30 Minutes to Make This DIY Butcher Block Table With Hairpin Legs

Stacy Davis
by Stacy Davis
3 Materials
$350
30 Minutes
Easy

ZZ Top kept running through my head with this project. icon “She’s got legs...” icon Any 80’s peeps out there? I am soooo excited with how this simple project turned out. Two years ago I bought a butcher block top from Lumber Liquidators to put on top of an existing table base that I had. I had trouble removing the table top from the base so I used some IKEA shelves at as a table base. It wasn’t ideal. Then I got some hairpin legs from

Amazon and I couldn’t be happier with the end product. I always say, “This is my favorite project.” and once again, I have a new favorite project. icon

So, first I purchased a butcher block top from lumber liquidators.

The first time that I oiled the butcher block, I used tung oil. I didn’t think that it held up very well but maybe it was laziness on my part. I watch a food blogger on Instagram (Flavcity) and he showed how he uses mineral oil on his cutting boards to condition them. So, I purchased this food safe mineral oil off of Amazon. This mineral oil, also, doesn’t spoil. You don’t want to use an oil that could go rancid.

I poured it on generously and rubbed it in.

After you rub it all over your table top, you wait for it to absorb as much as possible and then rub a cloth across the top to remove any excess. I let mine soak in all night long since it seemed so dry.

Wow, what a difference the oiling it makes! Here it is half done.

What could happen it you don’t oil it enough? It could crack. I think this happened because I didn’t oil it as often as I should have. It is deep but doesn’t go all the way through so this is now the bottom of my table.

So one of the problems with the IKEA shelves as a base is that it interfered with chairs and leg room. So I set a chair on top with a leg to make sure that I would be happy with the placement.

The directions say to place them in 2 inches from the sides for a dining room table but I rather liked the look of 4 inches in from each side.

I made a template so that each corner the legs would be in the same place. You could just measure but I like to use templates. I punched holes and then used a black marker through the holes to mark the table at each corner.

The place that I ordered the hairpin legs from on Amazon said if you included the thickness of your tabletop, then they would send the correct size screws. These are perfect. I hate having to go buy hardware for a project.

The directions didn’t say to predrill the holes and I couldn’t locate my drill bits so “heart in hand”, I drilled the screws into the table legs.

A few short minutes later... So easy!

These legs are beautiful!

Just in time for the holidays!

You wouldn’t believe how this table went from humdrum to outstanding just by adding a pair of $50 hairpin legs.

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Frequently asked questions
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  3 questions
  • Mark Mark on May 22, 2020

    Did you need to run any supports to keep the table from bowing or is the thickness of the table enough to keep it straight? Also, it appears an apron isn't necessary with the hairpin legs?

  • Jjorutili Jjorutili on Mar 29, 2021

    I have a butcher block cutting table with a 10" frame of butcher block on all four sides. I want to update it to sell, do you think the pin legs would be a better look? Right now it has all four of the original solid wood legs. Or should I just refinish the wood and oil it?

  • Laura Laura on Aug 06, 2021

    Thank you! Do you think the hairpin legs will hold an 8 foot butcher block? Same depth and thickness.

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  • Lynda Galea Lynda Galea on May 12, 2020

    Hi there - thinking of buying a birch butcher block to make a dining room table with hairpin legs for my new condo. Do you have to continue to oil your table regularly? Did you seal it with anything to prevent moisture from getting in and causing the butcher board to bow? Thank you!

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    • Plantation Pandemonium Plantation Pandemonium on Jul 18, 2023

      I used to have a butcher block table and am getting ready to put another together... this time herringbone. That said, I oil, and then I wax. I prefer the feel of the waxed finish. Oil will penetrate the wood more deeply, obviously.

  • Tricia Tricia on May 15, 2020

    What size butcher block is this? Thanks for sharing!

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