Recycled Crate Coffee Table
Recycled Crate Coffee Table
My latest project is this nice wooden crate that I purchased from an online auction for the ridiculous price of only $1. I was actually bidding on two items at the time, this crate and a tall dresser.
I totally forgot the auction was ending and lost my bid on the dresser but amazingly enough no one else saw the enormous potential of this box.
In the description I was only given the measurements of 41″x22″. I wrongly assumed those were the measurements of the top, they were actually the length of the top and height. No width provided. A full listing would have been 41 x 20 x22. A little tall for a coffee table but I can work with that.
The crate was listed as a tool chest on the listing, maybe because someone had added doors and a shelf , but it was rather large to be an actual tool chest.
The front and back of the chest had no extra trim but the sides had this 3″ picture frame trim.
First thing to go was those rather ugly plywood doors. Now I’m left with just a rather large pine box.
If this large box has any hopes of being a coffee table, it had to be chopped down…way down. A typical coffee table is between 16 and 18 inches, this box was about 5 inches too tall.
Mark where you need to cut, and use a circular saw to go around the crate. Save any and all wood possible.
After a bunch of demolishing, I wasn’t left with much. Time to put this coffee table back together reattaching the back and the bottom of the crate.
To the back, the bottom of the sides, and front of the crate I cut and added 3 inch trim around the perimeter of the box sides, nailing on with finishing nails. This trim matches what was on the sides of the crate. Where needed, I used my own reclaimed wood. Previously, the front and back had no extra trim, now they too, have a nice frame.
Sand the entire crate well including the edges.
Use a level to attach brackets, just a thin piece of wood, on the inside sides of the crate to hold a shelf.
I still wanted to see the old stamped lettering so I’m giving the entire crate a coat of thin black wash. Just like a white wash only using a little black paint mixed with a lot of water. Wipe off any excess. and let dry.
The paint has dried. If you would like a darker finish add more black paint.
I could have left the top as is. but I wanted a smoother, grayer finish. Out comes the white wax. Once again, this coat is painted on and the excess wiped off.
I finished with a final coat of clear wax.
These hidden swivel plate casters are from Amazon. They are sunken into the wood leaving only 3/4 of an inch of wheel showing. They also have a 110 pound load capacity per wheel. These should also protect a hardwood floor from scratches from the crate.
Mark where you’d like your casters to sit.
You could buy a 2 5/8 inch hole saw where you buy your casters or use whatever large drill bit you have on hand and finish your hole with a hand held jigsaw.
Insert the caster and set with screws.
You would never know there were casters hiding out underneath this coffee table, they sink just a bit into the jute rug but still keep the coffee table slightly elevated.
Inside the coffee table, this is what the top of the casters look like.
A couple of handles I had on hand are just the right finishing touch.
All of the trim around the perimeter on the backside of the crate is new old wood. There was no trim here previously.
I prefer to keep the open shelves of the coffee table on the sofa side but I turned it around to show you all the fantastic added storage.
A rustic coffee table, the perfect height and not so fancy that you’d be afraid to put your feet up on.
Until next time, stay inspired.
From wagons to chicken incubators, click here for 23 more upcycled coffee table creations.
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So glad you took those doors off! It really looks good and very antique-y, job well done.