How to Build a Fluted Coffee Table

In this DIY tutorial, I will show you how to make wooden, fluted coffee tables with just a simple few power tools.

Design Concept

The coffee tables are circular in shape with a tabletop resting on a pole-wrapped cylinder base. There are two tables. One is a little shorter and rests under the larger table.

 

Supplies Needed

Affiliate disclosure: when a purchase is made through the links below, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases on Amazon and other retailers.

• Circular Saw: link.
• Sander: link.
• Nail Gun: link. 
• Wood Filler: link.
• Wood Stain: link.
• Wood Glue: link.
• Pole Wrap (they come in different sizes. Make sure you purchase the right dimensions): link.
• Veneer Tape (this comes in different thickness. Make sure your dimension matches the thickness of your tabletop): link.
• Varathane’s Weathered Oak Stain: link.
• Wooden Circles: link.

Step-by-Step Guide

Making the Smaller Fluted Coffee Table

1. For the base for the smaller table, I used concrete form tube as the main structure. Form tube is a really hard cardboard that’s cylinder in shape and can often be found at the hardware store. 
2. Cut the form tube to the desired height (mine was 17″ tall) and cut the pole wrap to the same height.
3. Then use wood glue and nail gun to attach the pole wrap around the form tube.
4. As the form tube is hollow, take a piece of scrap wood and cut it to fit the inside of the form tube. Once cut, use a nail gun to attach it to the end of the tube. This will serve as the surface which you can attach a table top to.
5. Use wood glue and stick the table top to the wood piece you attached in step 4.
6. Sand the surfaces smooth.
7. To keep things simple, for the table top, you can purchase already-cut circular wood at your local hardware store, or online. If your table top is made from plywood, use veneer tape and a hot iron to stick veneer tape to the sides of the table top to give it a more completed look. If you’re using solid wood table tops, you can skip this step.
8. Lastly, stain the table top with Varathane’s Weathered Oak stain.

Making the larger Fluted Coffee Table

1. There was no form tube with a size suitable for the larger table, so I bought 3 circular wood pieces and made a cylinder structure instead,
2. To make the cylinder structure, cut down plywood and make three rectangular shapes. This adds height and sits between the wood pieces. The total height of the cylinder structure was 19″.
3. To assemble the cylinder structure, use a leveler and make sure each of the wood pieces are perfectly aligned on top of each other and is being assembled straight.
4. Once completed, measure and cut pole wrap to the dimension of your cylinder structure. To attach the pole wrap, use wood glue and nail gun, and nail the pole wrap around the cylinder structure.
5. Filled the nail holes with wood filler.
6. Use wood glue and stick the table top to the top of your cylinder structure.
7. Sand the ends and the table top to make it smooth. 
8. Use veneer tape and a hot iron and wrap the edges of the table top if needed.
9. Lastly, stain the table with Varathane’s Weathered Oak stain.

This is the finished table. I love it!

Video Tutorial

If you have any questions, leave a comment below or DM me on Instagram / YouTube and I will help answer as best as I can!