Hey guys!! I have had this weird phenomenon happen. Working on the Nugget day and night has made me really appreciate normal home DIY. Like a lot. It seems like the more we use our creativity, the more we have, right? A few weeks ago I shared my die heard obsession over Ben at HomeMade Modern. Apparently I am not the only one that loves him, because Cara, and my Mother in Law both requested furniture using his stacked plywood technique.

Then I saw these adorable modified hairpin legs that the always amazing Emily used and just decided to facilitate a love child between them.

The one thing that was a bit daunting for me was the inevitable use of a table saw for cutting the ply. To me, it is the scariest of all saws, and the one that I am least comfortable with. Then out of the blue I got an email from the folks at GRR-RIPPER. I did some research and the GRR-RIPPER 3D Pushblock looked sort of too good to be true. But I was game for a try.

You.guys.

One pass with the GRR-RIPPER and Court and I looked at each other like “did that really just happen?!” it was AMAZING. Like you know on infomercials how they do something and it is SO simple, and then they smile and have a little sparkle gleam on their teeth?

THAT.

The first project we used it on was for the Nugget (coming down the pipeline soon), but I knew I had to put the GRR-RIPPER to use on a project that I could talk about right this second and share it with the planet!

To make the bench we used 2 pieces of Plywood. While you are at the hardware store, have them rip (2) 4’x8’x3/4” sheets into (6) 2×4’ sheets and (1) 2×8’ sheet.

The smaller 2×4 sheets are going to be cut every 3 inches. (This is going to determine the height of your bench/table top so adjust accordingly.)  3” for me gave it a really hefty industrial butcher block vibe.

We started out by ripping 2×4’ sheets of 3/4” ply using the Smart Hook Pushblock GRR-RIPPER. The underside is rubber and holds on to the wood, and on either end are little gravity hooks that help push the piece along. (they dont actually hook into the piece, they lay flat against the wood if they are on top of it, the magic is when they are hanging off the wood. Major leverage.

As amazing as the Smart Hook Pushblock is, the real magic is in the GRR-RIPPER 3D Pushblock. You guys, this thing can guide a cut down to an 1/8th of an inch. Lets just let that marinate for a sec.

You can practically make toothpicks on a table saw.

The way that it works is truly genius.

You move the sliding bridge so that it is between your saw guide and the saw blade, then you just push your wood through…OVER the saw blade. The saw blade goes between the edge and the bridge and you have so much control. Table saws are sort of notorious for lifting up your material as it is being fed in. That doesn’t happen when you are pushing on the material as the saw is cutting it.

The most important part is that it is safe. Your hands are nowhere near the saw blade.

Cut all 6 of your 2×4’ boards. This will give you enough material for a 4 1/2 foot bench/table.

Wood glue is a must for this project. A thin line between each board goes a long way when it comes to sturdiness.

Stack 3 boards high (with glue in between!) and then on the last one add glue to the top.

Place this glue side down, on the boards that you just installed.

Then using 3” wood screws, attach your boards to the stack.

We did this against a block wall to make sure that it was nice and straight-ish. If its not perfect, its ok, this project rocks the laid back DIY vibe.

Attach the 2 end pieces with a nail gun. (You will just need 1 board for each end, not 3.)

Cut your 2×8’ board so that it fits on the underside of your table.

Real life DIY alert!  The original plan was not to have this support board. But after we installed the legs our bench was looking a little droopy in the mid section (sort of like me!)  so it was a bit of a super hero. Now that it’s on, I really love the way it adds just a little more detail.

I used inexpensive plywood and it was really splintery and needed a good sanding. I recommend 150 grit for a project like this. It will smooth everything down really well without taking the character out of the wood, if that makes sense.

For a bench I ordered these 18” table legs, if you want to make this for a coffee table, I would order the 14”.

We did a little rearranging in Alicia’s Living Room and really love how dramatic the bench is against the black wall. Now just to find some art!

For more info on the MICROJIG GRR-RIPPER visit 3dpushblock.com.

This project was sponsored by MICRO-JIG,  all project ideas and opinions are 1000% mine. (pssst….this thing really is life changing folks.)

The post DIY Stacked Plywood Bench appeared first on Vintage Revivals.

You guys! Have you signed up for the VR newsletter yet? Every week the girl I love most (that would be Jamie) has an AWESOME secret project that is only available through the newsletter. Hello, who doesn’t want a secret weekend project?! (Don’t worry, you can sign up at the end of this post!)

Last week Jamie shared a picnic table update that is just so simple that I just had to share it over here too.

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Hey there everyone! It’s Jamie, and I’m saying Happy Independence day to all my fellow Americans out there! I hope you all have a fun safe holiday and it’s spent with family and loved ones. Our family time here has already started, and of course my mom wanted to get cracking on some projects together. One of them being to restain the picnic table. This year, I decided to put a twist on it.

We talked some ideas over about painting a design on the table, but after sanding it, I couldn’t bear to cover that wood with paint. It’s way to gorgeous! So instead we decided to have a colored stain and a clear stain to let a design show through.

The table is old and needed a good sanding. This is where I mentioned that I fell in love with the wood. Seriously if I didn’t have to stain it, I wouldn’t have. The raw wood was so so SO pretty. But this baby has to survive outside in Idaho weather. It’s snows in July people. I’m not joking. Start with a coarse 60 grit sandpaper to get the old junk off. Then move to 120 grit to finish. If you want it ULTRA smooth you can use 220 after that.

I already had an idea for a pattern that I wanted on it. I honestly kind of played it by ear. I knew I had to account for the umbrella hole smack dab in the middle of the table. So with some tape, scissors, a pencil and a t-square. Start by making a 90 degree angle.

Moving an inch down at a time, I continued with this angle pattern. (I overlapped so I could cut straight edges later).

Tada! After cleaning it up with the t-square and am exacto knife. I was totally sold on the pattern.

My mom’s favorite stain is the olde maple satin 1 step from Minwax. I always like to paint the table from the inside boards out. And then you have to resist taking the tape off till you know it’s dry. I know it’s so so tempting cause it’s totally the funnest part.

After I was finished painting, waited till it was dry (impatiently), and took off the tape, the separation between the stain and the unstained patterned was a little much. It was just way to drastic, I was going for subtlety here. So we decided to do a light sanding (emphasis on the light).

Problem solved! It’s a Christmas miracle! Hallelujah chorus, it’s beautiful and this natural organic vibe that I was totally going for. Freaking win.

BUT! We still gotta protect that table remember? So we gotta put a clear coat on top of evvverrrryyything and protect it from that crazy Southern Idaho weather.

Light quick coat over the whole thing. Thanks to my momma for helping me out with this coat of paint.

And thanks to my pretty sister, Janae! Isn’t she gorgeous?! She basically steals the photo. We’re all pretty in love with the new table, and being where we live, it’s only warm for about 1-2 months we’re definitely going to be getting as much use out of this as we possibly can!

I also love your guts,

–Jamie

Mandi again! Can you see why I had to share it? It totally makes me want a picnic table, just so I can copy this idea.

And make sure you sign up for the newsletter, because let me tell you,  alllll of the projects are just this amazing.

The post Picnic Table Makeover appeared first on Vintage Revivals.