Extreme Makeover – Drafting Table Edition



Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

I must admit that when I first saw this table at the local thrift store it was not love at first sight.  I was not in love with someone else’s vacation photos, photos do not make for a nice flat surface for a desk and this did not look like the salad bowl I was initially after when I set out that morning.

What I did envision was a great before and after picture!

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

At first glimpse the base didn’t look too bad but upon closer inspection the edges were a little ratty and the paint job  didn’t cover all the bare wood.

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

  • Tip…if you plan to give away your family photos, you may not want to include a photo of yourself.

I could tell, that the collage had a top coat of Modpodge.

To the internet to see if I could find any hints or tips on Modpodge removal where I found this article “How to Remove Modpodge”.
Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover
Turns out that removing Modpodge is easy enough, just add a few drops of dish soap to water, soak, wait and scrape.
Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

The Modpodge and photos came off easily enough.  

There was a problem, the glue holding the photos to the table was not water soluble and did nothing with the soapy water.
Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

What did work,  was an old Heat Gun.  Look how nice the paint and glue are bubbling up.

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

This layer didn’t come off quite as easily as the top photo layer, but eventually I had a nice clean surface.

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

It appeared that I had removed all the glue, and I gave the table top a nice sanding with fine sandpaper followed by a coat of dark walnut stain.

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

This was after one coat of the walnut stain.  Not pretty.  

It’s very hard to stain over a surface that has glue residue, the stain just doesn’t want to soak in.

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

The table top looked a little bit better after a coat of vintage wax.

I gave the table top one more coat of the wax and the top was finally looking deep, dark and rich.

 

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

I gave the base a coat of black chalk paint.  The base was finished with it’s own coat of vintage wax.

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

Being an electrical engineer, my dad had had his own old industrial drafting table.  On the side of the table were little compartments to hold his pens, pencils, erasers…mine needed that.  With a tilted table, there is only one direction for all the pencils to roll.

From scrap wood cut a bottom board the width of the table x 4.5″.

Cut more scrap wood to use for the sides and dividers.  

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

Sand all the pieces well.

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

I’m staining my wood before I put it together so I don’t have to stain in all the nooks and crannies.

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

Assemble with wood glue and finishing nails.  Finish with varnish or wax.

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

The side pencil holder was attached with just a few screws.  If I ever need to have the drafting table convert to just a plain table, those screws could easily be removed.

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

On the front, I attached a yard stick to give the desk a raised edge.  When a drafting table is tilted, things tend to slide…hopefully, the yard stick will keep a few papers off the floor.

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

 

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

Thrift Store Drafting Table gets a much needed Makeover

It does make a nice before and after photo.

Have a wonderful weekend. Stay inspired.

Shared at Metamorphosis Monday,

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