Scavenger Chic

Flea Market Tool Box Coffee Table

• By Joan
• September 18, 2017
• 4 Comments

In early August I had the chance to go back to the 40 mile Route 11 Yard Crawl in Virginia.  Last year I got tons of stuff and you’ve been seeing my projects ever since.  The latest was the dorm room cabinet. 

This year I found junk for only 3 projects.  You would think in 40 miles of yard sale goodness that I would find more than 3 things that caught my eye.  It wasn’t my day, either things were too expensive or they just didn’t speak to me.

I’ve already shared one of my finds from that day, the stool which became the legs for my Maryland table.

Like I said last week, if it’s large and boxy, I immediately see coffee table.   This tool box was no exception.  While he had a few paint drips on the outside, the inside looked like it had never been used.

Originally those slats at the top were meant to hold saws.

I’m pairing the toolbox/sawbox up with this table I picked up  from the trash.  When my sister asked if I would redo her two tiered table last week, this is actually the style table I envisioned. The table must have sat in the rain a little too long because the particle board tabletops were separating and turning back into sawdust.

Luckily, I didn’t pick the table up for it’s tops, I picked the piece up for it’s legs, I’m always on the lookout for legs I can repurpose.

When I put the legs with my tool box, the legs were a little too wide and not quite long enough.

I could still use the legs and the corner braces but  the frame had to be replaced. The pallet wood I’m using for my new frame had to be cut down to fit into the leg notch.

Everything was rescrewed and nuts and washers replaced and retightened just like the original side table.

The old frame had been attached to the side table with kreg jig style screws inserted into the sides of the frame.  

Because the base of my toolbox was rather thin plywood I’m attaching the legs a little differently.  More pallet wood slats attached to the frame sides gives me something to screw in to.

On the inside of the toolbox, you can see the screws which attach the legs.

I’m using black chalk paint as a base.  Not very neat am I?  The idea is to have a layered paint finish.  The original toolbox didn’t have as much character as I would have liked.

The black splotchy paint was followed by 2 coats of red chalk paint painted on a bit neater.

A  sander reveals some of the wood and some of the black paint.  Sand off as much or as little as you like and finish with your vintage wax.

A tool box makes a great coffee table, they’re usually built to last and loaded with storage.

If you like the bunny you can find him here and the hand painted diy flag pillow here.

Have a wonderful week.

Shared at Wow us Wednesdays,

Talk of the Town, DIY Salvaged Junk Projects,

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