D.I.Y. bar cart with mosaic shelf

[marliemakesit]

A homemade bar table made with Pine timber, a Specrite panel and small tiles used for a mosaic base.

• The project
• Steps
• Tools and materials
• How to build a bar with recycled pallet timber
• More inspiration for your drinks table project

The project

We love making cocktails at home and have an empty corner off our kitchen that is the perfect spot for a bar set up. Most bar carts you can buy are quite wide and I only had 600mm of space so I decided to make my own for D.I.Y. July.

Bar carts can definitely be a pricey investment. I totalled up my receipts for the materials and all up this cost me about $120, which for a custom piece is good.

Steps

Step 1

Cut the 30 x 30mm DAR Pine to length. My table measures 600mm wide x 300mm deep x 760mm high, so my cut list was:

• 4 x 760mm
  
  
• 4 x 540 mm
  
  
• 4 x 240mm.

Step 2

Cut the 6mm dowel to length. These fit inside the legs so I added 10mm to each end which will insert into holes drilled into the legs. My cut list was:

• 2 x 560mm
  
  
• 2 x 260mm.

Spray with gold spray paint to mimic metal, or otherwise you could stain the same colour as the table.

Step 3

Drill pocket holes in both ends, on the underside, of each 540mm and 240mm piece.

Step 4

Using a 6.5mm bit, drill holes in the 760mm pieces where your dowel (shelf rail) will insert. I drilled 150mm up from the base.

Tip: Mark your drill bit with tape so you don’t drill all the way through. Only go about halfway. Each leg should have a hole on two adjacent faces.

Step 5

Assemble the table using 1¼ inch pocket hole screws and wood glue. Insert your dowels as you assemble.

Step 6

The stemware hanger I bought was not long enough to attach to the front and back edge, so I added extra 30 x 30 x 540mm pieces (secured with wood glue and 50mm screws) to the inside to have something to attach the hangers to. I also found the hangers a bit too yellow, so I spray painted them with the same spray paint used on the dowel shelf rails.

Step 7

Cut your SpecRite panel top to fit. Sand, stain, seal and secure with wood glue and 40mm screws from the underside. I used Cabot's Matt Clear Polyurethane to seal the top. 

Step 8

Give the table a good sand and stain with your choice of colour. I had leftover Cabot's sample pots so I went with a mixture of Classic Walnut and Mission Brown. 

Step 9

You could also use the SpecRite panel for your bottom shelf. Cut the panel to fit and add supports for it to sit on so the shelf is flush with the edges. Secure with wood glue and screws.

However, I decided to take it a step further and try my hand at a mosaic shelf to add some fun and colour. I love that Bunnings sell a lot of their tiles by the piece which was perfect for this project. I placed a towel over the top and using a hammer cracked the tiles into small pieces, then used a tile nipper to make even smaller bits.

Apply each piece to villaboard using a small amount of liquid nails. I worked in small sections, laying out the design first to make sure it fit together.

Mix up your grout and apply over the mosaic, wiping off with a damp sponge. I used some timber offcuts to make supports for the shelf to sit on, and attached at a height that made the mosaic flush with the edges of the table.

While the mosaic was more time consuming than I originally anticipated, it definitely adds a needed pop of colour and personality, so I'm glad I persisted. I did have to ask my dad for some advice in figuring out how to inlay the mosaic so it sat flush, but the solution to add the supports was really quite simple.

Sometimes it's not till you start building that you can better visualise what needs to be done. Plus, this is not visible at all once the table is complete, so any offcuts will do. 

Step 10

I love how this table turned out, and looks fantastic displayed with our favourite cocktail ingredients, glasses and accessories. 

Tools and materials

Materials used for the cart:

• 30 x 30mm DAR Pine. I used just over 7m
  
  
• 6mm dowel. I used 1.64m
  
  
• 18mm Timber SpecRite panel
  
  
• 1¼ inch Kreg pocket hole screws
  
  
• Wood screws (40mm and 50mm)
  
  
• Wood glue
  
  
• Sandpaper
  
  
• Tape measure
  
  
• Stain of choice
  
  
• Clear sealer/polyurethane
  
  
• Gold spray paint
  
  
• Hanging stemware holder.

Tools used for the cart build:

• Kreg pocket hole jig
  
  
• Drill
  
  
• Drill driver
  
  
• Mitre saw
  
  
• Circular saw.

Tools and materials used for the mosaic shelf:

• Tiles
  
  
• Hammer
  
  
• Tile nippers
  
  
• Sponge
  
  
• Villaboard
  
  
• Liquid Nails
  
  
• Grout.

How to build a bar with recycled pallet timber

There’s something warm and inviting about a bar, drawing people around and sparking great conversations. Experienced member Rob shows you how to build your own with recycled timber in the step-by-step guide How to build a pallet bar.

More inspiration for your drinks table project

Workshop member and former bartender Nathan spent several years planning his poolside gazebo bar and lounge with pizza oven.

Community member Geoff made a portable drinks trolley with timber, leaving enough space for bottles and long-stemmed glasses.

Check out our Top 10 most popular indoor furniture projects for more creative ideas shared by Bunnings Workshop community members.