Build a Modular Coffee Table

It is time for some sanding of the shelves and table top, as well as assembly.

Begin by sanding the bottom, optional middle and top shelf parts on all exposed edges, with the exception of the areas that will be glue edges. Use progressively finer sandpaper to remove any scratches left behind by the previous grit paper.

Next, we'll glue up the shelves and table top. Align the two pieces of the bottom shelf on your shop table and make some marks for biscuit slots about every 6-8 inches along the joint. Cut the slots with your biscuit joiner and place a small amount of glue in the slots on one side of the joint. Add biscuits to the slots. Then, place a small amount of glue in the corresponding slots on the opposite piece, as well as a very thin even layer along the edge of the joint and assemble the two halves of the shelf. Clamp in place using some long clamps, taking care not to squeeze the glue out of the joints. Clean up any squeeze out that does occur immediately with a damp cloth.

While the shelves are drying, we can turn our attention to the assembly of the rails of the coffee table. Assemble the six pieces of the bottom rail using #10 biscuits at each of the joints as you laid out in a previous step. Use a number of clamps to hold the joints and cross-measure to ensure that the unit is square. Set it aside and complete the top assembly. Repeat the steps with the optional middle shelf and table top, and set aside overnight for the glue to dry.

Once the glue on the shelves has cured, remove the clamps and sand all sides of the two (or three) assembled shelf sections completely.

When the glue on the rails has finished drying give each piece a final hand sanding to remove any burrs that may have remained from the glue-up.