For the coffee table (the Cotterman, as Rhonda likes to call it. She’s still torn between calling it a coffee table and an Ottoman), the next step is to build a base for it. After all, if the top just sits on the floor, it’s going to be too low to hold my coffee. Right?

So, I cut four legs down to size. Since most coffee tables want to be about 16 inches high, I cut them a little longer than 14 and a half inches long to have the top land at the sweet spot. Fortunately, there was lots of extra wood left over from the original 2 x 12 to work with for this operation.

I also cut some rails for the sides of the table and cross rails that would help to hold the frame together and provide a strong surface for the table top to bear against and be screwed to. How did I attach them?  Sure, I could have gone all mortise and tenon on them, but, meh, with the shop as hot as it was and Rhonda wanting the piece as soon as possible, I opted to go the pocket screw route.

There’s a lot to be said about how fast projects go together with them. And, believe me, for what this table will be doing, they are plenty strong.

After just a little bit of work, I was able to get the frame together and just set the top on it to give it a test run.

I dunno… looks pretty good perched up there on top of the workbench. Since it won’t be there forever, I had to make sure the measurements were going to be perfect on this, so I trimmed the ends even with my track saw, screwed the top into place through the battens and set it into the living room. Then, the moment of truth. I called a young, strapping lad in to give me a hand.

So far, I’d have to say that the table is pretty strong to handle this much beefcake. Now, to build a deck for the bottom part of the table for magazines, board games and the like, and this one will be ready for the finish.