For my second project, I’m going to show you how to build a simple coffee table. Later I will show you how to build it using fixed joints, a more professional method but for ease of construction without the need for knowledge of more complex joining techniques, I will show how to fix using steel angle fixings. Although more elementry, it does provide the advantage of being able to build with basic tools (a drill and a screwdriver) and of being able to dismantle the table for storage or ease of transport.
• screwdriver (Phillips)
• drill (with 3mm wooden type drill bit)
• handsaw (jigsaw preferable)
• 90° angle tool
• sandpaper (electric sander preferable)
• tape measure
• 100 x 100 mm timber (pine easyest), length 2 m
• 2,5 x 12 cm timber, length 3,2 m
The table top is the most visible, obvious piece of the table. It can be a solid piece of wood made from strips of timber that are factory glued together and known size: 116 x 78 x 2,5(minimum) cm.
Alternatively it can be whatever you prefer and can be constructed from smaller pieces, as long as it is structurally strong and conform to the dimensions above.
First cut the 100 x 100 mm timber into four equal pieces of 40 to 50 cm. These pieces form the legs so the longer the pieces the taller the table. It is a good idea start at 50 cm, you can always cut them shorter if the table is too high. Next cut the 2,5 x 12 cm timber into two equal pieces of 96 cm and two equal pieces of 57 cm. Then get the table top and make the corners slightly rounded with the saw and sandpaper.
• 1 box of 20 mm wood screws
• 1 box of 30 mm wood screws
• 8 steel angle brackets
The particular ones are 10 x 2 cm with 3 holes on each face. This is not critical but the dimensions must be within 2 cm and have at least 2 screw holes on each face.
These 4 mounting plates will have to to be made. If you go to a metal supplier and ask for 4 120 x 120 mm squares of 2-3 mm steel plate and get them drilled with 4 mm diameter holes to the above dimensions. Alternatively you can drill them yourself, being sure that the metal is clamped firmly in a vice, using a steel type drill bit of 4 mm. Use the 90° angle tool to make sure that the holes line up as in the diagram.
First, take one of the legs and attach a mounting plate to the top as shown taking care to line up the corner of the mounting plate with the corner of the leg as shown below. 30 mm wood screws should be used to attach the plate.
Lay the table top face down and mark a line 2 cm in from the edge, all the way around.
Stand the legs on the table underside with the steel overhang on each leg touching the pencil line in each corner.
Check that the four 12 x 2,5 cm pieces fit tight between the legs as in FIG. 8. They should if cut correctly but if not, adjust the position of the legs so that they do before fixing.
Use 20 mm wood screws to attach the legs to the table top, pre-drilling the screw holes as before to avoid splitting. It is a good idea to wrap a piece of tape 2 cm from the point of the trill bit so you know when it is deep enough into the table top without going all the way trough.
With the table still upside down, place the two shorter remaining pieces between the legs on the ends of the table top and the longer pieces between the legs on the sides as shown below.
Attach two steel angle brackets in each corner with 30 mm wood screws as shown above being sure to mark and pre-drill the holes for screws as described before.
Hi I'm Jack. I like to make things, tables chairs, book cases. I'm going to be showing you how to make things too.
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