DIY Make Hairpin at Your Home

To inspire you to try a spot of weekend DIY, we're going to show you how easy it is to make your own unique hairpin leg table using a natural slab of wood.

1. Find the wood for your table

The beauty of hairpin legs is you can use them to create your own furniture using almost any kind of wood you can get your hands on – from manmade boards, to reclaimed wood (such as old doors, pallets, floorboards cable reel tops), to natural slabs.

We used this lovely piece of bur oak, found tucked behind some furniture in an antique shop in Stroud, Gloucestershire.

2.
How to make your own hairpin leg table

November 18, 2016 1 Comment

How to make your own hairpin leg table

To inspire you to try a spot of weekend DIY, we're going to show you how easy it is to make your own unique hairpin leg table using a natural slab of wood.

All you need is your chosen piece of wood, hairpin legs, screws and (if you'll be cleaning up raw wood) the following tools:

Table making tools
Find the wood for your table

The beauty of hairpin legs is you can use them to create your own furniture using almost any kind of wood you can get your hands on – from manmade boards, to reclaimed wood (such as old doors, pallets, floorboards cable reel tops), to natural slabs.

We used this lovely piece of bur oak, found tucked behind some furniture in an antique shop in Stroud, Gloucestershire.

Bur oak

To find a good slab, try your local saw mill or a timber supplier.
Prepare your wood

This sounds a bit dirty. Which is apt because, if you're using a natural slab, it's the grubbiest bit of the job. It requires a bit of good old fashioned scrubbing with a wire brush.

We needed to rasp sap and soft wood off the live edge of our burr, as well as a few areas of rotten wood. We then sanded the wood down to make it nice and smooth.

Manmade boards and reclaimed wood normally require less pre-prep. However they will probably need cutting to size and a little bit of sanding to smooth them out.

3. Preserve your wood

Science time. Wood is a living, breathing element – constantly absorbing and releasing moisture from and into the air. In doing so, it expands and contracts. And if it does this too fast, it can split.

Wood sealant – such as oil, wax, varnish or paint – closes the pores to preserve its state, and stop it from cracking.

We used Blanchon Hard Waxoil, a wax and oil combo, to give a more natural finish. Wax and oil options help bring out the detail of the grain, darkening it slightly but retaining its overall aesthetic
Varnish on the other hand gives the wood a very smooth, a more polished feel.

Paint changes the original look completely, but can be a great option if you’re using low quality reclaimed wood.
Use a rag or paintbrush to apply the sealant. Cover all surfaces of the wood, including the edges, and double coat for added protection

4. Choose your hairpin legs
Ah, the simplicity of hairpin legs. You just screw them where you see fit, and you've got a table.

We positioned the legs by eye, without any need to fiddle around with measurements.