Where the inspiration first came from

The Story of the First Honey Creek Originals Table

Today, I will share how the first Honey Creek Originals table came to be.

I have always been an artist in some capacity. I photograph, draw, paint, write, and create music and woodwork and I have dabbled in many mediums.

When the pandemic hit, I spent a lot of time on my hands, sitting on the porch enjoying the sunshine. I would commonly sit and enjoy the breeze with a coffee or beverage with my sketchbook practicing in charcoals.

One day I thought it would be convenient if I had a weatherproofing drawing table that I could leave out on the porch and have to sit at with my beverage and sketchbook. So I began to research how I could make it happen.

Store-bought drafting tables or anything other than plastic was not in the question. A drafting table was not weatherproofed, and plastic commonly blows across the yard and is flimsy. I knew that I wanted something made of wood. So I got the bright idea to make my own.

The Story of the First Honey Creek Originals Table

Sourcing the Materials

When I started to source materials for my drawing table, entering many stores during the pandemic’s lockdown was impossible. If you could get to a store like Lowes or Home Depot, the materials had also skyrocketed, with everyone finding unlimited time to create, so I knew I had to be resourceful.

There was a lot of old weathered wood around the property, so I decided to explore one day to look at what was lying around with a fresh perspective with my table in mind.

When I studied in art school, my professors always taught me to think about how to upcycle and reuse materials before buying new ones.

As I entered the basement of the house, I knew there was an old stack of wood that my family had stashed there and that no one had ever used. I started moving the stack of wood, and beneath was an old sturdy table with some issues. I could tell it was very old.

It was built out of oak, from what I could tell, and the legs had been sitting for so long in the dirt that they were utterly rotten away when I moved the table. And if you have a wooden table and do not moisture seal it, water will destroy it in time.

The top was great but had a lot of cleanups from years of accumulated dust, dirt, and other materials. Yet, I was determined that this would be my new drawing table.

I asked my family permission to use the old table to ensure that it had no sentimental value. My Mom told me that it was once when the family had sorted buckets of potatoes from the garden and that it was OK to repurpose it and create what I wanted.

Hauling it out was no easy feat. I was on my own, and it was slightly larger than the door to exit the basement and weighed at least 100 lbs from what I guessed.

The Story of the First Honey Creek Originals Table

The Art of Joinery

Now, let’s be clear. When I first had this idea for a drawing table, I had no idea that I would start HCO, let alone that I would need to learn joinery to make my vision possible.

I have always found it very easy to search for how-to guides and to teach myself how to do something, though, so the next steps came with some trial and error.

The first step was to cut off the old base and legs to design new ones. They were so water-logged that they fell apart in my hands as I removed them.

Next, I had to figure out if the rectangular frame under the table top was in good shape to attach new legs. To do this, I knew I had to do some cleaning to reveal the wood under the dirt and grime.

I took some 00 steel wool and wood cleaning solution that I got at Lowes and went to work with a pair of gloves and determination.

I started getting more excited when I revealed the grain of the wood beneath the dirt, and I quickly realized after scrubbing every nook and cranny that the top was in reasonably decent shape for the purpose I had in mind. It was not beautiful by perfect modern standards, but I have always appreciated furniture that has character to it anyways, and this had character.

The rectangle frame beneath the table top had some ancient rusty square nails that needed replacing with modern, more sturdy pins, so I quickly solidified it before deciding on simple H-frame legs to replace the old ones.

Being the design was initially meant to be for me, I decided that the cheapest solution would be to use 2x4s. It is not fancy or elegant, but you would be surprised by all the fabulous projects you can make from simple 2x4s when you research woodworking guides online.

I made two H-frames for the legs and put one support beam under the table to connect them so that they did not wobble, and it was a done deal.

Finishing Touches

Here, you can see the wood of the tabletop beneath some of my early lamp and knife experiments.

The Story of the First Honey Creek Originals Table

Before this table could sit on the porch in rain or snow, wind or shine, I knew I would need to weatherproof it somehow.

For the legs, I used weather-resistant black paint to seal the 2x4s. And for the top, I cleaned it thoroughly again with 00 steel wool and cleaning solution before adding a couple of layers of weather sealant.

It stood the test of the Michigan winter very well, and I was able to draw and create other projects on my porch days in the sun.

You can see in the above photos that I left the old rustic feel to the original wood because this eventually became one of my workbenches in the shop. I started a frame out of 2x4s and eventually built a second bench out of other materials I found around the property.

It shows that things can be affordable and very efficient if you have an imagination and some resourcefulness.

Before making lamps, other knives, tables, and more, I taught myself how to build stools and planter boxes. I will save those stories for another day, though.

The Legacy Continues

As my wife and I are currently spending time in Colombia, I work with hand tools on our patio. It is not the shop, but one day we will return, and I will be reunited with my table, and we can create more.

I am considering turning these stories into a once-per-week experience here at HCO. If you are not already following my other work at Charlie Naebeck Co, sign up on the mailing list. That is ultimately where I talk about all of my projects, and I also share my photography and things there.

Yet, this is a special spot for HCO creations, as I feel they deserve their spotlight.

If you dig what I do, check out the store to help support my family and HCO as we navigate through migration to get back to Michigan.

I will be doing the first drop of HCO handmade things in the next couple of weeks as time allows also. Each piece will be unique and one of a kind, and once they are gone, they will make way for new creations.

Til next week, have a great week, and thanks for dropping by!

Charlie

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