Usually I’m the one building the table tops, while welders and metal workers build one-of-a-kind legs and bases. This time, my wonderful clients (who contacted me through my website) flipped the script and asked for a glass top table with wooden legs.
After throwing me for the initial loop, these clients added yet another challenge: They wanted the table to be 50 inches wide. After lots of research, I was only able to find one company in the U.S. that was even willing to attempt a 50 x 120 glass top table. Ultimately, the challenges paid off, and the dining table has fast become one of my favorite builds.
Here’s how we built a client’s glass top table with maple legs — and how it almost never happened.
Flipping the Script
I was so excited to talk options with the clients. They knew they wanted a glass top but weren’t sure about the base, so I gave them several options. In the end, we settled on:
- Cutting two of the highly figured maple logs I’d been storing for over 10 years in half to display the figure inside. The maple was a perfect match to the decor and decorative beams above.
- Decorating the wood bases with steel bow ties to match their beautiful wine rack the table would sit in front of.
I demonstrated how we’d cut the logs on one of my spare logs. I also sent them videos and photos of how the bases would sit opposite each other. I provided them with photos of other tables we had used the steel bow ties on so they could see the look and contrast.
Sourcing Wood for the Base of the Glass Top Table
The maple logs we used for the base were from right here in Utah. One of my general contractor friends calls me whenever he needs trees removed from land they’re developing. These logs came from two different homesteads in the Salt Lake City area.
Both hard maple trees are well over 100 years old. It was hard to think they were healthy and could have kept living, but the homeowners wanted them removed. By repurposing the trees as the base to the glass top table, we were able to give them new life.
And what a process it was to repurpose these slabs! The trees had to be rough cut to size with a chainsaw, then milled down closer with a horizontal bandsaw before being sent to the kiln for almost five months to get rid of moisture and bugs. Then, we took the slabs to the bandsaw again to get them just over exact size.
The next step was to adjust our surfacing machine to fit the 11 x 27 x 31 blocks and make them exactly 30 inches tall. It took several days of turning them onto each side and making sure each one was level to get the perfect shape. Four heavy levelers were recessed into the bottom of each base.
Finally, it came time to hand carve the 21 decorative bow ties into the four bases. The steel ties serve the dual purpose of being decorative and supporting splits to ensure they don’t spread more over time. Each has to be tight and coated with epoxy to stay in place and prevent residual moisture in the wood from rusting the ties or staining the wood black.
Overcoming the Challenges of Building a Glass Top Table
Every step of this beautiful dining table was a challenge and time consuming, which was expected. It took the glass company six attempts to get the one-inch-thick glass top table perfect — and even though many companies would have given up after that many attempts, the company stayed positive throughout the process.
It was definitely worth the wait. The glass is tempered and crystal clear and weighed over 500 pounds, so we had six guys from a local installation company we trusted carry it around the back of the house, up a hill, and through the back double doors.
The hard maple base was the perfect color, and the steel ties matched everything in the room — from the floor to the wall and overhead beams.
The bases themselves took time and patience. I had to make sure each one was perfect before every cut and again before and after the drying process. Then, I had to place each bow tie so it was perfectly carved in and there were no gaps displaying patient craftsmanship. Each tie takes about an hour to place.
Revealing the Glass Top Table & Maple Legs
Everything was perfect. I was so extremely pleased with glass — so beautiful and clear, with zero flaws. The bow ties were so much fun to put in and are one of my favorite parts of the craft. I always love placing them, no matter the time it takes.
The clients were so excited to get the glass top table in and remarked at the clarity of the glass. They were so excited how the colors of the wood matched the room perfectly. I was so glad to be a part of this piece, and I look forward to many more challenging projects in the future.
To discuss the project of your dreams, contact me today!
