1200mm x 600mm (2ft x 4ft) Lounge-room coffee table.
This project, as with other Buildeazy projects, is designed with the home handyman or DIYer in mind. Joints that might require the expertise of a more seasoned woodworker are non-existent. Instead, all joints are secured with bolts and/or screws and maybe a bit of glue. Because of this, the project only requires the most basic of tools to undertake a professional job, but does not lack in strength.
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The Plans
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The Cutting List
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Item
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Description
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Quantity and Length
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a.
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Legs: 50mm x 50mm (2"x2")
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4 @ 400mm (16")
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b.
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Top rails: 100mm x 40mm (1 1/2" x 4")
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2 @ 940mm (37") and 2 @ 400mm (16")
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c.
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Table top: 20mm (3/4") board
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1 @ 1200mm x 600mm (2ft x 4ft)
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d.
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Corner supports: 100mm x 50mm (2"x4")
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4 @ 150mm (6") long and angled in at 45degrees both ends.
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e.
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Fillets: 25mm x 25mm (1"x1")
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2 @ 150mm (6") and 2 @ 700mm (28")
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f.
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Coach bolts: 6mm (1/4") thick
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4 @ 150mm (6") and washers and wing-nuts to suite.
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Screws
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Wood screws:
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30 @ 40mm (1 1/2") long and 16 @ 60mm (2 1/2") long.
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1
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Cutting the members and a bit about the wood.
Cut all the members (pieces of wood) to the measurements as shown above. The lumber widths and thicknesses, are common sizes that can be obtained from most building suppliers or lumber stores.
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Also, note that the widths and thickness sizes stated above are the sizes before the wood is dressed or gauged. For example: a piece of 100mm x 50mm (2x4) lumber might actually be 90mm x 45mm (1 1/2"x3 1/2").
The type of lumber is a personal choice but should be of a good grade. Are you going to paint the finished table? Maybe stain and varnish it? Take this into consideration when choosing the type of wood. For the table top, use a piece of 20mm (3/4") thick MDF (medium density fibre board), custom wood, plywood or similar type of board.
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2
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Fixing the top rails to the table top.
Place the table top (c) upside down on an even floor, saw stools or workbench. Position the top rails (b) on the underside of the table top so that they are touching at each corner and also centered on the table top, as shown in the diagram.
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Next, lay the 4 fillets (e) in place against the top rails (b) and the underside of the table top (c).
Screw through the fillets (e) into the table top (c) and then screw through the fillets (e) into the top rails (b). Sometimes it might be easier to pre-drill the screw holes through the fillets.
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3
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Fixing the corner supports to the top rails.
Lay the 4 corner supports (d) in place in the corners against the top rails (b) and fasten with screws; four to each corner.
corner support
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4
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Chisel an edge off the top of each leg.
With a chisel, take the arris (sharp edge) off one side of each leg (a), beginning about 60mm (2 1/2") down from the top and continuing up to the top. Make the depth of the chisel cut about 10mm (3/8"). This is so the bolt-head will be against a flat area of wood rather than an arris.
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5
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Fix the legs to the top rails.
Clamp the legs to the top rails (b),and drill a hole all the way through each corner support (d) and leg (a). Make the holes slightly bigger than the thickness of the bolts. Insert the bolts and tighten.
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6
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Final touches.
Finally paint, stain, varnish or oil the table.
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Author: Les Kenny
Editor: Maree Anderson
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User comments
Thank you very much from sunny MacKay in Queensland Australia for the easy to read and easy to follow plans, as a novice woodworker I need all the help I can get.
regards Steve.
Well I think it was a great project for the weekend. I enjoyed it a lot, it is now standing in my living room. I used Tasmanian oak for the table top, iron bark for the top rails, fillets and corner supports. It came up tremendous with the colour contrasts and a "Cabots" polyurethane clear finish.
Regards Phil and Jarryd
This is a really great plan. I managed to recycle all the required wood from past projects-gone-bad and the salvage bin from my local lumber yard. Took a little extra work with an orbital sander but well worth the effort. Total cost came to about $20 over the course of about two weeks to complete, but this could be done in a few evenings or easily in a weekend provided you don't have to travel back to the store.
Pay special attention when drilling holes for the bolts. A mistake here can make the table go wonky in spite of the painstakingly accurate measurements taken at the start.
Take your time, measure carefully, don't be afraid to go back to the store to get the proper tools and you'll be pleased with the result when it's sitting in your living room. Vast improvement over the usual IKEA swag...
Sean, British Columbia, Canada
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