Patriotic Party Table

During the summer of 2020, my would-be internship was canceled, so I spent some time at home. During this time, I built a table for my family’s 4th of July beach party. The table needed to be waterproof, sandproof, and display a level of craftsmanship I could be proud to show to my family and friends. I used 4x4” boards for the legs, 2x4” boards for the frame, and a sheet of plywood for the tabletop. the table stands at a height of 3.5’. The ideal height was determined with some user testing. See the can of Bud Lite for scale. After assembly, any gaps and imperfections were filled with wood glue, and the table was sanded down to prepare for painting.

After a layer of primer, painting began. I measured and taped off areas for the stripes, and made a stencil for the stars. After painting was finished, I applied 2 coats of polyurethane to protect the table from water, sand, and food, drinks, or games happening on the surface. Several years later, the table is still in use today and receives complements from beachgoers every Independence Day.