diy furniture Barn Trolley Tables By Adam Magers
First patented in 1867, iron hay carriers once served as a barn’s workhorse. Repurpose them now as a sturdy foundation for your coffee table.
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However, it is important to know that not all boards actually measure the width they are sold as. So, a 2”x8”-8’ board may only mea- sure 7-3/4” wide because it lost a 1 / 4 ” when it was surfaced at the mill. Same with the thick- ness. Generally, 1” material only measures 3 / 4 ”. Sketching the layout of your table will save you time in the long run. Step 2 Cleaning up the barn trolleys is optional. Some people love a rustic look, and rust helps with that. If you prefer a cleaner look, try Calcium, Lime, and Rust Remover and scrub the rust away by using a wire brush or steel wool. Be sure to wear some heavy rubber gloves, as well as wear eye protection, and read the directions and warning label. You can also use a drill or Dremel tool with a wire brush attachment to do away with the rust. Wear a dust mask and eye protection as wire bristles will fly and rust particles will be floating through the air. Step 3 Trolleys need to be adapted so they can be used as table legs. Barn trolleys vary
in height, so your wood attachment piece will vary depending on the height of your barn trolley and how tall you want your table. I would recommend attaching a 4”x4” block to the bottom of the barn trolley. Depending on the barn trolley, I like to position it upside down for aesthetics. The best way to attach the block is to use Liquid Nails or another extremely strong construction adhesive. It’s
arn trolleys or hay carriers were used to help farmers lift and re- locate heavy objects in the barn. As many barns have seen the end
of their days, barn trolleys are reappearing in antique stores and piles of agri-junk. These ex- tremely heavy hunks of metal are eye-catching and intriguing. Barn trolleys have even caught the atten- tion of the retail furnishing giant Restoration Hardware, as the company sells a barn trolley light pendant. I believe barn trolleys can serve an even better purpose as table legs. If you don’t have power tools, don’t worry. Tables have existed for thousands of years, and power tools haven’t. You can cut wood using a hand saw, and then join the pieces together using wood glue, a hammer and nails. Step 1 Determine the dimensions of your table. Because barn trolleys are so heavy, I recommend 2” thick boards. Next, decide how wide you would like each board to be. If you want a 24” wide table, go with four 6” boards.
What you need Barn trolleys Wood Rust remover (optional) Wire brush (optional)
Hammer, nails and hand saw (at least) Drill, screws, Mitre saw/table saw (at most) U-bolts, cable or wire Wood glue, clamp Biscuit joiner (optional) Stain
VintageKC / Spring 2013 10
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