Barnwood Dining Table

Hello fellow plaid-wearers:

I recently got my first real job after college and am putting together my new place. Paying tons of money for new furniture that is so poorly built that it should be given away for free isn’t my thing, so I’ll be building my own. Plus, moving to small-town Wisconsin and being a young buck gives me a bit too much time on my hands and a serious need for a good project(s).

My Craigslist patience has paid off and I’ve finally managed to snag an old barn door with worn wood, gnarly bolts & nails, and tons of character. It’s in one piece, and after I build a support, it will make for a great table top.

I have woodworking experience, but very little experience in finish, varnish, stains, all that good stuff. I want to keep as much of the character as possible in the wood, but I also need it to be functional and clean enough to finish. I’d like to know how you pros would go about tackling this project while keeping the integrity of the wood’s history, from start to finish – I’d sure appreciate the help.

Thanks,

Norskellunge