Coffee-Stained Coffee Table

This table seeks to take the stress out of owning a coffee table. You might constantly worry about stains appearing on your table from water cups or the notorious coffee cup. But with dozens of coffee stains already on the table you have absolutely nothing to worry about!

Idea inspired by a ReadyMade project a while ago. If anyone has a link to it please let me know. Nothing shows up in their project archive.

Step 1: Supplies

Materials:

1. Ikea Lack side table
2. gesso
3. coffee
4. clear coat

Tools:

1. paint brush
2. coffee cup
3. sandpaper

Comments

[Brumzzz]

We just bought the same table, though I don't think my dad would like it if I put coffee stains all over it =P But you did an awesome job on this, and a very clear 'ible!

[OscarAlberto]

love it!!!
definitely will put one of this in mi house... =)

[Romado12187]

haha

[hammer9876]

Great idea. The only suggestion I have is that you need to try several different coffee cups and mugs. You don't always drink your coffee out of that one cup do you? Surely you have matching tea cups that match the saucer? 

Now you need to reverse it. Build a nice wooden table, create a whole bunch of white rings from your iced tea glasses, and seal them in.

I can still remember Mom yelling at us, "Use a coaster!" (I think she was afraid of those white rings.)

[fungus amungus]

What are you talking about? My table's done and I'm happy with it. I don't need to do anything else at this point.

If you want to make your own version of this, however, you should go right ahead. :)

[jmitch77]

Great response! 
Why is it when someone posts an instructable there are always those who feel it is their duty to tell us how they WOULD do it better!?  Instead, compliment the poster and then make your own - and maybe THEN comment how you DID make it better? 

Awesome idea fungus!

[paracord junky]

i love how the resulting pattern actually has an aesthetic appeal.  especially from a distance, it really looks like something you might find in a trendy showroom. 

How about forgetting the white undercoat and staining the whole table with coffee(is there such thing as a coffee-colored wood stain?)?  what way rings aren't even noticeable.  like how you wear dark clothing when you go out to eat. 

[PACW]

A few years back I came across an explanation as to why coffee spills form rings, even when no cup is present.  That made me realize physics might be useful for more than making atomic bombs.  Then when I read about why the Guinness bubbles float DOWN the glass I was hooked.  I still have an elementary school grasp of physics but I enjoy what little I do grok!

Scholarly article in Nature Journal:
www.nature.com/nature/journal/v389/n6653/full/389827a0.html


Website of physicist nagelgroup.uchicago.edu/Nagel-Group/LabHome.html 

good coffee ring info:mrsec.uchicago.edu/research/nuggets/coffee/

[truenorthd65]

What is gesso?  Is this a brand name or a product name?

[fungus amungus]

 Everything you need to know about gesso.

[Tool Using Animal]

Very insiprational for other potential entrants. 

I'd presume you'd let the coffee dry before sealing the top?

Broke my favorite coffee mug last night. Apparently Jarvis can't really fly. ~sniffle~

[Azayles]

Good grief! I could look at that website for hours and hours :o!

[fungus amungus]

Yes, definitely let the coffee dry.

[and7barton]

Can I do a similar thing with blood that's dripped onto the floor of my torture room ?

 

[Aqu]

Or with the shredded armor that's lying about in my garden! Bloody tanks keep trying to mow over my daffodils.

This is a universally applicable concept, surely!

[trgz]

or pre-dent the car with a lump hammer so when the wife... (you get the picture)
:D

[sfcsarah]

rather random, but cute

That's a table I'd proudly show to people

[killerjackalope]

If you have the cups to spare you can skip the roughing and gesso, if you leave the cups on the rings until they're dry they'll not be beaded up, my desk is a testament to this, same stuff as the lack. Downside is you'll have a table full of cups for a few hours.

Nice table though, another wee project for these is to get a big marker pen, pencil a design directly on  to the table and draw in with markers, clearcoat on top.  If you have the big chalky markers that you pump then the colours get really rich after being coated.

[fungus amungus]

Yeah, but that would take a while. It only takes about 10 minutes to sand and gesso the table.

[killerjackalope]

Hmm point taken, lazy vs. quick... Actually the gesso probably gives a nicer finish...  

[Brennn10]

What a fantastic table!  Not only does it reduce your stress about coffee stains, but also it reduces the stress of those that come to visit!

[kcls]

Nice job- you must live right next to an ikea, because all of your projects seem to have something from ikea in them.

[fungus amungus]

As a matter of fact, there is one close by. It's certainly a great resource for cheap supplies that can be hacked.

[oldanvilyoungsmith]

And to think I've  been using the same principle for my T-shirts, I thought I kept it a secret. The more stains on a T-shirt, the less I care if I stain it again.

[porcupinemamma]

Fun idea (I have to admit though, I would always be trying to wipe it clean lol)

[zack247]

seems like there are a couple stains too many. i would have just put on a couple and let the guests do the rest of the work

[refused]

i would probubly have spilled some wine on it not just a ring to give it a nicer less man made like design

[lemonie]

It's good - I would have added some wine-rings for a bit diversity...

L

[fungus amungus]

I'd just make a wine version, I think. But funny you should mention that. A friend of mine makes wine and places a sheet of butcher paper underneath the bottling station to catch all the spills. Afterwards, he adds a few more marks and shellacs it to a piece of wood. The results are pretty nice.

[lemonie]

I like that idea, I won't forget that for future purposes.

L

[k-twizel]

I heard of a lady that loved to give house parties.  She had a special table cloth for the occasions.  If you spilled anything on the table she would have you sign the table cloth, set the stain, then embroider the stain and the name.  Made for a wonderful conversation piece

[jaysbob]

and to think I've wasted years of my life decorating my desks and tables like this the old fashioned way.

[red-king]

 I would have put the coffee stains on in even increments, but it's a nice table, none the less.

[foothillfrontier]

I'd never consider myself a clean freak (ask my wife) but this would bug me soooooo much! Neat Idea, but just looking at your table makes me cringe!

[MegaMetal8]

cool