Scavenger Chic

Small Vintage Table with Easy Repairs

• By Joan
• May 23, 2018
• 3 Comments

I love finding vintage tables at the thrift store.   This little guy was just $8.  He was a kind of sad and broken, but he just needed a  a little TLC and he was practically screaming, take me home! So I did.

The table was a little wobbly.  In it’s previous life it had a v-shaped shelf in the middle that would have held books. Someone probably got carried away with piling on books and broke away the wood that held the shelf in place.  That shelf would have also given the legs more support side to side.

There is also a piece broken off the bottom of the left side that needs to be repaired.

I had no plans to replace the V shelf but my poor little table did need a little updating, so I’m thinking flat shelf.

Measure how wide you’d like your shelf and cut.  The previous shelf was nestled between the spindles, I would like mine the full width. 

I know my new shelf is a little messed up with builders adhesive, it was previously the top part of my fireplace mantel, but it’s nothing a little sanding couldn’t fix.

Also cut your board the full length leaving enough of the length to cut around the spindles.

Mark the spindles and cut with a jigsaw or scrollsaw.

Just making sure it fits.

Sand all edges well.

Beneath the shelf I’m attaching a small piece of trim to give the shelf a little more support.  This just happens to be half a shutter slat.

Cut the moulding the width of the shelf and sand.

The shutter slat moulding will only come in contact with the spindles so that is where I’m gluing and nailing.

Use screws or nails to attach the shelf from the sides. Touch up any holes with wood putty and sand.

On one end of my shelf a small piece had broken off.  To replicate the piece, I took a chalk rubbing of the still intact side.

I took  the same chalk rubbing and matched it up on the broken side, making a second rubbing.  The small piece at the bottom is my broken off piece.  I cut out the paper pattern then held it up to my furniture piece and checked for size. If any changes were needed this would be the time to make them.

Transfer the pattern to a piece of replacement wood.  Cut out, sand and glue in place.

Paint as desired.  This is a dark gray chalk paint.

Lightly sand the edges if you want that chippy paint look.

I’m finishing with a vintage wax.  If you like the original color, finish with a clear wax.  If you’d like something in between, apply the clear wax first followed by the vintage wax.

I followed up the vintage wax with a coat of clear wax for durability.

This was the side with the broken piece.

The replacement shelf gives the table the support it needed to stop it’s wobbles.

Happy Memorial Day weekend, stay inspired.

Shared at Talk of the Town,

DIY Salvaged Junk Projects,

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