Train Table

Dan and I have been promising Alex a train table since just before his second birthday, but with the upcoming deployment we never got around to it.  We knew we wanted to make him one that would be stronger than the MDF/Particle board ones you can buy in the store.  I finally decided that if it was ever going to be made that I just needed to start it; if I waited for Dan to return I knew it would get put off even more with the baby's arrival.  I know Dan would have loved to be a part of it's construction, but I think he will enjoy it even more when he gets to play on it with Alex upon his return.

I started with making the base using stock oak and my Kreg pocket screw jig.  It went together easily, but took time since I had to do all this during Alex's naps on the weekends.  Next came the table top and bottom shelf.  I had the plywood cut down some for me and then I made the final cuts on our table saw being very careful to stand to the side of the wood in the event that it was kicked back.  I think the hardest part of this table was the finishing of it.  It is difficult when this is Seattle's rainy season with overcast skies, late sunrise, and early sunsets.  The lighting is not the best in our garage either, making it difficult to see the finish.

I think the table came together wonderfully in the end and I know Alex will love it!