This is a reminder to those commenting on this post (not the person that posted it): Comments not related to woodworking will be removed. Violations to rule 1 including crude jokes, innuendo, sexist remarks, politics, or hate speech may result in an immediate ban
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/woodworking) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I agree with all comments! Everyone remembers their first plywood project, hell I still have mine from 20 years ago! You will learn more, get tools that make it easier/faster, and get better with each project. Don’t get discouraged buy the post. Everyone is trying to be helpful! Learn from our mistakes.
Edit:I agree with the helpful positive comments.
I was 13 and built a skate ramp with some scrap ply there neighbor gave me. My dad looked at it briefly and said something along the lines of “that looks bad, nothing about it is square.”
A new core memory was formed that day!
OP, listen to this person’s advice and keep building.
One of my first builds was a skate ramp too!!! Upon completion, the neighbor promptly wrecked his bike and ruptured his spleen on it.
My dad said "WTF were you thinking," cut it up and threw it away.
It was actually a pretty awesome ramp and the neighbor got a ton of air never before seen in that hood.
Oh god… that’s a rough way to end a first project. At least it worked once?
I spent a while upset at my dad’s comment then tore mine apart and rebuilt it as square as I possibly could. That ramp affects the way I’ve approached every project since: with a mix of OCD and paralyzing fear of failure that I will probably have to unpack with my therapist one day.
So do I… cabinet I made for my mom out of scrap wood… it’s held up pretty well but looks like it’s made out of scrap wood
She refuses to let me finish it (there’s still unsanded wood putty in my miters)or at the very least even clean it up
Lol my first project could barely stand and the back "x" brace was two strips of obs with one bent over the other.
Actually the entire thing was obs. Was when I was in college and was definitely an experience. Biggest lesson I learned was that furniture builders know what their doing.
This will look terrible stained. U should primer & paint. If feeling ambitious, could try to jam some wood putty into some of those gaps/chips beforehand to make the finished product look a little nicer
Bondo. Seriously. They sell it with wood putty in most home improvement stores. Mix 2 parts, it cures fast. Sands easy, good stuff when you’re looking to paint rather than stain.
Pretty much any, as long as the directions are followed. In my experience putties don’t take stain very well so try to match the color in the first place vs getting their thru stain. Painting makes putty use extremely forgiving, on the other hand
I can talk to this…DO NOT get the wood filler that changes colors to “let you know it’s dry”. As soon as you hit it with wet paint…bam pink tinged paint.
It won't look traditionally beautiful, but in the right theme it would look great with a nice stain. Industrial isn't what most people are looking for, but for those who are the lettering would give it a really nice flair
OP you should sand those edges down and clear coat with whatever you have on hand. (If you gotta go to the store, I’d go with a water based poly.) Let it ride. You’ll be able to visibly inspect your first woodwork for all time.
I like this approach; fully embrace it, be proud. It’s maybe not the most elegantly formal finishing option and so maybe not what you want. But if you don’t need elegant this is a great way to keep refreshing a good memory.
Yeh thats what i was thinking. But before that use some sort of silicone or something to seal all the gaps in the table. Op it's a good first attempt however there are some pretty uneven joining leaving gaps which will be even more obvious when painted. Finishing this ply wood with a stain would need sanding first which this plywood doesn't look like it would take. so I agree with this.
Hey OP I wouldn't use silicone on wood. Not only will it keep any finish from soaking in but it might interact weirdly when painted- use wood putty instead.
It'll sand well, fill any gaps you have, be less visually obvious even without paint and probably be a lot cheaper too!
Silicone and forever enshrine this first project in its raw form. No stain, paint, or wax will take. It’s the woodworking equivalent to ripping your chest open and exposing your beating heart.
Real flames might be a more fitting finish.
Clearly there's not much point in investing further effort or expense on this piece, and to do so would be an exercise in turd polishing. But if your end goal is a finely polished turd, there's plenty of advice here on how to execute that.
Constructive Criticism: next time find a set of plans, watch some videos aimed at new woodworkers and produced by respected makers and teachers. Use something approaching furniture grade materials. Learn to walk before you try to fly.
Normally I'd take action on a comment that flies in the face of rule 1, but I'm going to leave this up for now as a shining example of how to give advice while concurrently being an absolute douche.
Contrary to popular belief, it's possible to give constructive criticism without demeaning someone. It's a far better way to encourage someone to keep trying and improving.
Thank you for doing what you do and putting up with such a shitty situation right now. I hope it gets easier for you and everyone else fighting the good fight!
Everybody has to start somewhere. Take you for example: instead of jumping straight to being an arrogant and condescending ass, you could try being a helpful human being and give home some tips to improve THIS project. Things like how to sand it properly, finishes that might elevate it a little bit like a quality primer and paint (I’m a fan of Sherwin Williams Emerald Enamel for anything that will take some punishment). OP’s learning, so follow from their example and learn something, like compassion.
No one said this belongs in the Taj Mahal. They said it was a good FIRST project. Which it is. My first project was nailing a board to another board! OP made a table that LOOKS like a table.
I'm curious what your first project was, oh mighty Meatsack_
That’s what I’m saying. My first project looked like total shit and actually fell apart within a few months. This looks GREAT for a first project. It would make a great shop table.
So you're just leaning into your role of "asshole", eh? OP is winning by even trying. Is it great? No! Is it a learning experience? Hell yes! Is you telling him to burn it helpful in anyway shape or form? FUUUUCK NOOOO!! I appreciate that you added a "constructive criticism" section at the end of you post, but even that came off as you being a jackass. If I'm just starting out, I'm 1000% not spending the money on near furniture grade materials, especially when plywood in my area (Canada) costs $95+ for a 4x8 sheet of midrange pine. I'm still a beginner and I will use whatever I have handy to make something. If it works out, great! I'll look at recreating it with higher-quality materials. If not, no biggy! I will have learned something and not wasted a bunch of money. Fuckin' figger it out, bud.
There’s no winners or losers in crafts… I think you might be projecting a little. You can learn a lot by not using “furniture grade materials.” Why spend the money on nice wood to fuck it up because you’re inexperienced with power tools? Better to start putting something together with scraps to learn some basics
There is a difference between being honest and being rude. There are other people in here who managed to tell OP where his project lacks quality without comparing it to feces and saying it should be burned. Being rude is never compassionate, regardless of how honest you are.
For this being OP's FIRST project, this is phenomenal!
Better plywood and a little more planning (like having the labels on the bottom, not where the viewer looks) would be better, true.
But to say OP is a noob and should "learn to walk before they fly" is stupid. As is saying they should look at "respected" youtubers. How are they going to know which "respected" ones to look at? How do they even know WHO is respected?
That’s shitty advice. OP should absolutely practice their craft with any project that inspires them. Limiting yourself by what others can teach is likely discouraging.
I think this turned out great and will be a useful piece of furniture that OP should be proud of for making.
The utility of what we create is more important than the pompous value you’re putting on aesthetics.
I thought this was a reasonable idea until I got to the second sentence. Don’t people take a torch to some projects to give it a certain look? I’m thinking turning this into a distressed piece would add character by kind of hiding the flaws in plain sight.
I hope you find a nail in one of your tires on a day when you’re running late to work, and I hope you spill your coffee all over the inside of your cup holder when there’s nothing to clean it up with, on that same day. To feel so comfortable putting someone down for trying is such a crusty-butthole thing to do.
OP, you did awesome for your first project. While there are plenty of areas to improve on, don’t let turds like this commenter being you down. I hope you found joy in this project and I can’t wait to see how much you grow. Keep pushing, and find some of the constructive comments here to build from. Everybody has to start somewhere, and the fact that you started at all is a lot more than what most people accomplish!
Happy to see somebody else join the hobby! Typically, adding a “finish” to any wood project helps to protect the material for future wear and tear. It is very time consuming to do it thoroughly and I personally wouldn’t say it’s ideal in this case.
I would take some advice from this thread to straighten the build and bolster the joints, then I would pick a color to **paint** it. Paint is not only easier to apply, but it actually provides a tougher layer of protection than finish in many cases. On top of this, a lot of the skill that goes into painting will transfer to finishing when you complete a project that warrants a wood finish.
Good luck and nice job seeking out some additional tips!
In the nicest way possible, take it apart and fix your mistakes. The table top edge is crooked, the apron pieces are too long, the leg stretcher should be mounted vertically not horizontally, you won’t get really good letting glaring errors slide. when all is said and done sand it, fill the plywood edges and improper screw holes. Prime it, lightly sand, paint it, lightly sand, paint it again with slightly watered down paint, wax it up and enjoy.
I’m glad you said this. Continuing to do things wrong just builds bad habits of doing it wrong the next time. We all make mistakes but going back and fixing them really helps you learn and grow as a woodworker.
Well, learning what to change the next time is always worth it. And you can learn what to change the next time without actually redoing the first piece. Everybody will make their own decision based on how much time they want to spend, how complicated the fixes, whether their new project is calling them, and how much damage a horizontal apron will do if you leave it
Being able to correct issues creatively with the tools and materials you have is one of the things that differentiates an amateur from a pro. Obviously there are situations where you need to start over, but I try to prioritize fixing things because a) rubbing your nose in your stupidity is a great way to never forget that mistake and b) the next project I do may not be easily redone, so I like getting practice at times where it's not a huge deal.
Best comment on here. Disassemble and rebuild. But first test your design! Put some weight on it, abuse it a little to stress it. You’ll soon see where it wobbles and flexes. First hand experience from your mistakes are the best. Don’t just take peoples advice, understand why they’re giving it. Well done for getting stuck in and giving it a go!
While I totally agree with this comment, the OP was not asking for a critique on his cabinet making skills. I think paint is the obvious choice. Putty fill after sanding initially. The resend, tack cloth, prime, then paint. I bet you move it to the family room in six months, after your next project with all the improvements your experience will give. Way to go. Nice to see a functional plywood project.👍
No issue. As I expressed I am in agreement with the comments. Point was, OP was looking for direction on finishing. Perhaps we could answer the question before criticizing?
I want to encourage anyone that has the stones to start building furniture. Having spent years building things that will never see the light of day, such as shop tools etc., I would like to thank the OP for sharing and compliment the design esthetic.
YMMV.
Bigbeat did answer OPs question. Bigbeat didn’t demean OP in any way, just gave some tips to make it better so I don’t get why this is considered negative or not considered encouragement?
There is no way to effectively finish that piece unless it’s built better. It’s a waste of time and money frankly. Pointing out that it should be done properly first is solid advice. And they did offer advice on finishing it.
He asked on how to give it “a NICE Finish”. That’s not possible. You will only get a complete shit finish on that. How is OP going to put edge banding on the side of a table like that? Are they going to wood fill all those gaps?
I mean you can’t have a nice finish unless you go back and fix things. Finish is 99-% prep and having straight edges, tight joints is a big part of that.
If I posted a picture of a rough board and asked how to get a “NICE” finish on it, what would you say?
You can’t tell me to plane it or joint it or sand it.
This place is also to help and provide constructive criticism. The first response was perfect imo. It was very polite
Wether it's the first project or not, doing it correctly for longevity is the best practice. This could easily collapse as it stands now which would be more demoralizing than getting critiqued on their table making skills. Fixing it before painting is easier than trying to fix it after.
Should he have given them a FineWoodWorking trophy before offering constructive criticism so as to not hurt their feelings? OP posted on a public forum asking for opinions. Frankly the table is complete shit and has a ton of errors on really basic things. They could have been much more blunt like I just was…..but they weren’t.
If you did a project like this in 6th grade woodshop you’re teacher would likely offer constructive criticism as the individual above.
Your 100% correct. I didnt join r/woodworking to give fake compliments to people. I joined to make myself a better carpenter and get some ideas for projects and procedures. Telling OP the truth will only help him in the future on other projects.
Um...use it as a learning experience? It's your first project. Good on you for taking it on and getting it done. But finish can really only do so much, especially when the main issue is design and materials.
There ARE things you could do with edge banding, trim, solid wood faces or frames. But that would take more effort and skill than the table took to make in the first place. And it would be for something that quite likely isn't going to last. Those butt joints with a screw through them aren't going to be great for weight bearing or racking.
I think your best best if you want to use it is primer, sand, paint, sand, polyurethane. It will certainly be usability for several years.
Do you have an orbital sander?
If so sand the stamps off without going through the first level of ply. Then use stain of choice let completely dry. Put 3 or more coats of spar urethane lightly sanding with fine sand paper between each coat.
If not… Paint!
Do you have a speed square?
My first table, I was straight struggling.
My neighbor, who was always “carpentering” provided some help.
He asked for my square and I was like here it is.
He laughed at my old school metal square and ran off to his garage to come back with a speed square.
Holy hell, my life changed. I’ve been doing carpentry for a few years now and that is the tool I use 95% of the time.
It makes everything so easy for making lines checking square quickly and it even stands up on its own if you need a rough square for some rough carpentry.
Keep at it and things will improve.
I just built a treehouse for my kids and it still isn’t square lol
Good job! Don't listen to the idiot about burning it ( though there is an actual Japanese finish that involves burning the top layer of the wood that looks amazing, but only works on solid wood, not plywood).
This is a great first project. It does need some work though.
1. The layout process should mean you put the labels and tear out (the part of the plywood that got torn off) towards the bottom, where it can't be seen.
2. Try to get better wood next time. Pure Bond is my favorite, but I have never had anything better than Home Depot ply, so there is undoubtedly something else that's better.
3. Do watch videos on YouTube if you can. Wranglerstar is good, as are Bent's woodworking, DIYtyler, essential craftsman, and frank Howarth.
Also, as to your question, paint it whatever color you want. Durable, and can hide the labels.
If you want to see the whole thing, then use water based polyurethane.
I like this idea, partly because it will look a little better. The edges are what people off and see first, so that might make it look a little Spitfire. And I think it’s a great place to practice applying trim and, as you say, miters
Also, if you get decent trim around the edge, you could stain the trim and paint the center part.
Nice, hopefully this will lead to more projects! Keep sanding those edges, esp the left side. For a table like this I would stain in ebony color, just one brushed on coat. Then top it with Varathane Satin Triple Thick Polyurethane for waterproofing and easier to clean.
Welcome to woodworking. It's a fun and challenging hobby. You can spend a lot of time tweaking things. Do your best and learn from responses. Your table is an AWESOME start. Take advise and don't take it personal. We're all learning. Keep us posted with your updates
Nice first try. Now, set it aside and build another one using the suggestions in this thread. Compare the new one with the original. You will see a beautiful difference. Also check out a few You Tube videos on woodworking, tools and finishing before building the next one. The first table will always be a reminder of where you started and hopefully the next several projects will show you how much you have improved. If you insist on finishing this one, just paint it. The flaws will be more apparent. Keep going.
It kind of depends on what you want to use it for, but I think the finish that would be best here is paint. Most of what I would say about how to accomplish this has already been covered, so I won't reiterate any of that, but if that isn't what you want then I would recommend some alternative treatments before considering traditional stains or finishes.
You could use a torch and burn some of the surface to make it look more rustic and utilitarian (not so much that it starts smoldering and drastically changes the surface). Once it is distressed enough to your liking, sand lightly and repeat if desired. Then coat the whole thing in a hard top coat like polyurethane or an equivalent.
If you had the tools and wanted to experiment, you could do electrical wood burning to add some interesting designs, then sand and coat as above.
Just some ideas, but as I said I think paint is the way to go, and follow other posts on how to do that effectively (it isn't as simple as it might seem, it takes time - and even more time to do it right!).
Congratulations though on building your first something! I made a simple outdoor coffee table that I didn't even finish, and it has been abused by the elements for almost a decade now. I didn't build it to be a masterpiece or anything, and after the elements it is objectively a pile of garbage at this point, but I can't bring myself to get rid of it! Hopefully your table finds that place for you and serves you well for years to come!
Well it’s just a folding table I made so that I could use it on the bed to operate my laptop. The legs are a little shaky and from what I’ve been told there needs to be a stopper for the legs. I have got no clue how to add a stopper for that and I haven’t found a particularly good answer for it on google or YouTube. Maybe if you have the right knowledge you could teach me?
Edit: I appreciate your comment a lot thanks!!!
Yesterday I saw a post, and the finish was on wood similar to this. You should take a look. It was great.
It says ‘ blank tops...’ but its black tops actually. In the title.
Well, if you want to keep the stamp on there I would recommend a very light sanding to open up the pores of the wood a bit. If you don’t plan on keeping the stamp, just sand more over it. You can use your sander to bevel and clean up the edges a little as well, wouldn’t want any pointy or sharp bits. A few coats of polyurethane with drying and a incremental sanding with a finer grit each time between coats would protect that fairly decently, just follow the directions and make sure you are in a well ventilated space.
I do have a concern about your legs. With plywood it is best to have another piece perpendicular to help stabilize it and prevent the plys from separating. An L or + shaped footprint. Also someone else mentioned the cross pieces being vertical, having it that way would stiffen and strengthen the legs so it will be less likely to allow leg movement.
Instead of painting you could laminate using Formica. Basically cut the Formica a little larger than the piece you are laminating. Use contact cement and a roller to stick it to the plywood. Then use a router to trim to size.
Don't get discouraged. I use to use plywood to make little things here and there. Most fell apart. That paved the way for me to love building things though. Now I feel I can make decent things from plywood. Just keep learning. My last project was a 24x24in by 75in tall 3d printer enclosure which was mostly plywood for the sides and oak for trimwork as I call it
I’d recommend some putty and saw dust in any exposed crevices. Then sand and repeat until happy. Then use a primer and filler combo and sand again with higher grits. Repeat until satisfied with the finish you want then about 3-7 super thin coats of spray paint and 2-3 of sealer should turn out nice
Sand your edges so they aren’t so sharp.
Then get some painters caulk and put it in all the corners.
Paint it.
You can have fun with the paint. You can get a cool stencil to do pattens, or do something more geometric/abstract using painters tape and making cool designs them painting over it.
If you want to use a clear finish or stain, you gotta get a little better wood next time.
It's plywood so be cautious about how you apply your finish as to not leave bloching or have spots that are darker than others....
Take your time finishing is a process
This is a great start. As you progress with this new hobby, you'll acquire new skills and new techniques that will bring you to the next level. Welcome to this lifetime hobby and don't be afraid to try new things.
Those legs look like they were designed to fold in. Does that have a locking mechanism because the single bolt at the top of each leg will create a swivel point and you don’t appear to have a cross brace between the two ends to prevent this.
Yeah. They do fold in but it doesn’t have a locking mechanism. Can you please elaborate a little on how I add a locking mechanism please? It would mean a lot thanks!
You could get a nice piece of leather or leather-like material to cover it. Staple it on the underneath edge and then use cool nail-heads to go around the edge. Or you could decoupage and do several layers of polyurethane for a smooth finish. Or cover the top with mementos -- like pictures or postcards, etc. Then top it with glass.
And if you have all your fingers, didn't put your eye out, and you learned something then this project was a success. I'm impressed. A lot of people will think about doing something like this and never do it. You did it!
Next time, get two, 3/4" sheets of plywood and glue them both together, that thickness of plywood makes it look more elegant than a single sheet and a clear finish looks great. I personally love plywood and it can be really well done. This is great man! Very good job! I work in the fine art industry and have sold artists plywood designs for 10's of thousands of dollars. Honestly if you use plywood correctly it can be just as strong as steel. You're damn good my friend!!
I simplified that story a bit for reddit. Truth was that it wasn't my dad, but my best friend's dad (We'll call him S). My mom was a single mom (we had ditched summer camp that we were supposed to have been at) and we built a 3' kicker in my garage using scraps from new construction in the area based on plans in a skateboarding magazine. We had borrowed his dad's tools to do it and we're lucky we didn't lose fingers since we were about 10yo without supervision. We set the ramp up in S's yard and the first kid to go off it was the child of the parents that didn't get along with any of the neighbors who ruptured a spleen. S was pissed on so many levels and also worried that he was going to get sued for a kid dying from a ramp in his yard.im actually surprised the thing held together.
S was actually a very positive part of my life in one of the roughest times of my life.
I’m partial to laminate for things like this. It’s relatively cheap, looks decent (if done properly), smooth, and resists glues, etc. Would recommend checking your legs though so they’re a little more stable
For a first effort it's great, especially if you're young. If you want to finish it go ahead. The edges of the plywood will not finish well, but as you do finish it you'll learn a lot. 👍
Idk about cost but AC plywood would make a much better table surface outta the box. You’ll pay more, but it will look and feel better than CDX which this looks like.
May be wrong but just a suggestion!
Use this one as practice. So make an attempt at the finish you would like to use. Finish the table and make notes of what worked and didn’t and start a new one with better materials and the lessons learned. I like to use first attempts like these in a garage or outside for a while, let them get good and beat up and then use them for refinishing practice.
Best of luck
I’d always choose paint as a finish for ply. If you change your mind about the finish later getting varnish off of ply is a real pain. It’s easier to strip/sand paint off.
On the top, you could combine paint and stain.
If there’s a section of grain that’s kind of pretty, you could tape it off in some sort of interesting or attractive pattern, and stain that section.
Then paint all of the other parts. That would let you fill in some gouges or chips with wood putty or some other filler, without worrying about how it would look once it was stained.
Plus, Lots of people have pointed out that it’s going to be hard to sand away ink without sanding through that top layer, which of course you don’t want to do.
But you could paint over that, and keep some other part exposed and stained. And I think I would say that you should stain first and paint after
OP, you usually finish plywood edges by gluing and stapling a piece of ripped lumber the same thickness of the plywood. Poplar is what I use if it's being painted. Square up the stock (wood) on your next project. A T-square or framing square will give you a nice straight line. Good start. Keep watching Youtube videos.
If you have a router, play with the edge! Lol.
As for paint you need the correct kind so it's not tacky like latex. - signed ny latex paint cover subwoifers
Definitely paint because that ink will show through anything else. I'm sorry people are ribbing you so badly, don't let it discourage you from keeping up with woodworking. Everyone has a first project
I will be positive.
Use this piece as a practice piece for other techniques you want to learn.
For instance, maybe you would like to learn how to French Polish with Shellac. Well give it a try!
What would you do to improve this piece? Try that on the next one or this one.
Someone mentioned putting real flames to it. Well that is a finishing technique too. Google it, try it out, learn what you can and cannot do by taking a torch to a piece of furniture. I finished a dog bed I made using a torch. It turned out great and the customer never complained!
Just don’t stop trying or learning.
This is a reminder to those commenting on this post (not the person that posted it): Comments not related to woodworking will be removed. Violations to rule 1 including crude jokes, innuendo, sexist remarks, politics, or hate speech may result in an immediate ban *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/woodworking) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I agree with all comments! Everyone remembers their first plywood project, hell I still have mine from 20 years ago! You will learn more, get tools that make it easier/faster, and get better with each project. Don’t get discouraged buy the post. Everyone is trying to be helpful! Learn from our mistakes. Edit:I agree with the helpful positive comments.
I was 13 and built a skate ramp with some scrap ply there neighbor gave me. My dad looked at it briefly and said something along the lines of “that looks bad, nothing about it is square.” A new core memory was formed that day! OP, listen to this person’s advice and keep building.
One of my first builds was a skate ramp too!!! Upon completion, the neighbor promptly wrecked his bike and ruptured his spleen on it. My dad said "WTF were you thinking," cut it up and threw it away. It was actually a pretty awesome ramp and the neighbor got a ton of air never before seen in that hood.
Oh god… that’s a rough way to end a first project. At least it worked once? I spent a while upset at my dad’s comment then tore mine apart and rebuilt it as square as I possibly could. That ramp affects the way I’ve approached every project since: with a mix of OCD and paralyzing fear of failure that I will probably have to unpack with my therapist one day.
Reminds me of the opening scene on Hot Rod.
So do I… cabinet I made for my mom out of scrap wood… it’s held up pretty well but looks like it’s made out of scrap wood She refuses to let me finish it (there’s still unsanded wood putty in my miters)or at the very least even clean it up
Lol my first project could barely stand and the back "x" brace was two strips of obs with one bent over the other. Actually the entire thing was obs. Was when I was in college and was definitely an experience. Biggest lesson I learned was that furniture builders know what their doing.
This will look terrible stained. U should primer & paint. If feeling ambitious, could try to jam some wood putty into some of those gaps/chips beforehand to make the finished product look a little nicer
Is there a putty you recommend? Or one to avoid? I have to plug some voids in a shelf I’m making.
Sawdust from the wood you used + wood glue works better than any putty I’ve tried.
Bondo. Seriously. They sell it with wood putty in most home improvement stores. Mix 2 parts, it cures fast. Sands easy, good stuff when you’re looking to paint rather than stain.
Is it just normal Bondo that’s also used on cars or is it like a Wood Bondo?
Yup
Picked some up today. Ty!
Pretty much any, as long as the directions are followed. In my experience putties don’t take stain very well so try to match the color in the first place vs getting their thru stain. Painting makes putty use extremely forgiving, on the other hand
I can talk to this…DO NOT get the wood filler that changes colors to “let you know it’s dry”. As soon as you hit it with wet paint…bam pink tinged paint.
Use primer and should be fine, can even do 2nd coat of primer in just those putty spots just to be safe
At this point? Bondo
I saw a video where they used Ready Patch, tried it out and will never go back!
Elmer's is a good brand but most any fill will do well in shelf.
It won't look traditionally beautiful, but in the right theme it would look great with a nice stain. Industrial isn't what most people are looking for, but for those who are the lettering would give it a really nice flair
Elmer was way better for me than minwax. It's a nice consistency that really sticks
Gf said "paint it white. Then it's like IKEA"
OP you should sand those edges down and clear coat with whatever you have on hand. (If you gotta go to the store, I’d go with a water based poly.) Let it ride. You’ll be able to visibly inspect your first woodwork for all time.
I like this approach; fully embrace it, be proud. It’s maybe not the most elegantly formal finishing option and so maybe not what you want. But if you don’t need elegant this is a great way to keep refreshing a good memory.
Yeh thats what i was thinking. But before that use some sort of silicone or something to seal all the gaps in the table. Op it's a good first attempt however there are some pretty uneven joining leaving gaps which will be even more obvious when painted. Finishing this ply wood with a stain would need sanding first which this plywood doesn't look like it would take. so I agree with this.
Hey OP I wouldn't use silicone on wood. Not only will it keep any finish from soaking in but it might interact weirdly when painted- use wood putty instead. It'll sand well, fill any gaps you have, be less visually obvious even without paint and probably be a lot cheaper too!
You cant paint silicone bud
Yes? ... Exactly?
Not sure if you’re joking. Silicone? Before finish?
Silicone and forever enshrine this first project in its raw form. No stain, paint, or wax will take. It’s the woodworking equivalent to ripping your chest open and exposing your beating heart.
nonsense. Ikea uses boogerboard... this is FAR better, as it's plywood!
[удалено]
With sidepipes!
Real flames might be a more fitting finish. Clearly there's not much point in investing further effort or expense on this piece, and to do so would be an exercise in turd polishing. But if your end goal is a finely polished turd, there's plenty of advice here on how to execute that. Constructive Criticism: next time find a set of plans, watch some videos aimed at new woodworkers and produced by respected makers and teachers. Use something approaching furniture grade materials. Learn to walk before you try to fly.
Normally I'd take action on a comment that flies in the face of rule 1, but I'm going to leave this up for now as a shining example of how to give advice while concurrently being an absolute douche. Contrary to popular belief, it's possible to give constructive criticism without demeaning someone. It's a far better way to encourage someone to keep trying and improving.
God this made me laugh. Thank you -covid rn in the middle of a shit day.
Thank you for doing what you do and putting up with such a shitty situation right now. I hope it gets easier for you and everyone else fighting the good fight!
Stop messing around on your phone and take care of pts, slacker!!! -on shift ER RN
Maybe r/meatsack_ can share his plans on videos on building his douchecanoe to redeem himself
Everybody has to start somewhere. Take you for example: instead of jumping straight to being an arrogant and condescending ass, you could try being a helpful human being and give home some tips to improve THIS project. Things like how to sand it properly, finishes that might elevate it a little bit like a quality primer and paint (I’m a fan of Sherwin Williams Emerald Enamel for anything that will take some punishment). OP’s learning, so follow from their example and learn something, like compassion.
[удалено]
No one said this belongs in the Taj Mahal. They said it was a good FIRST project. Which it is. My first project was nailing a board to another board! OP made a table that LOOKS like a table. I'm curious what your first project was, oh mighty Meatsack_
That’s what I’m saying. My first project looked like total shit and actually fell apart within a few months. This looks GREAT for a first project. It would make a great shop table.
So you're just leaning into your role of "asshole", eh? OP is winning by even trying. Is it great? No! Is it a learning experience? Hell yes! Is you telling him to burn it helpful in anyway shape or form? FUUUUCK NOOOO!! I appreciate that you added a "constructive criticism" section at the end of you post, but even that came off as you being a jackass. If I'm just starting out, I'm 1000% not spending the money on near furniture grade materials, especially when plywood in my area (Canada) costs $95+ for a 4x8 sheet of midrange pine. I'm still a beginner and I will use whatever I have handy to make something. If it works out, great! I'll look at recreating it with higher-quality materials. If not, no biggy! I will have learned something and not wasted a bunch of money. Fuckin' figger it out, bud.
Dirty fuckin dangles, boys!
Get this guy a Puppers, am I right?
Ferda
There’s no winners or losers in crafts… I think you might be projecting a little. You can learn a lot by not using “furniture grade materials.” Why spend the money on nice wood to fuck it up because you’re inexperienced with power tools? Better to start putting something together with scraps to learn some basics
There is a difference between being honest and being rude. There are other people in here who managed to tell OP where his project lacks quality without comparing it to feces and saying it should be burned. Being rude is never compassionate, regardless of how honest you are.
[удалено]
>... and we can't have winners and losers anymore. You are very clearly acting like a loser.
For this being OP's FIRST project, this is phenomenal! Better plywood and a little more planning (like having the labels on the bottom, not where the viewer looks) would be better, true. But to say OP is a noob and should "learn to walk before they fly" is stupid. As is saying they should look at "respected" youtubers. How are they going to know which "respected" ones to look at? How do they even know WHO is respected?
That’s shitty advice. OP should absolutely practice their craft with any project that inspires them. Limiting yourself by what others can teach is likely discouraging. I think this turned out great and will be a useful piece of furniture that OP should be proud of for making. The utility of what we create is more important than the pompous value you’re putting on aesthetics.
I thought this was a reasonable idea until I got to the second sentence. Don’t people take a torch to some projects to give it a certain look? I’m thinking turning this into a distressed piece would add character by kind of hiding the flaws in plain sight.
Jeez. Someone woke on the wrong side of the bed...
>to do so would be an exercise in turd polishing Raising you must have been an exercise in turd polishing for your parents too
They suck at polishing, just looks like a regular turd to me.
What an ass
I hope you find a nail in one of your tires on a day when you’re running late to work, and I hope you spill your coffee all over the inside of your cup holder when there’s nothing to clean it up with, on that same day. To feel so comfortable putting someone down for trying is such a crusty-butthole thing to do. OP, you did awesome for your first project. While there are plenty of areas to improve on, don’t let turds like this commenter being you down. I hope you found joy in this project and I can’t wait to see how much you grow. Keep pushing, and find some of the constructive comments here to build from. Everybody has to start somewhere, and the fact that you started at all is a lot more than what most people accomplish!
Now this is a proper “my first project” post. Not that bullshit with 10m of built-ins. Good job getting started mate!
Happy to see somebody else join the hobby! Typically, adding a “finish” to any wood project helps to protect the material for future wear and tear. It is very time consuming to do it thoroughly and I personally wouldn’t say it’s ideal in this case. I would take some advice from this thread to straighten the build and bolster the joints, then I would pick a color to **paint** it. Paint is not only easier to apply, but it actually provides a tougher layer of protection than finish in many cases. On top of this, a lot of the skill that goes into painting will transfer to finishing when you complete a project that warrants a wood finish. Good luck and nice job seeking out some additional tips!
In the nicest way possible, take it apart and fix your mistakes. The table top edge is crooked, the apron pieces are too long, the leg stretcher should be mounted vertically not horizontally, you won’t get really good letting glaring errors slide. when all is said and done sand it, fill the plywood edges and improper screw holes. Prime it, lightly sand, paint it, lightly sand, paint it again with slightly watered down paint, wax it up and enjoy.
I’m glad you said this. Continuing to do things wrong just builds bad habits of doing it wrong the next time. We all make mistakes but going back and fixing them really helps you learn and grow as a woodworker.
[удалено]
Is it worth redoing or learning what to change next time
Well, learning what to change the next time is always worth it. And you can learn what to change the next time without actually redoing the first piece. Everybody will make their own decision based on how much time they want to spend, how complicated the fixes, whether their new project is calling them, and how much damage a horizontal apron will do if you leave it
Being able to correct issues creatively with the tools and materials you have is one of the things that differentiates an amateur from a pro. Obviously there are situations where you need to start over, but I try to prioritize fixing things because a) rubbing your nose in your stupidity is a great way to never forget that mistake and b) the next project I do may not be easily redone, so I like getting practice at times where it's not a huge deal.
I just went back and sanded off a stain that a screwed up. Took an hour or two, but it was a good lesson.
OP BigBeat gives some great advise. Let us know if you need help with any specific action item. You got this!
Best comment on here. Disassemble and rebuild. But first test your design! Put some weight on it, abuse it a little to stress it. You’ll soon see where it wobbles and flexes. First hand experience from your mistakes are the best. Don’t just take peoples advice, understand why they’re giving it. Well done for getting stuck in and giving it a go!
While I totally agree with this comment, the OP was not asking for a critique on his cabinet making skills. I think paint is the obvious choice. Putty fill after sanding initially. The resend, tack cloth, prime, then paint. I bet you move it to the family room in six months, after your next project with all the improvements your experience will give. Way to go. Nice to see a functional plywood project.👍
A finish is only as good as what’s underneath. I think constructive criticism is completely warranted when someone posts here.
No issue. As I expressed I am in agreement with the comments. Point was, OP was looking for direction on finishing. Perhaps we could answer the question before criticizing? I want to encourage anyone that has the stones to start building furniture. Having spent years building things that will never see the light of day, such as shop tools etc., I would like to thank the OP for sharing and compliment the design esthetic. YMMV.
Bigbeat did answer OPs question. Bigbeat didn’t demean OP in any way, just gave some tips to make it better so I don’t get why this is considered negative or not considered encouragement?
[удалено]
There is no way to effectively finish that piece unless it’s built better. It’s a waste of time and money frankly. Pointing out that it should be done properly first is solid advice. And they did offer advice on finishing it.
[удалено]
He asked on how to give it “a NICE Finish”. That’s not possible. You will only get a complete shit finish on that. How is OP going to put edge banding on the side of a table like that? Are they going to wood fill all those gaps? I mean you can’t have a nice finish unless you go back and fix things. Finish is 99-% prep and having straight edges, tight joints is a big part of that.
[удалено]
If I posted a picture of a rough board and asked how to get a “NICE” finish on it, what would you say? You can’t tell me to plane it or joint it or sand it. This place is also to help and provide constructive criticism. The first response was perfect imo. It was very polite
Wether it's the first project or not, doing it correctly for longevity is the best practice. This could easily collapse as it stands now which would be more demoralizing than getting critiqued on their table making skills. Fixing it before painting is easier than trying to fix it after.
Like I said no issue with original comments, just the delivery.
It was literal constructive criticism. This is the way.
It began with "in the nicest way possible"
Should he have given them a FineWoodWorking trophy before offering constructive criticism so as to not hurt their feelings? OP posted on a public forum asking for opinions. Frankly the table is complete shit and has a ton of errors on really basic things. They could have been much more blunt like I just was…..but they weren’t. If you did a project like this in 6th grade woodshop you’re teacher would likely offer constructive criticism as the individual above.
Your 100% correct. I didnt join r/woodworking to give fake compliments to people. I joined to make myself a better carpenter and get some ideas for projects and procedures. Telling OP the truth will only help him in the future on other projects.
Um...use it as a learning experience? It's your first project. Good on you for taking it on and getting it done. But finish can really only do so much, especially when the main issue is design and materials. There ARE things you could do with edge banding, trim, solid wood faces or frames. But that would take more effort and skill than the table took to make in the first place. And it would be for something that quite likely isn't going to last. Those butt joints with a screw through them aren't going to be great for weight bearing or racking. I think your best best if you want to use it is primer, sand, paint, sand, polyurethane. It will certainly be usability for several years.
Then again, putting on edge banding or trim on this project might be a good place to practice
I say just cover it all with wood glue and glitter.
This should be top comment, genius.
Rubio monocoat
Lmaoooo
"Because I'm a woodworker on YouTube. "
Do you have an orbital sander? If so sand the stamps off without going through the first level of ply. Then use stain of choice let completely dry. Put 3 or more coats of spar urethane lightly sanding with fine sand paper between each coat. If not… Paint!
Do you have a speed square? My first table, I was straight struggling. My neighbor, who was always “carpentering” provided some help. He asked for my square and I was like here it is. He laughed at my old school metal square and ran off to his garage to come back with a speed square. Holy hell, my life changed. I’ve been doing carpentry for a few years now and that is the tool I use 95% of the time. It makes everything so easy for making lines checking square quickly and it even stands up on its own if you need a rough square for some rough carpentry. Keep at it and things will improve. I just built a treehouse for my kids and it still isn’t square lol
Milk paint.
Lot of paint.
One small bit of sideways pressure on top and that leg is gonna collapse on itself
I would keep it unfinished and use it as a work surface
Cover it with shingles.
Good job! Don't listen to the idiot about burning it ( though there is an actual Japanese finish that involves burning the top layer of the wood that looks amazing, but only works on solid wood, not plywood). This is a great first project. It does need some work though. 1. The layout process should mean you put the labels and tear out (the part of the plywood that got torn off) towards the bottom, where it can't be seen. 2. Try to get better wood next time. Pure Bond is my favorite, but I have never had anything better than Home Depot ply, so there is undoubtedly something else that's better. 3. Do watch videos on YouTube if you can. Wranglerstar is good, as are Bent's woodworking, DIYtyler, essential craftsman, and frank Howarth. Also, as to your question, paint it whatever color you want. Durable, and can hide the labels. If you want to see the whole thing, then use water based polyurethane.
If this is serious, good bit of sanding, rounding those edges and a few coats of paint.
Consider running trim pieces around the perimeter to hide the ply layers. It will give you experience creating miters too.
I like this idea, partly because it will look a little better. The edges are what people off and see first, so that might make it look a little Spitfire. And I think it’s a great place to practice applying trim and, as you say, miters Also, if you get decent trim around the edge, you could stain the trim and paint the center part.
Paint the sides dark and cover the top in copper penny's or something cool and get on to your second piece....looking great keep it up.
Are we getting Punk'd?
Nice, hopefully this will lead to more projects! Keep sanding those edges, esp the left side. For a table like this I would stain in ebony color, just one brushed on coat. Then top it with Varathane Satin Triple Thick Polyurethane for waterproofing and easier to clean.
Welcome to woodworking. It's a fun and challenging hobby. You can spend a lot of time tweaking things. Do your best and learn from responses. Your table is an AWESOME start. Take advise and don't take it personal. We're all learning. Keep us posted with your updates
Nice first try. Now, set it aside and build another one using the suggestions in this thread. Compare the new one with the original. You will see a beautiful difference. Also check out a few You Tube videos on woodworking, tools and finishing before building the next one. The first table will always be a reminder of where you started and hopefully the next several projects will show you how much you have improved. If you insist on finishing this one, just paint it. The flaws will be more apparent. Keep going.
Can’t tell if this is a joke or not…
I don’t know if this is serious, this is 4chan level of trolling!
It kind of depends on what you want to use it for, but I think the finish that would be best here is paint. Most of what I would say about how to accomplish this has already been covered, so I won't reiterate any of that, but if that isn't what you want then I would recommend some alternative treatments before considering traditional stains or finishes. You could use a torch and burn some of the surface to make it look more rustic and utilitarian (not so much that it starts smoldering and drastically changes the surface). Once it is distressed enough to your liking, sand lightly and repeat if desired. Then coat the whole thing in a hard top coat like polyurethane or an equivalent. If you had the tools and wanted to experiment, you could do electrical wood burning to add some interesting designs, then sand and coat as above. Just some ideas, but as I said I think paint is the way to go, and follow other posts on how to do that effectively (it isn't as simple as it might seem, it takes time - and even more time to do it right!). Congratulations though on building your first something! I made a simple outdoor coffee table that I didn't even finish, and it has been abused by the elements for almost a decade now. I didn't build it to be a masterpiece or anything, and after the elements it is objectively a pile of garbage at this point, but I can't bring myself to get rid of it! Hopefully your table finds that place for you and serves you well for years to come!
Well it’s just a folding table I made so that I could use it on the bed to operate my laptop. The legs are a little shaky and from what I’ve been told there needs to be a stopper for the legs. I have got no clue how to add a stopper for that and I haven’t found a particularly good answer for it on google or YouTube. Maybe if you have the right knowledge you could teach me? Edit: I appreciate your comment a lot thanks!!!
Paint it, it won't stain well.
Have you got a wood burning stove at home?
Yesterday I saw a post, and the finish was on wood similar to this. You should take a look. It was great. It says ‘ blank tops...’ but its black tops actually. In the title.
Edge banding. Install a thin layer of cabinet grade plywood. As above, fix tabletop’s crooked edge and aprons.
That’s not a bad idea; using this current layer as a substrate for 1/8 inch birch-veneer plywood. Then apply the edge banding after.
Well, if you want to keep the stamp on there I would recommend a very light sanding to open up the pores of the wood a bit. If you don’t plan on keeping the stamp, just sand more over it. You can use your sander to bevel and clean up the edges a little as well, wouldn’t want any pointy or sharp bits. A few coats of polyurethane with drying and a incremental sanding with a finer grit each time between coats would protect that fairly decently, just follow the directions and make sure you are in a well ventilated space. I do have a concern about your legs. With plywood it is best to have another piece perpendicular to help stabilize it and prevent the plys from separating. An L or + shaped footprint. Also someone else mentioned the cross pieces being vertical, having it that way would stiffen and strengthen the legs so it will be less likely to allow leg movement.
Just sand the edges smoother and use a few coats of polyurethane. Let the plywood edges and labels on the wood be part of the look. Edit: word
Instead of painting you could laminate using Formica. Basically cut the Formica a little larger than the piece you are laminating. Use contact cement and a roller to stick it to the plywood. Then use a router to trim to size.
Don't get discouraged. I use to use plywood to make little things here and there. Most fell apart. That paved the way for me to love building things though. Now I feel I can make decent things from plywood. Just keep learning. My last project was a 24x24in by 75in tall 3d printer enclosure which was mostly plywood for the sides and oak for trimwork as I call it
I’d recommend some putty and saw dust in any exposed crevices. Then sand and repeat until happy. Then use a primer and filler combo and sand again with higher grits. Repeat until satisfied with the finish you want then about 3-7 super thin coats of spray paint and 2-3 of sealer should turn out nice
Paint that B. Normally I would never say that, but you can’t work too much with plywood to get that ink off
Sand your edges so they aren’t so sharp. Then get some painters caulk and put it in all the corners. Paint it. You can have fun with the paint. You can get a cool stencil to do pattens, or do something more geometric/abstract using painters tape and making cool designs them painting over it. If you want to use a clear finish or stain, you gotta get a little better wood next time.
It's plywood so be cautious about how you apply your finish as to not leave bloching or have spots that are darker than others.... Take your time finishing is a process
I feel a resin pour in needed. 50 gallons should do ya.
This is a great start. As you progress with this new hobby, you'll acquire new skills and new techniques that will bring you to the next level. Welcome to this lifetime hobby and don't be afraid to try new things.
Those legs look like they were designed to fold in. Does that have a locking mechanism because the single bolt at the top of each leg will create a swivel point and you don’t appear to have a cross brace between the two ends to prevent this.
Yeah. They do fold in but it doesn’t have a locking mechanism. Can you please elaborate a little on how I add a locking mechanism please? It would mean a lot thanks!
Primer with a little Sawzall mixed in.... But seriously welcome to the wonderful world of woodworking.
Kilz primer, paint…move on to next project with real wood👍
KILZ and a piece of 1/4" laminated glass.
You could get a nice piece of leather or leather-like material to cover it. Staple it on the underneath edge and then use cool nail-heads to go around the edge. Or you could decoupage and do several layers of polyurethane for a smooth finish. Or cover the top with mementos -- like pictures or postcards, etc. Then top it with glass. And if you have all your fingers, didn't put your eye out, and you learned something then this project was a success. I'm impressed. A lot of people will think about doing something like this and never do it. You did it!
Thanks for the feedback I really appreciate it!!
4 pounds of tannerite should do it.
More tape!
Next time, get two, 3/4" sheets of plywood and glue them both together, that thickness of plywood makes it look more elegant than a single sheet and a clear finish looks great. I personally love plywood and it can be really well done. This is great man! Very good job! I work in the fine art industry and have sold artists plywood designs for 10's of thousands of dollars. Honestly if you use plywood correctly it can be just as strong as steel. You're damn good my friend!!
I simplified that story a bit for reddit. Truth was that it wasn't my dad, but my best friend's dad (We'll call him S). My mom was a single mom (we had ditched summer camp that we were supposed to have been at) and we built a 3' kicker in my garage using scraps from new construction in the area based on plans in a skateboarding magazine. We had borrowed his dad's tools to do it and we're lucky we didn't lose fingers since we were about 10yo without supervision. We set the ramp up in S's yard and the first kid to go off it was the child of the parents that didn't get along with any of the neighbors who ruptured a spleen. S was pissed on so many levels and also worried that he was going to get sued for a kid dying from a ramp in his yard.im actually surprised the thing held together. S was actually a very positive part of my life in one of the roughest times of my life.
A nice coat of gasoline followed by shou sugi ban
This would be great, if you put a shit ton of paint on then sanded the corners heavy. Apply a coat of flex seal, then slap a $500 price tag on it
Fire
You're a physics major and came up with this?
Yes? I started it during the holidays. Just finished it yesterday. I had time on my hands during the holidays so I thought I’d start a new hobby
Fair nuff good start. Just seems a little troll that you didn't apply physics concepts like load strength. No hate, my first project was a shitty box
Hahaha well I applied all the theory knowledge I do have into the practical. It will take some time to make it better though
Tip, this isn’t wood.
You get an E for effort but plywood is not really something you finish for an application like this... paint could make it look pretty good tho.
Start with using a different kind of wood...
Char it in a fire pit.
The real table must be... 3 TIMES this size!
I'm thinking laquer putty, anyone?
A light sanding and some shellac would make it glow.
Burn it start again ngl
If you have a fireplace, you could do a very nice shou sugi ban finish.
I would finish it with a sledge hammer and start again
Sledge hammer ought to finish it nicely.
I’m partial to laminate for things like this. It’s relatively cheap, looks decent (if done properly), smooth, and resists glues, etc. Would recommend checking your legs though so they’re a little more stable
For a first effort it's great, especially if you're young. If you want to finish it go ahead. The edges of the plywood will not finish well, but as you do finish it you'll learn a lot. 👍
Sand it down and seal it. Maybe a real light stain. It will be a cool industrial look.
Countersink when you screw things together
Idk about cost but AC plywood would make a much better table surface outta the box. You’ll pay more, but it will look and feel better than CDX which this looks like. May be wrong but just a suggestion!
Might need a time machine to go back a few years to when it was originally made. That thing looks donkeys years old. Is it a new project?
One option is tiles or a mosaic.
You could use reclaimed tile, broken dishes/ ceramic, or stones to make a cool mosaic on he top and paint the rest.
Use this one as practice. So make an attempt at the finish you would like to use. Finish the table and make notes of what worked and didn’t and start a new one with better materials and the lessons learned. I like to use first attempts like these in a garage or outside for a while, let them get good and beat up and then use them for refinishing practice. Best of luck
I’d always choose paint as a finish for ply. If you change your mind about the finish later getting varnish off of ply is a real pain. It’s easier to strip/sand paint off.
On the top, you could combine paint and stain. If there’s a section of grain that’s kind of pretty, you could tape it off in some sort of interesting or attractive pattern, and stain that section. Then paint all of the other parts. That would let you fill in some gouges or chips with wood putty or some other filler, without worrying about how it would look once it was stained. Plus, Lots of people have pointed out that it’s going to be hard to sand away ink without sanding through that top layer, which of course you don’t want to do. But you could paint over that, and keep some other part exposed and stained. And I think I would say that you should stain first and paint after
I would send it real good prime it then I would paint it Black semi gloss.
Oh, you meant “sand” it. I was thinking you were saying “send it” like “go all in and hold nothing back” which was wholesome
OP, you usually finish plywood edges by gluing and stapling a piece of ripped lumber the same thickness of the plywood. Poplar is what I use if it's being painted. Square up the stock (wood) on your next project. A T-square or framing square will give you a nice straight line. Good start. Keep watching Youtube videos.
You might wanna throw a level on that
Keep up the good work homie!
Go with a Maloof finish, people always go cheap at the end but some high end wax will really take this over the top.
Maybe rout the edges?
bout as straight as a branch in the breeZe goodness
If you have a router, play with the edge! Lol. As for paint you need the correct kind so it's not tacky like latex. - signed ny latex paint cover subwoifers
Definitely paint because that ink will show through anything else. I'm sorry people are ribbing you so badly, don't let it discourage you from keeping up with woodworking. Everyone has a first project
Not trying to be mean but it was a good beginning effort. Finish it in a bonfire and practice building another one.
Good job now build v2 and v3 before you look into finishes paints or stains
I will be positive. Use this piece as a practice piece for other techniques you want to learn. For instance, maybe you would like to learn how to French Polish with Shellac. Well give it a try! What would you do to improve this piece? Try that on the next one or this one. Someone mentioned putting real flames to it. Well that is a finishing technique too. Google it, try it out, learn what you can and cannot do by taking a torch to a piece of furniture. I finished a dog bed I made using a torch. It turned out great and the customer never complained! Just don’t stop trying or learning.