How To Make a Portable Wood Working Table
- 1). Build the tabletop frame. Half-inch maple makes a good choice because it is strong and will not warp easily. Create a 2-by-4 frame, and strut the maple plywood with 2-by-4 boards. This will prevent the tabletop from bending and make it more rigid. For an additional feature, leave a gap of 8 inches between the two center studs so you can install a router here if you wish.
- 2). Now create the table legs. These will fold under the table to make it portable. Cut four 2-by-4 boards to about 24 inches (higher or lower, depending on what height you want).
- 3). Round the corners of the table legs so there is a flat area of about 1 inch surrounded on both sides by rounded corners.
- 4). Turn the frame upside down and place the table leg 1 1/2 inches from the inside edge of the joining board at the corner, so the top is just touching the underneath side of the plywood tabletop.
- 5). Mark a spot on the outside of the frame that corresponds to the exact middle of the table leg. Remove the leg and drill through the frame on this spot with a 3/8-inch bit.
- 6). Reset the table leg in the corner and clamp it in place. Then drill through the hole and through the table leg so you now have matching holes in the frame and leg.
- 7). Insert a 4-inch lag bolt with 1/2 inch of threading through a washer and through the hole. Then attach a washer and locking nut to the end to secure the table leg. The leg will now collapse and "lock" into place.
- 8). Repeat Steps 5 to 7 with the three other other legs.
- 9). Cut two 2-by-4 boards that are 2 inches longer than the length from one end of one table leg to the adjacent one. Route out vertical channels 1 inch from the end that is 3 1/2 inches wide and 1/2 inch deep. This will fit over the table leg to secure it in place. For additional stability, drill a 1/4-inch hole through this brace and the leg and secure it with 1/4 bolt and wing nut.
