How to Get a High End Industrial Side Table for Free

Well, hey there friend! I’m so glad you dropped by because I am so excited to be sharing this latest project with you! But first, I want you to follow this link to a Google search on spool side tables and take note of the prices you see on the page. I’ll wait for you to come back…

…Welcome back! What did you think of those lovelies? Cool looking; yes, but affordable? Not even close. I don’t know about you all, but we are in the process of paying off a home mortgage and living on a tradesman’s salary. We don’t have hundreds of dollars to throw at a table!

Lucky for us, and you, that look can be easily achieved for less than a meal at McDonald’s. In fact, I am going to share with you how to get a high end industrial side table for free!

The funny thing about pallets and spools is that their value can vary greatly depending on the eye of the beholder. An electrical company that uses spools to hold their wire and can find no other use for them once the wire has run out values it similarly to a cardboard box. Someone who is passionate about DIY and repurposing, however, sees that dirty old wire holder as an opportunity for a cool new project.

Find a company or person that fits the first description and ask them if you can have one of their spools. Chances are, they’ll be glad to be rid of them. Electrical companies, hardware stores, manufacturers, and the like are constantly cycling through these things. We got our spool from Mr. Charming’s work.

Once you have a lovely spool (or two) give it a good cleaning. I recommend using a good scrub brush and soapy water.

A coat of stain will help it to look aged and will help preserve the wood. I used the same Minwax Special Walnut that was used on our industrial coffee table.

The last thing to do is apply a few thin layers of Minwax Polycrylic so that the table will be sealed and washable.

That’s literally it. You have yourself a $300 side table for next to nothing in cost and time! If you had the stain, poly, and brushes on hand it was free!

I love the high end industrial look that it gives in an area of the room that was lacking some character.

I may add some rope to the base for an added dose of charm, but for now, I’m happy with the way it is.

So, you could buy a high end industrial side table for hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, or, you could repurpose one found at a local company. All you need to do is clean, stain, coat with polycrylic, and style it in your home. I hope you’ve enjoyed this DIY inspiration and continue to visit Charming Imperfections for more like it.