Repurposing Vintage Milk Can to a Side Table

13 Materials
4 Days
Medium
Taking a vintage milk can off the farm and giving it a new purpose as a side table to use in your living room, bedroom, guest room, entryway or on your porch.


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Step 1: Prep your milk can for paint. Spray the milk can with a vinegar/water 50/50 mix solution and wipe away any loose rust, dirt, and grime. Let dry.




Step 2: Choose your paint color of choice and add to the bottle of a spray gun. We find using a spray gun gives you even coverage. For this example we are using our Case IH red paint.
Step 3: With a stencil trace an 18" round circle on your slab of wood. Cut your table top out with a jig saw. To round your edges use your router. We use our palm sander to smooth out the edges.
Step 4: Select your stain color of choice to stain the wood top. For this example we use an espresso stain.
Step 5: Seal your wood top with a polyurethane to protect it from any scratches, dings, dents, and spills. On the side that will be your top add a second coat of polyurethane.
Step 6: Center your table top on your milk can and secure with 3 braces - evenly space them apart.





You're finished! The paint tends to bring out the lettering in the can that sometimes can be hard to read with the rust and dirt- -This is one of my favorite things to see with a finished can. Now your table is ready for any room in your home or on your front porch.



To BUY this vintage side table, click here





Here is how our top turned out.
The overall project takes around 3-4 days to complete. Having to give layers of paint, stain, and polyurethane coats time to dry - as directed on the cans.
Suggested materials:
  • Vintage milk can
  • Wood - for top
  • Paint
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
3 of 18 questions
  • Thi28565522 Thi28565522 on Jul 30, 2017

    What kind of fastener's did you use and will a L bracket work.

    Thanks

  • Linda Latoski Linda Latoski on Nov 26, 2017

    How would you recommend to remove several layers of paint on an old can? I've tried paint remover, scraping and even sanding. Its still a mess. I'd love to do this table, but stuck with the paint removal from the past! Thanks

  • Gina Flammang Hooper Gina Flammang Hooper on Feb 18, 2019

    I have milk can and I like the aged and rusted look. Can I just clean with a brush and put a sealer on it ? Looking for old round tray that I can add a ring to rest on top of milk can lid. Hate to drill holes in lid.

Comments
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2 of 143 comments
  • Shannon Keck Redhouse Shannon Keck Redhouse on Aug 09, 2023

    Love it! I made the same exact thing for the conversation area in my bagel shop! Lol ❤️

    my table tops we the seats I had in my junk collection from 2 old, kitchen stools that broke off their base. You can see one a little in this pic. People love sitting there having coffee while they wait for their order. 😊

  • Daisy@TX Daisy@TX on Nov 25, 2023

    Absolutely going to do this I have the items!

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