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Stair balusters make surprisingly good table legs — they come pre-milled square and straight, which saves you the trouble of squaring up your own leg stock. The table stands on a two-tier apron frame: a top tier that carries the slatted tabletop, and a lower tier that carries a second slatted shelf, notched around each leg so the shelf sits flush rather than floating above them.
Both the top and the shelf are built from short slats rather than solid boards, clamped tight to each rail as you attach them — clamping each joint, not just the first one, is what keeps a multi-slat surface like this from creeping out of flat by the time you reach the last piece. Use exterior glue throughout since this table lives outside.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Stair balusters, 34" tall x 1-1/4" x 1-1/4" | 4 each |
| 1x3 board, 8 ft | 2 each |
| 1x4 board, 8 ft | 5 each |
| Pocket-hole screws, 1-1/4" | 40 each |
| Exterior wood glue | 6 oz |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Top slats1x4 | 10 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 9" |
| Top edge rails1x4 | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 39 1/2" |
| Shelf slats1x4 | 9 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 9" |
| Shelf edge rails1x3Notched at each end to fit around the legs. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 35 1/2" |
| LegsStair baluster | 4 | 1 1/4" × 1 1/4" × 34" |
| Top apron, short1x4 | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 11 1/2" |
| Top apron, long1x4 | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 33" |
| Bottom apron, short1x3 | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 11 1/2" |
| Bottom apron, long1x3 | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 33" |
Buy 8 boards at 8 ft.
2 boards
4 boards
2 boards
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Attach the top slats across the two top edge rails, spacing them evenly. Clamp each joint as you attach it, not just the first one — that's what keeps a multi-slat top like this coming out flat and even.
Build the bottom shelf the same way as the top, attaching the shelf slats across the two shelf edge rails. This time, notch out the corners of the rails so the shelf fits around the legs.
Attach a short apron (both the top and bottom short aprons) to two legs to build one end assembly; repeat for the other end. Then attach the long aprons (both top and bottom) to join the two leg-and-apron end assemblies into one frame.
Don't forget to drill pocket holes in the top aprons, facing upward, for attaching the tabletop in the next step.
Attach the assembled tabletop to the top aprons through the pocket holes, and set the shelf into the notched bottom apron frame and attach.
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