A folding table is very convenient and indispensable in many cases. Most apartments in our country have small area, and many do not even dream of placing a large dinner table. To solve this problem there is wide choose folding table designs. And when organizing a picnic in nature, it is optimal to take with you a small aluminum folding table, which is lightweight and folds compactly.
Variety of folding table designs
The sizes vary depending on their functionality, but in any case the folding part must be shorter than the height, otherwise it will not be able to fold. A table made by yourself can be decorated with decoupage or simply painted, not forgetting to apply several layers of varnish at the final stage.
Folding tables are used in trade, at picnics, at dachas and in apartments. They are indispensable when you need functional, but compact and lightweight tables. Depending on the place of their use, a suitable material is selected. So, for the street it is best to take aluminum construction With plastic table top. This table is moisture resistant and lightweight. Natural wood, plywood or laminated fiberboard are suitable for the house. wooden frame. But all folding tables have one drawback: you cannot stand on them. This load is too large for a folding structure.
First of all, they differ in the shape of the countertops - rectangular, round, oval or square. The most versatile tables are those with a rectangular top.
The legs are made of wood, aluminum and steel. Parallel legs make the structure less rigid, but it is comfortable to sit at such a table. And those arranged in a cross, although less convenient, provide maximum stability. In addition, there are removable and length-adjustable legs, they are especially convenient for uneven surfaces. Therefore, when choosing a table, you need to focus not only on its appearance and the size of the tabletop, but also on design features frame.
Tables made of wood or laminated fiberboard with parallel legs look beautiful. But they can only be used indoors and provided that you do not have to unfold them often.
An inexpensive table made of varnished plywood is perfect for outdoor trips. It is moisture resistant and will last for many years. To quickly and easily fold the legs should be arranged crosswise.
How to make a folding table on different cases life will be described in this article.
DIY folding picnic table
Outdoor recreation is becoming increasingly popular. It helps you relax and unwind from the bustle of the city. But even far from civilization, you want to make your time as comfortable as possible. An important attribute is a folding camp table, which has a number of advantages. Firstly, it has small dimensions and light weight, which greatly simplifies its transportation. The finished tables have a special tabletop coating that does not absorb food odors and is easy to clean. Secondly, it is made of reliable material, most often aluminum, and can be used in the harshest conditions for many years. It is convenient if there is a hole in its center for an awning, then relaxing under the hot sun will be as comfortable as possible. Today there is a large selection of folding tables for camping: for children, sets with benches or simple tables. They combine time-tested materials and modern ones, such as plastic.
Let's look at how to make a folding table with your own hands using the example of a simple and very reliable design.
It will be compact and lightweight, which will allow you to use it for different purposes: on a hike, in the garden or fishing. Below is a drawing of a folding table. If necessary, the dimensions can be changed proportionally.
First it is cut out required amount bars with a small margin in size. The easiest way to do this is on a circular saw.
The tabletop can be made of any material, but it is better to make it from varnished plywood or wood (in the future it must be carefully coated with several layers of varnish).
All cuts of the workpieces are covered with edge tape. The bars for the legs and footrests are rounded using a jigsaw or a right angle is cut and smoothed with a grinder.
They are fastened to each other using a bolt, the length of which should not exceed 35 mm.
Having prepared all the parts, you can begin pre-assembly. First of all, the legs and supports are fastened together. After that, markings for fastenings are applied to the tabletop (it will be mounted on wood screws). Having numbered all the parts, the table is disassembled, all irregularities are sanded, and several layers are applied protective composition. That's it, it's ready for final assembly.
DIY universal folding table
For home use The most convenient mechanism is the “table-book” mechanism. It has a beautiful and noble appearance, is stable and reliable, and most importantly, it will fit behind it. a large number of Human.
Let's look at how to create such a table with your own hands.
A - tabletop 700x670x20 mm - 2 pcs. It is optimal to use hollow panels.
B - table cover 700x200x20 mm - 1 pc. Joiner's boards are used as a material (legs, drawers and underframe are also made from them).
B - leg 720x190x20 mm - 2 pcs.
G - drawer 628x120x20 mm - 1 pc.
D - underframe 628x190x20 mm - 1 pc.
E - horizontal frame beam 500x40x25 - 4 pcs.
AND - vertical beam frames 500x40x25 - 2 pcs.
Z - movable leg 720-40-25 - 2 pcs. Made from hard rocks wood
I - piano loop - 4 pcs.
Assembling the book table occurs in stages:
- all cuts are processed with an edge;
- First, the central part is fastened - a movable leg (W) with vertical (W) and horizontal (E) bars. All parts are connected with blind straight tenons;
- Next, the tabletop is assembled, consisting of a leg (B), a drawer (D) and a base (D).
- the lid (B) is attached to the ends of the table legs using round insert tenons;
- the movable leg with a frame is attached to the piano hinges, having previously attached an elastic band or a metal button to its end;
- After the table is completely assembled, if necessary, it is varnished.
As you can see, the whole difficulty lies only in the manufacture of parts; the assembly itself will take a little time. As a result, the price of a table made by yourself will be much lower than the market price.
Folding tourist table: features of choice
High-quality picnic furniture will allow you to comfortably enjoy outdoor recreation. Depending on the needs, there is a wide variety of both individual folding tables and entire sets of tables and benches that fold compactly.
The price of a folding picnic table depends on the materials from which it is made, its size, design and, of course, dimensions. Today there is a wide variety of folding designs, which makes the choice more difficult. In any case, when choosing it, you need to start from functionality - a small folding table designed for 1-2 people, or a large one for a whole company.
The durable steel frame and aluminum tabletop can withstand even greater loads. It is advisable that it have a protective cover.
For a small company, a very light table is best small sizes. If it will be used outdoors, then you need to choose aluminum or plastic countertops.
Regardless of whether it won't big table ic, which is intended to be transported manually, or a large table, it is important that the structure is light in weight. In the first case, there should be a convenient handle for carrying, and when choosing the second option, you should also take into account its dimensions when folded - it should easily fit into the trunk of a car.
All materials from which tables are made have their advantages and disadvantages. Thus, aluminum, although lightweight, is short-lived, steel is reliable and durable, but begins to rust over time, wood will require additional care.
When choosing a design mechanism for a folding table, you should be guided by the main rule - the simpler, the better. Although such a table will fold less compactly, it will last for many years.
The tabletop is chosen to suit your taste and preferences. The easiest and most convenient to clean -
plastic or aluminum. Appearance is also important, but it should not be dominant when choosing.
Folding table photo
Who among us doesn’t like to go fishing with family or friends, have a picnic, barbecue, or just relax in nature.
However, in addition to fishing rods, food, barbecue and tents, you need at least some kind of camp furniture - it’s uncomfortable to cook and sit on the bare ground.
And the main item needed for a picnic outside the city is a folding table.
Now it can be purchased at any tourist or fishing store, but why spend money if folding table you can do it yourself. Let's find out how to do this and what is needed for this.
Design Features
Without going into details, we can distinguish two types of camping tables – a table with folding legs and a suitcase table.
In the first option, when transporting or carrying the legs are retracted under the tabletop. Upon arrival, you just need to move the legs of the table to place it.
In the second option, the tabletop is like a suitcase or a chessboard - in the stowed position the legs lie inside it, but in place they need to be taken out of the “suitcase”, connected to it and the table placed in the right place.
Both types have their advantages. A folding table is easier to make and only takes a few seconds to set up. At the same time, the suitcase table is more convenient to carry and takes up less space, and, in addition, you can put dishes, skewers and other necessary things in it during transportation.
Wood, plastic or metal?
What is the best material for making your own folding camping table?
If ease of creation is most important to you and you do not have a large set of tools or skills in working with plastic and metals, choose wood.
Timber, boards, chipboard, plywood - all this can be used to create a fairly simple folding table.
But a table made of wood, if you do not protect its surface with varnishes and special coatings, under the influence of dampness, sunlight and temperature changes, it will warp and lose its attractive appearance.
Both plastic and even metal can be used as a material for legs and countertops. But here you may need those tools that can not be found in every home. In addition, working with such materials is more difficult than with the same wood. But tables made of plastic are not subject to corrosion, and those made of metal are very strong and durable.
In order to make a collapsible or folding table, you need a set of enough simple tools, which can be found in any home or garage:
- Jigsaw (can be replaced with a circular saw or wood hacksaw);
- Electric drill for preparing holes for screws;
- Hammer and Phillips screwdriver;
- Tape measure, square, ruler, pencil and level.
Attention! remember, that cutting tools, such as a circular saw or a jigsaw, are sources of increased danger! Observe all necessary safety precautions when working.
Folding picnic table
To make a simple and strong enough, you need the very minimum of materials and fasteners:
- wooden boards, 20–40 millimeters thick. For countertops, instead of boards, you can use a sheet of chipboard or plywood, about 10 millimeters thick;
- self-tapping screws, furniture bolts, and for each pair of legs the bolts must be of different lengths, wing nuts for bolts;
- door handles for carrying the table and hooks.
First, cut from boards or sheets Chipboard table top the right sizes. If the tabletop is made up of several boards, assemble them together, lay them down and measure the length and width.
Stages of work
Step 1. Making the frame
Lay the boards for the frame on the tabletop; on each side, the frame should move 2–3 centimeters away from the edge of the tabletop. Using a jigsaw, cut the boards to the required dimensions, then lay them back on the tabletop, checking that the length and width of the frame match the drawing. Outline the contours of the frame - use them to make holes in the tabletop for screws.
Important! In order to accurately maintain the dimensions of the paired parts, connect the boards together with clamps and cut them with an electric jigsaw or hacksaw together.
Step 2. Intermediate bars
Cut out the stop bars on which the unfolded table legs will rest, make four holes in them for the screws. To prevent the table legs from colliding with each other when folding, make wooden substrates for the second pair of legs, which will be located between the frame and the stop bars.
Step 3. Assembling the frame and tabletop
Assemble the frame elements together, fasten the stop bars and wooden substrates, make four holes for the bolts with an electric drill. Use screws to secure the table top and frame. 
Step 4: Table Legs
Draw and cut out the legs of the table with an electric jigsaw. In the upper part, where they are fixed with the frame, the legs should be rounded, while in the lower part there should be a cut at a slight angle (15–20 degrees). Make holes for the bolts.
Step 5. Assembling the table
Connect the first pair of legs with a crossbar and secure to the frame with a bolt and wing nut. Repeat the same with the second pair. Check that the legs do not catch on each other when unfolding and folding the table. If they get stuck, treat the legs at the point of friction with sandpaper.
The folding table is ready. Additionally, you can attach a handle to it for easy carrying and hooks to hang towels or barbecue and barbecue equipment.
Suitcase table
To make a camping suitcase table, you will need more materials and fasteners:
- sheet of plywood or chipboard for the lid. If they are not available, you can use boards;
- wooden beam for the legs and frame of the table top;
- hinges, door or suitcase handle, two latches;
- furniture bolts and wing nuts;
- Self-adhesive screws.
Stages of work
Step 1. Take chipboard sheets, cut out halves of the tabletop. Then saw off the frame bars to the required length and connect them to the tabletop halves with screws on all sides. Fasten the tabletop halves together using hinges.
Step 2. Cut four beams, which will be the legs of our table, make holes in them and in the frame for bolts, and make an indent so that the table legs are freely connected to the frame.
Step 3. Connect the legs and frame using furniture bolts and wing nuts.
Step 4. Attach a carrying handle to the frame. Don't forget to make two latches ,
so that the suitcase does not open during transportation.
Note! Before you start work, draw up a drawing of your table in several projections, calculate the dimensions of all the parts and how much material you will need. This way you will save yourself from mistakes, and you will not have to redo all the work again.
Protecting the camp table
A tree that is not protected by anything ages quickly enough: dampness, temperature changes that are inevitable in nature, sunlight and many other factors have a bad effect on the material and reduce the durability of the folding table.
Therefore, do not forget to treat all its surfaces, especially the countertop, which is most susceptible to harmful influences.
Use special antiseptic compounds and stain.
A final finish with varnish or paint will improve the appearance of the plywood or chipboard and make the camp table more beautiful.
How to make another version of a lightweight folding table, watch the video:
Now for complete set I decided to make a simple tourist table - a folding bed. When folded, this table looks like a small plywood suitcase. The table design project involves making a plywood table top. This material has sufficient strength and specific gravity It is quite acceptable for use as the main material for this type of portable furniture. The plywood suitcase is easy to carry and takes up little space in the trunk of the car.
To make it, I prepared the tools and purchased the necessary materials.
Tool
Since the furniture assembly scheme is based on plywood materials and wooden beam, then you need the appropriate tool:
- drill;
- jigsaw;
- screwdriver;
- wrench by 6 mm;
- chisel;
- level;
- tape measure, square, ruler, pencil.
Materials
I bought materials according to the list I compiled:
- plywood sheet 140 x 70 x 1 cm;
- timber 800 x 4 x 4 cm – 1 pc.;
- plastic handle – 1 pc.;
- suitcase locks – 2 pcs.;
- fasteners screw-screw 100 x 6 mm with a grip for a wrench - 4 pcs.;
- wing nut ø 6 mm - 4 pcs.;
- furniture hinges – 2 pcs.;
- screws 30 mm – 30 pcs.
I decided to make camp furniture from two folding tabletops measuring 70 x 70 cm each. The height of the legs was determined by 60 cm, so that they fit freely inside the suitcase. At the same time, this height of the legs should ensure a comfortable position for a person sitting at a table on a regular chair.
After preparations for assembling a homemade camping table with your own hands were completed, I began step-by-step implementation of the points in these instructions.
Step by step instructions on how to make a tourist table
- A sheet of plywood was cut with an electric jigsaw into two parts measuring 70 x 70 cm.
- The beam was cut into pieces for the stretcher: 70 cm - 4 pcs., 620 - pcs., And for legs 600 mm - 4 pcs.
- From the pieces of timber 70 cm and 62 cm I assembled 2 subframes, connecting them with screws at the junctions.
- I laid plywood on top of the frames.
- Using a screwdriver, I secured the sheets of plywood with screws around the perimeter of the frames.
- With a chisel, I made recesses of 2 mm in size for furniture hinges in the back side of the adjoining frames to each other.
- The hinges were placed in the recesses and secured with screws.
- I made the corners of the frames with a drill 4 through holesø 6 mm.
- I screwed 4 screws into the upper ends of the legs with a wrench.
- On one side of the frame I secured a plastic handle with screws.
- In the places where the table tops meet, I attached suitcase locks to the frames with screws.
- I inserted the screws of the legs with their threaded ends into the corner holes of the frames.
- On the outside, the threaded ends of the fasteners were secured with wing nuts.
- I placed the table on its legs and checked the horizontality of the tabletops with a level.
- Then he removed the legs and placed them inside the table tops of the folding furniture.
- I folded the tabletops and locked the locks. The table took a stowed position.
To once again make sure that the tourism furniture was assembled correctly, I reassembled it and checked all the fasteners. This is what happened in the end.
Cost of materials
At the end of the work, I calculated the costs of materials to make folding furniture:
- sheet of plywood 140 x 70 x 0.9 cm = 150 rubles;
- timber 800 x 4 x 4 cm = 8 m x 110 rub. = 880 rub.;
- plastic handle – 1 pc. = 15 rub.;
- suitcase locks – 2 pcs. = 20 rub.;
- fastening screw-screw 100 x 8 mm with wrench grip – 4 pcs. = 20 rub.;
- wing nut ø 8 mm – 4 pcs. x 2 rub. = 8 rub.;
- furniture hinges – 2 pcs. – 10 rub.;
- screws 30 mm – 30 pcs. in stock.
Total: 1103 rub.
Labor costs
For cutting plywood sheet and cutting the timber with a jigsaw took 1 hour. Assembling the table took 2 hours. In total, 3 hours were spent making the sliding table with our own hands. During the work, he used a respirator and safety glasses.
For those who have little experience in assembling furniture, it will be useful to watch the corresponding video, and then get to work. Such furniture will be indispensable for a tourist going on a hike for a picnic in nature.
The garden folding table looks organically in the shade of trees summer cottage, under a canopy or in a gazebo, while making your stay comfortable and convenient. A huge advantage of this design is its compactness when folded and the special warmth that comes from things made with your own hands. Anyone can make a folding table for a summer house, especially since the work process does not require any specific tools, and the material for the structure can be purchased at any construction market.
DIY folding table. Photo
DIY folding picnic table. Step by step photos
Before you start assembling a folding table, you should remember that half the success lies in using quality materials . The timber and board must have as few knots as possible, and cracks and delamination of the wood are not allowed. In addition to lumber, you will need fasteners, hinges, and means to protect lumber from exposure to the atmosphere.
Materials needed to make a table
To make a folding table, you need to have on hand:
- timber measuring 45×45 mm - 8 pcs. 730 mm long - for making legs;
- slats 45x20 mm: 2 x 550 mm and 2 x 950 mm - for assembling the upper frame of the table, as well as 2 x 350 mm - for the folding part;
- plywood slats 40×27 mm for supports - 3 x 450 mm;
- 18 mm plywood with dimensions: - 985x585 - sheet for the tabletop; - 2 sheets 985x530 for folding parts; - 1 sheet 885x481 mm for the shelf;
- rail 440×40 mm as a cross member;
- 2 slats 450x40 mm for side support elements;
- 4 loops 60×34 mm for fastening table covers;
- 4 loops 80x41 mm for folding legs;
- screws made of galvanized or stainless steel;
- metal dowels for mounting shelves.
When cutting workpieces, try to ensure that the corners of all parts and their ends have right angles. To do this, use a carpenter's square, and if it is missing, you can use an angle sheet material factory cutting.
DIY folding table drawings. Photo
Assembly instructions
Before you start assembling a folding table with your own hands, you need to prepare timber parts for installation. To do this, a groove up to 20 mm wide and deep to the middle of the workpiece (22.5 mm) is cut out on each frame part. The same distance is measured from the edge to the groove - 30-40 mm.
Step-by-step photo of how to make a folding picnic table
After all the grooves have been cut, drill holes for connecting parts together, as well as attaching legs.
To avoid distortion of the frame when making a folding table with your own hands, make a cross cuts, which will include the corners of the frame during installation. This process can be examined in more detail in the presented figures.
Properly prepared parts are the key to high-quality assembly, so it is advisable to use quality equipment- good circular saw, drill, set of chisels and other carpentry tools.
Assembling the upper frame underframes(common name for tabletop frame). To do this, the slats are assembled into a groove and fixed furniture confirmations(screws for hex key);
Installed on the assembled frame support legs , combining the sawn parts with the frame slats.
At the corners of the plywood shelf they make cutouts for supports. To fix the slab, install the legs at a distance of 220 mm from the edge of the legs. metal dowels.
Retractable support elements are assembled. To do this, the remaining bars are connected in pairs with slats installed in grooves, fixing the connection points with confirmations.
Having sanded and primed the tabletop and other parts, they begin to paint the footrest, slats and tabletop.
Mount shelf spacer. The side lintels are attached to the tabletop frame. The support rails are attached to the shelf, for which holes are drilled in it. Remember that this work requires special care, since even small displacements can affect the geometry of the table.
A jumper is mounted to the table frame, after which three additional spacers are attached.
Retractable legs They are hinged and attached to the external struts.
Main and folding parts table tops screwed to the hinges.
The table cover is installed on frame, after which the middle part is fixed to the frame with self-tapping screws.
A table assembled in accordance with our instructions will have sufficient strength and reliability. The main thing is to carry out the work step by step, in the presented sequence. Processing and painting must be carried out before assembly. Otherwise, it will not be possible to accurately paint individual parts and ready product will not look elegant and impressive enough.
DIY transformer table. Instructions
The sliding table has a durable, stable design, and even a beginner can handle its assembly. When folded, the dimensions of the tabletop are 1200x700 mm. After sliding the table top apart, a special insert is installed into the resulting opening, resulting in a tabletop length of 1670 mm. This makes it possible to additionally place two adults at the table.
Tools and materials
Before going to the construction market, write down what parts and materials you will need to assemble a table with a sliding top:
- laminated Chipboard thickness 25 mm;
- PVC strip for gluing edges up to 2 mm thick;
- aluminum corners measuring 50×50 mm - 4 pcs. 500 mm each;
- telescopic guides for drawers length 500 mm - 2 pcs.;
- furniture legs with a diameter of more than 60 mm - 4 pcs. length 710 mm;
- latch lock for the drawer - 6 pcs.;
- 10mm M4 threaded screws;
- furniture screws 16×3 mm and 20×4 mm.
To work, you need to prepare the following equipment and tools:
- milling cutter;
- electric jigsaw with a set of saws for plywood and chipboard (fine teeth);
- circular saw;
- electric drill and set of drills;
- screwdriver or set of screwdrivers;
- building hair dryer or iron;
- wallpaper knife;
- bubble level;
- clamps;
- measuring tool, pencil.
Before you start cutting the material, make a drawing of the table according to your dimensions or use the design we propose. In this case, the dimensions components tabletop covers are indicated on the provided drawings.
Table transformer. Blueprints
Instructions for making a folding table
Stage 1. Do marking sheet material, then cut out tabletop parts from laminated chipboard - an insert measuring 700x470 mm, as well as two halves of the table top measuring 700x470 mm. You can avoid chipping on the surface of the chipboard by using a jigsaw with a special file with a low-profile tooth. Additionally, you can stick masking tape at the cut site, which will prevent chipping of the facing layer.
Remember: if you plan to process workpieces with a milling cutter, be sure to make a processing allowance of at least 2 mm.
To cut the slab evenly, attach it to the workbench with clamps and level the edge. The tool should be operated slowly, constantly monitoring the quality of the cut.
Stage 2. Trimming using a router will allow you to get perfectly smooth side surfaces. This tool is also used slowly and carefully.
Stage 3. Pasting the ends of the tabletop with PVC edges. The workpiece is secured with a clamp, cut off and the edge is applied to the side surface of the slab. After this, it is heated with a hair dryer or iron and smoothed. After the material has hardened, the protruding edge of the edge is cut off with a wallpaper knife.
Stage 4. All sharp edges and corners of aluminum corners are processed.
Making a transformer table. Photo
Stage 5. At each corner, mark the middle and measure 25 mm from each edge.
Stage 6. Each side of the furniture guides is applied to the corner and the places of their attachment are marked. The corners are drilled at the designated points. To prevent the drill from sliding on the aluminum, the installation positions are cored. The corners and guides are connected with bolts.
Stage 7. Resulting guide designs lay down on a flat substrate as follows: the corners connected to the internal guides (thin) are placed inward, towards each other, and the corners to which the outer parts of the guides are attached (fixed, thicker) are placed outward. After this, 4 holes are drilled in the moving and fixed aluminum parts.
Stage 8. Both halves table tops lay down front side on a workbench or other flat surface. On top, at a distance of 80 mm from the sides of the panels, retractable guides are installed (with the movable, thin part inward). In this case, the joint between the halves of the table top should fall in the middle of each guide.
Stage 9. The fixed half of the telescopic guide They are attached to the left half of the table cover, and the movable one is attached to its right side. To do this, use 20x4 mm self-tapping screws.
Stage 10. Near sliding system install latches and hinges.
Stage 11. With the latches open, move both parts of the tabletop apart and place additional panel. After this, all elements of the table cover are shifted to form a flat, gap-free surface.
Stage 12. Additional latch loops are installed on the middle part of the tabletop. The resulting fastening will allow you to fix the table both in the open and in the assembled state.
Stage 13. The legs are attached to the tabletop using 20mm self-tapping screws.
After assembling a folding table with your own hands, be sure to check the design for strength in the extended and folded position. Only after testing can the table be considered suitable for use and installed in a permanent place.
Summer is in full swing, and many townspeople, as soon as they have free time, go on a picnic. AND modern man wants to communicate with nature, but for some reason, communication, in his opinion, should take place in the most comfortable conditions for a city dweller. So “tourists” bring tents and camping furniture sets into the forest, which today are produced in abundance by domestic and foreign manufacturers.
The folding table is lightweight, compact and easy to assemble.
In this variety of tables and chairs, differing from each other in shape, material, price, and finally, the eye, as a rule, clings to quite interesting pieces of furniture, the origin of which is clearly not from a store. And by the proud look with which a person assembles a table in a clearing, at a campsite or on the beach, noticeable to everyone around, one can determine that this table was made with his own hands.
2 simplest designs
I would like to offer those who want to make picnic furniture themselves, 2 simple designs camp tables that do not require manufacturing special costs and the presence of complex tools.
One of them, when assembled, will look like a suitcase, and the other can easily be rolled up like a rug and can be put away in a case.
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Making a suitcase table
The blanks for the suitcase table will be:
The tabletop can be made of MDF or plywood.
- 10mm plywood;
- planed timber 30 by 30 mm made of birch;
- self-tapping screws 4 by 50 mm (thickness and length of fasteners) for fastening the frame bars;
- self-tapping screws 4 by 25 mm for fastening fittings and plywood to the frame;
- 2 hinges for windows (the width of each plate is no more than 30 mm);
- 4 furniture screws with a length of at least 70 mm, nuts for them and 8 washers.
Of course, every “self-respecting” suitcase should be equipped with a carrying handle and locks. The latches can be taken from an old case or suitcase. Small hooks are also suitable for locks. The choice of handle for carrying the table is up to the master, but perhaps instead there will be a strap so that the folding table hangs on the shoulder while camping.
For the tabletop you need to cut 2 pieces of plywood measuring 580 by 500 mm each. For the frame, you need to cut 8 bars for it: 4 of them will be 500 mm each, and the rest will be 520 mm each. For the legs, you need to cut 4 beams no longer than 500 mm (so that they fit into the box when folding the table).
First of all, the frame is assembled. To prevent the bars from splitting when screwing in the screws, it is necessary to drill holes in the wood. After tightening the frame, the tabletop plywood is attached to it. Before screwing in the screws, do not forget to make holes in its surface and countersink them for the fastener heads.
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Installing legs and hinges
Legs can be either wooden or aluminum.
The table legs will be attached to the 500 mm frame bars. In the frame, step back 15 mm from each frame internal corner and 15 mm from the tabletop and mark the centers of future holes for furniture screws. In the bars for the legs, also measure 15 mm from their end and one of the sides. Drill the holes with an 8mm drill bit.
The most crucial moment when assembling a transforming table is installing the hinges. It’s easy to screw them to the frame, but if the hinges are not recessed into the frame, then after closing the table, gaps will be noticeable between its halves.
Yes, and the suitcase will definitely need 4 legs made of rubber or plastic. Their thickness must match the diameter of the hinge hinges so that the closed table stands stably on the surface and there are no problems when opening it.
So, the draft version of the table is ready. All that remains is to sand it wooden parts sandpaper. Treat the wood with antiseptics and cover the table with paint or varnish.
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Making a roll-up table
There is an even easier way to make your own camping table. To work you will need cuttings for garden tools or round wooden rods, several meters of wood planks and fasteners.
Here is a more accurate list of required materials:
To protect the table from moisture, treat all parts with stain.
- 10 600 mm wooden planks 15 by 45 mm;
- 2 540 mm strips 15 by 45 mm;
- 4 wooden rods with a diameter of 30 mm and a length of 400 mm;
- 2 nylon, leather or canvas belts, 540 mm long;
- 4 threaded inserts with internal thread 10 mm;
- 4 bolts M 10 70 mm long.
Choose the straightest birch cuttings or rods in the store, as the type of table will depend on this. Birch wood is the most suitable material and for tabletop slats.
After you have cut 10 slats of 600 mm each, 4 rods of 400 mm each, 2 slats of 540 mm each and sanded their surface, you can begin assembling the table. 10 wooden planks of the future tabletop are fastened together with a belt using construction stapler. Make a small gap between the planks. To ensure that it is the same between all slats, place bars of the same thickness (15 mm) between them. To prevent the tabletop from deviating from a rectangular shape, do not refuse to use a square in your work. So, the tabletop is ready. Now you can roll it up or fold it like an accordion.
Clamp the table leg in a vice, but to prevent the jaws from damaging its surface, use rubber, wood or sandpaper as a spacer between them and the rod material. Drill a hole at the end of the leg to a depth of 40 mm into which the threaded insert will cut. Repeat this operation with each of the 4 rods. Make sure that the drill enters the leg perpendicular to its end. Screw the threaded inserts into the body of the legs.
The 540mm planks will serve as a rigid base for the countertop. Drill 2 holes for bolts in them near the edges. Then place the slats across the slats of the tabletop at the same distance from its edges and mark the centers of the holes in the outer slats. Using the same drill, make 4 holes in the tabletop.
Treat the wood with an antiseptic compound and paint the table. You can coat its surface with varnish.
Perhaps it will not be difficult for anyone to make such tables for a picnic. And if you put the production of folding furniture on stream, you can provide them to all your relatives and friends.
