Make Your Own Rustic Laptop Table
The skill level required is very basic, believe
me, if I can make rustic furniture, anyone can! In the case of this table
all joints are nailed, but the more ambitious green woodworker might like
to experiment with more complex mortice and tenon joints and so on. The
wonderful thing about creating rustic furniture is that even a beginner's
work can be sturdy and impressive looking. What's more, it doesn't take
too much practice to be able to produce items that will make highly personalised
and practical gifts for friends, and who knows, even build up a marketable
skill.
Frame
4 x legs, thickness 4cm (1.½"), length 42cm (16.½")
8 x cross-pieces, 2cm (0.8"), length 52cm (20½")
4 x braces, 1.5cm (½"), length 44cm (17.3")
Top
4 x reclaimed floorboards, width15.2 cm (6"), length 57cm (22.½")
2 x battens, 42cm (16.½")
(all measurements are approximate, rustic furniture making is all about
feeling and intuition rather than precise dimensions....)
Choose relatively straight poles and cut roughly to the sizes above (ensure
that the legs are all exactly the same length however). Ends can be chamfered
with either a sharp knife or spokeshave.
1) Start by positioning two cross-pieces across two of the legs, with
the bottom cross-piece about 75mm (3") from the bottom of the legs,
and the top cross piece flush with leg tops. Note that the cross-pieces
should overhang the legs by about 35mm (1½"). Drill pilot
holes for a nail at each joint to prevent the wood from splitting (the
hole should be slightly smaller than the nail diameter so that it will
grip tightly as the wood contracts as it dries) and secure into place.
2) Repeat for the other two legs and cross-pieces.
3) Use the four remaining cross-pieces to join the two sets of legs, again
pre-drilling guide holes for the nails. It can be useful at this stage
to have a helper to support and adjust the leg sections, ensuring that
they are as 'square' as possible.
4) Line up floorboard sections, square and secure together by screwing
to battons from beneath. Sand off any sharp corners and splinters.
5) Attach table top to leg framework by drilling counter sunk holes through
top cross-pieces into battens, securing with 1½ inch wood screws.
6) Add brace pieces at diagonal angles between the cross-piece rungs to
prevent wobbling and steady up the table.
This basic design can be adapted in many ways- longer back posts and thin
rods for a seat can be the basis for a rustic chair, whilst reducing the
overall dimensions makes a foot stall.
Product designed and drawn by Graham Burnett
See his web site land
and liberty