ends just yet.
cut the grooves first. Now you can get started on the
grooves in the edges of the top frame pieces. This can
be done with a standard table saw blade, as shown in
Figure 1. Start with the blade slightly off-center on the
thickness of the piece. That way, youll end up with a
centered groove when you flip the piece end for end to
make the second cut.
tongues on the top panel. Next up is the centered tongue
on the top panel. This is best accomplished by outfitting your table saw with a dado blade and a wood
auxiliary rip fence, as shown in Figure 2. The key here
is to sneak up on the thickness of the tongue, and
check its fit in the groove until its just right.
reveal. After mitering the frame pieces, youre ready
to assemble the top. If you refer back to detail a on
page 1, youll see the top panel is 18" narrower and
shorter than the opening in the frame pieces that it fits
into. This creates a 116" reveal around the tabletop
and allows the panel to expand and contract. As you
assemble the top, spot-glue the center of the tongues on
the panel, and then position the panel in the grooves to
create an even reveal between it and the frame. W

Page 2 of 3

2013 August Home Publishing. All rights reserved.

Woodsmith

No. 000

Materials, Supplies & Cutting Digram

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H

Grid Frame Stiles (9)

Grid Frame Rails (6)
Grid Cross Pieces (12)
Legs (4)
Leg Facings (4)
Bottom Rails (4)
Top Rails (4)
Shelf Frames (4)

1
2

x 1 - 43 8
x 1 - 1612
1 x 1 - 10 rgh.
2
2 x 214 - 2314
1 x 21 - 231
4
4
4
3 x 11 - 181
4
2
2
3 x 11 - 171
4
2
2
3 x 2 - 161
4
2

I
J
K
L

1
2

3
4

Shelf Cleats (4)

Shelf (1)
Top Frames (4)
Top Panel (1)

x 13 4 - 1612

3
4

x 1612 - 1612
3 x 35 - 24
4
8
3 x 171 - 171
4
8
8

(18) #6 x 114" Fh Woodscrews

(6) #8 x 114" Ph Woodscrews
(18) 3 4" Brads

IONS:
!/2"x 5!/2"- 60" Mahogany (2.3 Sq. Ft.)
C
C
C
C
B

C
B

!/2"x 6"- 48" Mahogany (2.0 Sq. Ft.)

E
E

E
E

C
B

NOTE: Parts 'E' are planed down to !/4" thick

#/4"x 4!/2"- 96" Mahogany (2 Boards @ 3.0 Bd. Ft. Each)

K

I
I

: This is

#/4"x 5"- 72" Mahogany (2 Boards @ 2.5 Bd. Ft. Each)

D
D
D
D

D
D

#/4"x 6!/2"- 96" Mahogany (4.3 Bd. Ft.)

J

H
H

H
H

#/4"x 6!/2"- 96" Mahogany (4.3 Bd. Ft.)

L

G
F

G
F

ywood
ain
own)

Woodsmith No. 209 Online Extras

3

Page 3 of 3
Woodsmith

2013 August Home Publishing. All rights reserved.

No. 000