Farmhouse Coffee Table
Recommended Tools
(I recommend one tool from each category to complete this project, unless otherwise specified)
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Table Saw (and miter gauge)
Almost any table saw will work well for this project. I recommend one of the two saws below, as I’ve used each of them before and found them both to work quite well. The 10” Ridgid Table Saw below is my saw of choice today. I love the size of the cast iron top and the consistency of the rip fence.
A miter gauge is also very helpful, but not absolutely required for this project.
Circular Saw/Track Saw
A circular saw is optional for this project, as all the cuts can be done on the table saw (with a miter gauge) or on a miter saw as well if you have one. But, a circular saw can be used for several of the cuts, and may help you to avoid changing table saw settings and blades too often. If you’re interested in investing in a circular saw, I would recommend one of the two below. I use Makita tools in my shop each day, and highly recommend them. If you’re on a tighter budget, the craftsman circular saw below is also a good option that will work great for this project and many more in the future.
Drill/Impact Driver
A good drill and impact driver set are an essential for a fully equipped shop. While most of the joints for this project simply require glue and some nails, a drill and impact driver are needed for several of the steps, such as attaching the countertop to the cabinet base. Both Makita and DeWalt are solid brands, and you can’t go wrong with either one. I personally favor the Makita tools, as I have had the same set of tools for many years and the batteries just keep going and going. DeWalt tools are also very well respected though, so I recommend whichever brand suits you best!
Speed/Combination Square
These hand tools are essential for ensuring your project turns up straight and square. While inexpensive, simple tools like this can add a lot of value to your shop.
Set of Woodworking Clamps (at least 2 24” clamps and 2 48” clamps are recommended)
You can never have too many clamps! There are lots of different sizes and styles out there, but I recommend the ones below for their simplicity and cost. The WEN Cast iron pipe clamps can be used with any length of 1/2” cast iron pipe, and are great for a versatile solution since you can swap them out for a different length pipe depending on the need. I use these alongside the Bessey clamps for nearly all of my glue ups. While the Pipe clamps are great for versatility and strength, the Bessey clamps are more lightweight and are extremely easy to use. They come in a variety of lengths, and for this project I recommend at least 2 24” clamps and 2 48” clamps. The 48” clamps are mostly used for large glue ups, and these Parallel style clamps work great for keeping all the pieces where they need to be.
Tape Measure
This is a no brainer. If you don’t already have one in your shop, I recommend getting a few different ones strategically located so you are never too far away from one!
Hammer/Mallet
A hammer or a mallet is not 100% required, but it can be very helpful especially if you are choosing the Mortise and Tenon or the Dowel options for the Table Top with Breadboard Ends.
Pocket Hole Jig
A pocket hole jig is one of those tools that I didn’t really know how much I would use until I actually got it. Now that I have this jig, I use it all the time. I started with the 320 jig when I was first starting out, and it worked great. It fits into a small package, and makes it really easy to drill pocket holes in cabinets and other furniture that are already partially assembled. Then, I outgrew the 320 and upgraded to the K4 jig, which makes it so much easier to do repetitive pocket holes for projects like this. At the end of the day, I still use both of these jigs since they each have advantages over the other, but you can get by with just one.
