Oak Barrel Table

Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-1607 -- More Projects »
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Figure A

Several years ago a friend gave master gardener Paul James an old oak wine barrel as a gift (figure A). Since then, he has considered several ways in which to use it, including a planter and a water feature. None of the options was appealing since it involved altering the barrel in some way or another — something he didn't want to do. After much thought, Paul decides to transform the wine barrel into a unique table for his patio.
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Figure B
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Figure C
To start, Paul places the barrel, open end up, in its final resting spot. As he converts the barrel into a table, the rock and glass to be added will increase the weight, and moving it won't be easy.

Once the barrel is in place, he places a nursery pot upside down in the center of the barrel (figure B). The pot will take up space inside the barrel as well as provide an extra internal structure to support the glass tabletop.

Next, he adds decorative stone around the sides and on top of the nursery pot until it is full (figure C). To keep spiders from calling the barrel home, he pours citronella oil over the stones. Repeat the process every month or so.

Once the base for the table has been prepared, Paul adds a pre-cut piece of half-inch-thick tempered glass to fit over the barrel with just a bit of a lip hanging over the edge (figure D). The beveled edges give it a nice finished look.

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Figure D
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Figure E
After he adds a few accoutrements, the new table is complete (figure E).
Also in this Episode
Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-1607
•Goodbye to Gophers
•Paul's Conifer Collection
•Solutions to Common Garden Problems
•Oak Barrel Table