Bar Table Basics

• Bar tables are built taller than standard tables to serve as extra bar space. They are tall enough for a large group of drinkers to stand around and lean against them while they drink. When there are fewer people, drinkers can pull up stools and sit, taking more time to socialize. If you wish to follow this tradition, you will need to make your bar table waist-high or slightly taller--36 to 42 inches is a good size. Stools for use with a table of this size should be about 30 inches tall.
  
  A bar owner wants as much serving space as possible, so bar table tops are typically 30 to 36 inches in diameter. This is large enough to handle several drinkers, but does not take up much floor space.
  
  

Table Bases

• While you can build a pedestal table with 2 x 4s, you will need a lot more wood to build a sturdy one. It is much simpler (and economical) to build a four-legged table. You can glue 2 x 4s together to make 4 x 4 legs, and join them at the top with 2 x 4 stretchers (also called the table's apron).
  
  However, if you are determined to build a pedestal table, you can do so. The most important measurement to remember is that the tabletop should not stick out past the legs by more than 3 inches.
  
  

Tabletops

• The tabletop is probably the simplest part to build, since you only need to lay 2 x 4s side-by-side and join them together. There are two common ways to do this.
  
  The first is to lay two 2 x 4s on top of and perpendicular to the others, then nail them together. You can then lay this assembly on top of your base and either attach it directly with long screws or use metal "L" brackets and short screws.
  
  The second method is to lay the individual 2 x 4s directly on top of the base and attach each one to the base's apron with nails or screws. If you use this method, you will want to add a stretcher between two of the aprons to provide support for the middle of the boards.
  
  And if you decide you do not want a square top, you also have two choices. You can mark out a circular shape using a pencil and string by tying one end of the string around the pencil and holding the other end to the middle of the top. This will allow you to draw a circle, which you can cut out with a saber saw. Or you can just cut off the corners with straight cuts, creating an octagonal top.