The Racetrack |
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Adding cup holders is strictly optional. The table would still look spectacular without them. Knowing my friends and their affinity for beer, cup holders were a requirement. Begin by figuring out where you want your cupholders, and make sure you have them spaced correctly as in the photo below. Before tracing, it's a good idea to test your positioning with the rail on to ensure that there won't be any overlap. |
| In the picture above, I have chosen a tuna can to be the closest fit to my cup holder, and the easiest way to draw my circles. |
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| All of the holes have been stenciled, and are ready for cutting. |
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In these next few pictures I really showcase my lack of skill with a jig saw. |
| Like we did earlier when we cut the center insert, drill a hole on the inside of your stencil, and make an arched cut towards your line. Go slow, or you risk having your holes too wide, and you will end up with gaps. |
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After all the holes are cut in the rail, the rail should be placed on top of the baseboard. Use the holes in the rail to trace holes for the base board. The holes in the rail need to be at least as big as the holes on the rail, but can be bigger to ensure you don't have any fit problems. |
| Here is what it looks like once the holes have been cut in both boards. |
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Don't forget to make sure you have some markings so you know which ends go together. |
| It's now time to begin the staining process. I'm not a stain expert, but since this is nice oak, I recommend doing a little research before just diving in. I began by using a minwax pre-stain treatment. It's also a good idea to first sand, and clean with mineral spirits and a good tack cloth to make sure you have all the debris cleaned up. |
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I elected to use a staining rag. An old shirt, or even a foam brush would work fine. |
| Apply the stain as evenly as possible. This may mean glopping some on and spreading it out evenly. |
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This shot really displays the contrast between the original finish, and the wet stain. |
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After the first coat, it's still a little light for my liking. |
| The flash lightens this shot up a bit, but here is a closeup after the third coat. |
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The stained rail joins the rest of the table. |
| Overhead view of the table minus the rail. |
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