Nothing will quite make you finish up projects like hosting a party.
The barn table project has been on the “to-do” list for sometime and was one of our “TOP 30 GOALS” to accomplish for the farm this year. So, with our first barn party scheduled for this weekend, and needing some extra sitting and eating areas for the guests – this was the week to tackle the project.
We wanted a big long table that could seat at least 12 – so we made it 12′ long and 45″ wide. Eventually we will make matching benches to go down each side – which will seat 6 to a side. If we added a chair to each end – it would give us a total of 14.
We started by building the trestle out of the old 2 x 4″‘s barn roof rafter pieces from the Cardington Barn we took down last summer. Not your typical 2×4′s – these boards are made from old growth solid red oak, and unlike today’s lumber – actually measure 2 x 4″. I just used a sawzall and cut them smooth – leaving all of the character of the old nails holes and dents of the wood in tact. Grey and weathered – they made the perfect base material for the table.

The trestle base. We had to pre-drill every hole to get the screws in because of how hard the old wood was!
We made the trestle base 9′ long – with angled 2 x4′s supplying all of the strength needed to hold up the 12′ top piece.
For the top piece – we just simply used alternating 2x8x12 and 2x10x12 pine boards and glued them together to make a large table top. We used ratchet straps in place of clamps (I didn’t have any that long!) to hold it together while it dried.
After that, Mary took over and applied 2 coats of stain with a rag – and then finished it off with 3 coats of polyurethane to make it strong and tough. We also added some 1 x 4′s underneath and screwed them into the underside of the table top to secure it all together.
It should be great for the barn party this weekend to give plenty of seating. One more thing to mark off the list!
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Fantastic! Party on!
Thank you Daisy! It’s definitely time to enjoy it a little instead of always working on it!
One day I want to make one of these tables!
Helen
Blue Eyed Beauty Blog
You will have to send us pictures when you do – we used it for the first time over the weekend and it was so nice to sit so many people
Beautiful table!! You are welcome to come share this at Feathered Nest Friday if you would like!
Thank you Courtney and we will do!
I love the table! Just beautiful…..no wonder it was on your top 30 things to do list this year! Thanks so much for linking up to “The Ole’ Saturday Homesteading Trading Post” I saw your post caught my husband’s eye….maybe he will tuck this one away for future reference
Thanks Karen – and as good as the Viking is at building everything I am sure he will have a beautiful one built for you! We love you Saturday Trading Post – keep up the great work!
Thanks Jim & Mary! I will tell my husband you mentioned this
Uh oh, I think I need one of these for our barn too! Hubby will thank you later. LOL!
It really comes in handy for big parties!
Absolutely gorgeous!!!!!!!! Hinting to Hubby about HOW MUCH I love this! It is defintely my style, very rustic, and the size makes it so useful. Great post!
Thanks so much Sheryl! I am hoping it will see lots of use over the years
I LOVE that table! You did a great job.
Thank you Virginia
I am drooling a little over here, I so want on of these for my house. Love It
Thank you Lisa – we have wanted to build it forever – and finally got around to it!
Gorgeous table! I love it! Thanks for sharing at the All Star Block Party! I’m a new follower!
Holly! Thanks so much for stopping by and for the kind comments! We are so glad your a follower now and look forward to your All Star Block Party again this week!
Jim and Mary
I featured your table at the All Star Block Party Features. Stop by and grab your button.
http://fullcirclecreations.blogspot.com/2012/07/its-feature-time_30.html
Wow!!! Thank you so much for selecting our post!
Jim and Mary
Love it love it love it!
Too Cool! I love it.
What a gorgeous table. I love that you were able to use such old barn boards. I would love to have a slightly smaller version in my dining room
just love that table!
Thank you Laura – we have been wanting to build it for so long and finally got around to it!
oh em gee! gor.geous!!
Thanks so much!! We really enjoyed building it!
I love this gorgeous table… I love anything with reclaimed barn wood and you did an amazing job.
We love working with old barn wood – just to see all the old marks and cuts – it’s very neat to know you are working with something so old
I love this table so much I’m featuring it on the All Star Block Party today.
Thanks so much Heather!! We are honored!
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Absolutely amazing. What a table!!!
I would like to invite you to show off your work at Fine Craft Guild, at Time for a party: http://www.finecraftguild.com/party/
Thank you in advance for joining in!
Rose
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i would love to feature your table if this would be ok with you please let me know
We would be more than glad to have you feature it! Thanks so much!
Wow, I just love this table……and the legs! I’ve shared on my weekly roundup at http://20state.blogspot.com.au/
Thank you so much Sarah! And thank you for the compliments on the table!
Jim and Mary
This table is fantastic!
Thank you so much Tiffany – we really enjoyed building it!
Great table. Was going to feature it, but no link back to the party. Would love one added and then I can share this.
It’s up Kim and thanks so much!!!
Jim and Mary
WOW…love this. I’ve seen a few done, and need one for my front deck at the cottage, Great kick in my behind! Thanks
wow. It is amazing what one can do with “old” wood…and you guys did a great job! Love your blog.
Come for a visit to mine….
Nancy
http://wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com
It’s just gorgeous!!
Hi Jim & Mary, thank you so much for sharing your tressle table at Project Queen!!! It’s amazing and I LOVE IT! I always tell my husband we need to have a party… that way we get a ton of stuff done
. I will be featuring your table tomorrow night (Monday) at the Highlight Party. I’m a new follower. Can’t wait to see what project you do next!
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I’m a new follower – and am drooling over this table! It’s absolutely gorgeous and I hope to have one like it someday.