Making stuff with junk: The Yardstick Table

My garage is somewhat of a furniture project graveyard. Well, not so much a graveyard as a waiting room, really.

My plans are big, but my motivation? Not so big. I am happy to report that I finally finished one of the projects waiting for me. And it only took about 3 years!

I found this little table at the thrift store many moons ago. I knew immediately what I wanted to do with it: the top is recessed just about the same thickness as a yardstick. I knew that I wanted to use some of my yardstick collection to inlay the top of the table.

And would you look at the price!

I brought it home and put it in the garage, where it sat. And sat. And sat. See, where I get hung up on my refinishing projects is always the sanding phase. I HATE sanding furniture. I hate it oh SO very, very much. I am also somehow completely inept when it comes to using furniture stripper, so I usually just lose my motivation before I really get started.

Not long ago on some blog I read about a product called Howard Restor-A-Finish that piqued my interest. I happened upon a big display of the Howard products at a store that opened recently, and I remembered my little table waiting so patiently in the garage.

The Restor-A-Finish couldn't be easier to use--you simply wipe it onto the wood using 0000-grade steel wool, and then wipe off the excess with a clean rag. Here's what the company says about the product:

"Restor-A-Finish is a unique finish-penetrating formula that restores the original color and luster to your finish while blending out the blemishes and minor scratches. Restor-A-Finish restores the finish in one step - without removing any of the existing finish."

The Restor-A-Finish worked great on my table! Previously, there were some minor scratches and the finish was faded and the wood looked very dry.

I only used one coat of the Restor-A-Finish. There are still a few scratches and marks that aren't completely covered up but they don't bother me. I have two kids and a dog so the idea of having a perfect finish on anything in this house is just silly.

The brass casters also needed some attention. I used some of The Mister's Brasso and more of the steel wool and managed to remove some of the tarnish.

After that, the yardstick inlay was easy! I used a Dremel tool with a saw blade to cut each yardstick to the correct length. I got lucky and the space was a perfect fit for 11 yardsticks so I didn't have to cut any of the sticks in half lengthwise.

I used Gorilla Glue to adhere the yardsticks to the top of the table, then covered the top with foil and weighted the whole thing down with cinderblocks to make sure it all stayed flat while the glue dried. The yardsticks truly are the exact thickness as the table inset so the top of the table is flush--it's like it was meant to be!

I love everything about this project: I love that I was able to use some of my yardstick stash and now I don't feel like such a hoarder. I love that I have some extra storage space because of the shelf on the bottom. I love that it adds an interesting element to my living room. I love that the Restor-A-Finish was such an EASY, instantly gratifying product to use. I love that the top of my table is a fun background for junk photos like these. And most of all, I love that I was finally able to finish a project from the garage!

(PS--Howard Restor-A-Finish did not pay me to say any of these things or provide me with product. Ijust want to share a product of which I'm now a big fan!) 

I'm linking up with The Nifty Thrifty at A Living Space and Thrift Share Monday at Apron Thrift Girl.