Woodworking

DIY Outdoor Chevron Coffee Table

Learn how to make a DIY outdoor chevron coffee table with a wood torched base in just one weekend with free plans & video!

DIY outdoor chevron coffee table on patio

The calendar may say that fall is here, but Mother Nature begs to differ! We are still having 70 and 80 degree days here in New York, which means we are taking full advantage of being outside this fall.

That being said, my family’s backyard oasis has been in desperate need of a new coffee table. So, I partnered with my amazing friends at Bernzomatic to make it happen. Here’s how I made them a new DIY outdoor chevron coffee table in one weekend!

Before we get to the good stuff, let’s talk about the types of wood you can use for outdoor projects. I chose cedar because I love the finished look, but there are other types of wood you can use.

What type of wood can you use for outdoor projects?

  • Cedar: This wood has natural oils that make it resistant to decay and insect damage. It’s also lightweight, easy to work with, and has a pleasant aroma.
  • Redwood: Another lightweight and durable option, redwood is resistant to decay and insect damage due to the presence of natural tannins. It’s also a beautiful wood with a unique reddish color.
  • Teak: A popular choice for outdoor furniture, teak is known for its high resistance to decay, insects, and moisture. It’s also a dense wood with a beautiful golden color that weathers to an attractive gray patina over time.
  • Cypress: This wood has natural oils that make it resistant to decay and insects. It’s also a relatively affordable option that’s easy to work with and has a beautiful grain pattern.
  • Pressure-treated pine: This wood is treated with chemicals that make it resistant to decay and insects. It’s also a cost-effective option that’s widely available and easy to work with. However, it’s important to note that the chemicals used in pressure treatment can be harmful, so it’s important to take proper safety precautions when working with it.
  • Mahogany: A dense and durable wood that’s naturally resistant to decay and insects, mahogany has a rich reddish-brown color and a beautiful grain pattern. It’s also a more expensive option than some of the others on this list.
  • Ipe: Also known as Brazilian walnut, ipe is an extremely dense and durable wood that’s resistant to decay, insects, and moisture. It’s also a beautiful wood with a rich brown color that weathers to a silver-gray patina over time.

Do I still need to apply a protective sealant on wood meant for outdoor use?

Yes! You should always apply a protective sealant to any outdoor wood project. It will help protect the color and finish of the wood for a longer period of time.

How To Make An Outdoor Chevron Coffee Table

This post is sponsored by Bernzomatic. For my full disclosure policy, click here.

Want to watch this build on YouTube? Check it out below and subscribe to my channel!

The last outdoor project I built with torched cedar was in May and it’s been holding up so well! I’m also a sucker for a good chevron project. So, I wanted to combine those two elements and make a new outdoor table for my parents’ yard.

DIY outdoor chevron coffee table on patio

Here’s how I completed this build in one weekend!

What you’ll need to make a DIY outdoor chevron coffee table:

supplies needed to build outdoor coffee table

Tools
BZ4500 Heat Shrink Torch for Large Surface Areas
Bernzomatic Propane Tank
Miter Saw
Drill
Pocket Hole Jig
Brad Nailer
Sandpaper
Wire Brush
Heat Resistant Gloves
Straight Edge/Ruler
Tape Measure

Materials
(11) 2 x 2 x 4′ Cedar Boards
(6) 1 x 6 x 8′ Cedar Boards
Water Resistant Wood Adhesive
1 ½” Stainless Steel Brad Nails
2 ½” Exterior Pocket Hole Screws
Waterproofing Finish

The Steps:

Step 1. Cut your 2 x 2 boards into the following pieces:

(4) Legs @ 17 ¾”
(4) Long Frames @ 37″
(4) Short Frames @ 21″
(3) Supports @ 37″

cutting 2x2 cedar boards with a miter saw

Step 2. Make the pocket holes

Drill pocket holes in the end of your long frames, short frames, and supports.

drilling pocket holes in cedar for outdoor coffee table

3. Build the base of the DIY outdoor chevron coffee table

Begin building your table frame sides by attaching the short frames to the legs with pocket hole screws and wood adhesive.

building frame of DIY outdoor chevron coffee table

Next, attach your two sides together with your long frames using pocket hole screws and wood adhesive.

Also be sure to attach your supports 6″ apart the same way.

building frame of DIY outdoor chevron coffee table

Step 4. Burn the base

Once your base is assembled, use your BZ4500 Heat Shrink Torch for Large Surface Areas
Bernzomatic Propane Tank to give the wood a rich patina finish. Be sure to wear heat-resistant gloves!

torching wood for shou sugi ban finish

Step 5. Clean up

After torching, use a wire brush to remove any char and smooth out torched wood.

diy shou sugi ban brushing off excess torched wood

Repeat steps 4 and 5 as many times as you want until you achieve your desired look.

Step 6. Mark base for placement of top boards

Once your base is prepared, find the center of the top of the base both vertically and horizontally. Mark this using a pencil and a straight edge.

marking table frame for placement of chevron boards for the table top

Step 7. Cut chevron pieces

Next, begin cutting your chevron pieces. I’ve found that the best way to do this is to start with two pieces cut to 45-degree angle, place your boards on your base, and then trim it to size later.

cutting cedar boards for chevron pattern

Pro Tip: Outdoor wood requires room for movement, so use a spacer in between each row of your design to allow for maximum movement and drainage.

diy chevron table top leaving space between boards for drainage and movement

Step 8. Repeat pattern

Keep repeating this until you’re happy with your pattern. Attach each board using exterior wood adhesive and stainless-steel brad nails.

creating chevron pattern table top

Step 9. Optional: Add trim

Use a table saw to cut any leftover boards into ¾” border strips. Attach them to the outside of your chevron patterned tabletop using brad nails and wood glue.

close up of DIY cedar border on outdoor coffee table

Step 10. Sanding

Sand your tabletop making sure to get in between each board.

sanding cedar outdoor coffee table top

Step 11. Finish

Apply waterproof finishing.

close up of chevron patterned wood top

… and in one weekend of work, you’ve made a table that will entertain family and guests for seasons to come!

DIY outdoor chevron coffee table on patio

There are so many things I love about this coffee table, but what gets me the most is how stunning cedar looks after applying a patina finish with my Bernzomatic torch!

wood burned DIY outdoor chevron coffee table on patio

I also love how fun the chevron pattern is – it totally matches the outdoor bar I made for their last backyard!

DIY outdoor chevron coffee table on patio

I’m so excited to see this table get lots of use, especially with warm days still to come.

Want to save this project for later? Make sure to Pin It!

More projects using Bernzomatic’s torch

Sam Raimondi

Sam is a full time psychologist and part time content creator from Long Island, New York.

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23 COMMENTS

  • Larry Bishop

    Love the design of this table. I am going to make one just a little smaller for our living roon

    • Sam
      AUTHOR

      Yes! I love that! Hope you’ll share when you’re done!

  • Joana

    Hello,
    where are the plans for this project?

    Best,
    Jo

    • Sam
      AUTHOR

      Hi, the only plans available are the ones in the step-by-step listed on this post.

  • selina

    How do you stop the char from wood from rubbing off?

    • Sam
      AUTHOR

      I would give it a light rub down and then use a few coats of clear. Mine doesn’t shed at all!

  • Andrea

    I love this project! Can you share what type of cedar boards you used? They look nicer than fence boards. I’m looking at Home Depot’s website and I see a pack of six planks. Love your projects. I’m inspired to tackle this table! Thank you!

    • Sam
      AUTHOR

      Thank you! I used 1 x 6 cedar boards for this project. I found them at Home Depot!

    • Raina

      Do you have the cutlist for the Chevron pattern, or did you just keep trial and error-ing until you got it?

      • Sam
        AUTHOR

        No cutlist – I just cut and fit as I go. I’ve done that with all of my chevron pieces and everything just fits better that way! If you try and need some help, let me know! Happy to help!

  • David

    Well Done!

    • Sam
      AUTHOR

      Thank you!

  • Emilee

    About how much does this project cost?

    • Sam
      AUTHOR

      I don’t remember off-hand, I’m sorry! But, I linked everything I used, so you should be able to price it out based on how much the cedar runs by you!

  • Thomas J Quarles

    Itsays to use (6) 1×6×8 foot boards for the top. Really? 6 8 foot boards just for a table thats only 37×24 doesn’t make sense.

    • Sam
      AUTHOR

      The reason I bought 6 for this project is because the chevron pattern eats up more real estate than just gluing up the boards straight. It also allows for more trial and error when cutting the chevron. I usually pick up a little extra in case I make a bad cut.

      • Thomas J Quarles

        I bought 6 and still had 2 left over even with 2 bad cuts or I would have had 3 left

  • Adam

    Sam, thanks so much for this! My wife loves the way this has turned out. This is my first big project and has been hugely inspirational in getting me going.

    How do you deal with the softness of cedar? I’ve got so many dings in mine already. It’s there a suitable hardwood to use?

    I’d also recommend to any readers to follow Sam’s suit and assemble the table frame upside down on A FLAT surface. I tried to do it right side up and I ended up with a bunch of uneven spots which made putting the planks on really bad because everything was uneven. I ended up spending hours trying to make it flat again.

  • Jonathan

    I love this! It looks soooooo good!
    Going to make my own today. Mybe i will film it and make a video of it! Thanks for the inspo! 😀

  • John

    Sam
    This is such a beautiful and amazing project. Well done.
    I cannot find the dimensional lumber in Phoenix at Depot or Lowe’s. Might you be willing to change your lumber list to links to the actual ones you purchased so I can find them. I know you are supper busy, but if you could find time to do this I would really appreciate it.

    Thanks much!!!

  • Kim

    Hi, Sam

    Thank you for sharing this project. Just built one for my deck and it looks great! I wanted to ask which outdoor finish you used. Please let me know!

  • Rusty Varnadoe

    Thank you for the plans. I just finished an indoor version of your table!

  • Hannah

    Hi! I was thinking about giving this table a shot, so thanks for giving out all the help! Do you think I would need to run these planks through a planer?

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