Extreme Makeover – Drafting Table Edition
- By Joan
- November 9, 2017
- 5 Comments
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!
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.
- 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”.
Turns out that removing Modpodge is easy enough, just add a few drops of dish soap to water, soak, wait and scrape.
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.
What did work, was an old Heat Gun
This layer didn’t come off quite as easily as the top photo layer, but eventually I had a nice clean surface.
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.
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.
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.
I gave the base a coat of black chalk paint. The base was finished with it’s own coat of vintage wax.
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.
Sand all the pieces well.
I’m staining my wood before I put it together so I don’t have to stain in all the nooks and crannies.
Assemble with wood glue and finishing nails. Finish with varnish or wax.
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.
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.
It does make a nice before and after photo.
Have a wonderful weekend. Stay inspired.
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What vision! It looks fantastic
ooooo, i just need a drafting room now….
What a difference!
Your niece has a old tilt top school desk. During an art project last night, crayons were rolling on the floor and papers were sliding down. I think we need to jigger a holder for supplies and a raised edge.
Really nice! Especially like the yardstick on the front. Good job!
Amazing transformation! I can tell it was a huge hassle to remove the photos and the mod podge but it was well worth it. It’s a really handsome piece now. Great job!