TA-DA. I DID IT!

 SO I FINALLY FINISHED MY DINING TABLE. IT TURNED OUT BEAUTIFUL! I LOVE IT.

THE TABLE BASE IS A POTTERY BARN FARM TABLE. I BOUGHT IT OFF CRAIGSLIST FOR $50. MY FRIEND ANDREW HELPED ME MAKE THE TABLE TOP.

FIRST WE TOOK THE TOP OFF AND DECIDED TO USE IT AS THE BASE FOR THE CONCRETE MOLD.

THEN WE BUILT A MOLD USING THE TABLE TOP AND TWO BY FOURS.

AFTER THAT CAME THE MESSY PART. TWO BAGS OF CONCRETE, TWO 5 GALLON BUCKETS, THE WATER HOSE AND A DRILL WITH A MIXING BIT. THE KEY WAS TO GET THE CONCRETE CONSISTANCY LIKE GRAVY.

AFTER THE CONCRETE WAS MIXED, WE POURED IT INTO OUR MOLD. THEN WE PLACED THE WIRE FENCING IN THE CONCRETE FOR SUPPORT.

THEN YOU TAP IT WITH A HAMMER FOR AS LONG AS YOUR ARM CAN HANDLE IT. THIS MAKES THE CONCRETE SETTLE WHICH WILL CAUSE IT TO BE VERY SMOOTH. COVER LIGHTLY AND LET IT DRY FOR 3 DAYS AND THEN YOU TAKE IT OUT OF THE MOLD. AS IT WAS DRYING I SANDED AND RE-FINISHED THE BASE. I WANTED TO MAKE IT LOOK AS OLD AS I COULD. NEXT THE CRAZIEST PART... LIFTING THE THING. IT TOOK 3 GUYS AND A LOT OF PRAYER TO GET IT IN THE HOUSE AND PUT IT ON THE BASE. THE GUYS SAID THAT THOUGHT IT HAD TO WEIGH AT LEAST 600 POUNDS. BUT THEY DID IT AND HERE IS... FINISHED.

I LOVE HOW IT TURNED OUT. I STILL HAVE TO GET THE TOOL TO POLISH THE EDGES AND SEAL IT. NOW I JUST HAVE TO DECIDE TO WHAT CHAIRS TO GO WITH IT. I WANT A MORE CONTEMPORARY CHAIR. I LIKE THESE TWO CHAIRS FROM IKEA...

I'M LEANING TOWARDS THE CLEAR AND CHROME CHAIRS. BUT NOT SURE... I NEED SIX OF THEM. WELL SEE! YALL HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!