Hello. Today I will tell you how to make a table that can accommodate 10-12 people, and at the same time folds easily and takes up very little space in the trunk of a car. After all, its thickness when folded is only 10 cm.
My company and I go “out into nature” very often. Sometimes - with tents for a week. And I thought about a table that I could take with me. Purchased models are usually designed for a company of 4 people, which did not suit us. And so, after some thought, I assembled this table.
I made it for a certain date and “from what was.” For example, I cut out the elements of the tabletop itself from a 10 mm thick OSB board. Therefore, my design turned out to be quite heavy. It is quite possible to make these elements from thin plywood - hardly anyone will dance on this table!))))) But I had OSB (Half a sheet was left after repairing the walls in the barn), so I used it. I made the supporting structures from 50 by 25 bars for the same reason - they were lying around in the barn. And they can be completely, without loss of strength, made from the same plywood, only thicker. The result is a significant reduction in weight...
So where did I start? I started with the tabletop. Having planned the width of the future table to be 80 cm, I cut out two pieces of slab of this length. And the width I got was 62.5 cm. That’s exactly how it “turned out” - because the width of the OSB sheet is 125 cm, and I simply sawed an eighty-centimeter section of it in half.))))
Next, I started making the “legs,” that is, the structure on which the tabletop will be mounted. I assembled two frames from the bars. One is 100 by 62.5 cm in size, the other is slightly narrower. That is, after I assembled the first one, I put two meter-long bars inside it and fastened them with transverse ones of such length that the frames fit tightly into each other. At the same time, I attached the transverse bars in both frames “overlapping” and not along the edge, but so that there was a distance of 80 cm between them. What this gave: firstly, my pieces of the tabletop will be placed there evenly when the table is folded. Secondly, there are “horns” left behind the crossbars. It was originally intended to use the table on uneven ground. And such a leg can, by pressing, be buried in the ground. Having found the center of the long sides of both frames, I drilled holes and fastened them together with M8 bolts.
I ended up with this design:
It turned out that the structure turned out to be shaky, so I strengthened it from lateral wobbling by screwing a rectangular piece of USB /
Next, I started making the supporting strips on which the tabletop will be placed. Since my design has a maximum size of 100 cm, the supporting strips must be folded to this length. To do this, I cut two strips of 100 cm each, and two of 90 cm each. I fastened them in pairs with M6 bolts like this:
After that, I laid out both structures and drilled another through hole.
Now, if we lay them out in one line and tighten them with ordinary furniture bolts and a wing nut, we get two strong strips, each 1 m 85 cm long:
Next, I expanded my “leg” to such a width that its height was 75 centimeters (this is the standard table height). After that, measuring the distance between the upper ends (I pre-drilled holes in them with a diameter of 6 mm). In the spread out and fastened supporting strips, I drilled two holes at the same distance, making sure that they were located at the same distance from the ends. Then I fastened the planks to the stand using the same M6 furniture bolts with wing nuts:
Having placed my tabletop fragments on the edges of the resulting “skeleton of a table”, I came to the conclusion that another one, 40 cm wide, could be inserted between them. After which I made it.
Having located all the fragments, I marked the mounting points and drilled through holes in the tabletop and guides. Then I bolted the first one...
Then the second...
And finally the last one...
Like this:
All. The table is ready!
In order to fix it in the assembled position, I prepared the following sling in advance:
At its ends there are two loops that can be tightened using rings cut from old jackets.
Since I used a narrow sling (again, there was one))), in the middle, where it would hang on the shoulder, I inserted a piece of a wide car seat belt:
And the table is assembled like this:
First, all the wing nuts are loosened and it is disassembled into components. Then one of the wide parts of the tabletop is placed on the ground:
The folded “leg” is placed on it.
The desire to escape into the vastness of nature increasingly overcomes residents of cities and towns. One-day trips to the nearest body of water or multi-day fishing trips to other regions of vast Russia require careful preparation and organization. One of the essential elements of camping life is a table. Wherein the best option will serve as a folding table that takes up as little space as possible in the trunk of a car and is easy to transport. You can easily make a wonderful version of a camping table with your own hands.
The design is so simple that it can be made by any home craftsman with experience in using various tools. The following tools will be needed for work:
- a carpenter's saw with a fine tooth for sawing parts;
- sandpaper (sandpaper) of various grain sizes for finishing the edges of parts and the entire product;
- tape measure for measuring the lengths of parts;
- carpenter's square for checking the squareness of the edges of flat parts;
- construction stapler with a supply of staples;
- drill with a drill of a suitable diameter;
- flat screwdriver.
In addition to tools, you need to prepare the following materials:
- a round rod with a diameter of about thirty millimeters and a length of one hundred and sixty centimeters;
- hardwood slats with a cross-section of fifteen by forty-five millimeters - six meters;
- two slats of the same section, each fifty-four centimeters long;
- two pieces of nylon belt twenty-five to thirty millimeters wide, fifty-four centimeters each;
- threaded inserts made of brass with an internal thread of ten millimeters;
- four M10x70 bolts.
Let's start the description of the manufacturing technology with the legs of the camping table. The best material They can use two birch cuttings for rakes, which can be easily purchased at any hardware store. Choose straight-line pieces to keep the table looking tidy. Saw off four pieces of forty centimeters each with a hacksaw, sand the ends, and slightly round the lower edges. It would not be a bad idea to sand the surface of the parts.
The next stage of making the table is sawing birch slats into ten pieces of sixty centimeters each. According to preliminary markings using a tape measure and a square with a carpenter's hacksaw, cut the workpieces. To give smoothness, flatness and ends, sand with emery cloth. Next, you need to sand two pre-prepared parts, each fifty-four centimeters long.
Then comes the work of manufacturing a flexible tabletop, which is a slatted rolled mat. Its basis is those ten slats of sixty centimeters each. To connect the slats, we will use nylon belts and a construction stapler. Lay the tabletop elements on a flat, smooth surface, with the back side facing you, aligning their ends.
To maintain straightness, lay planed, even timber along the ends. It is better to calibrate the distance between these parts using small elements with a cross-section of one centimeter. Put the straps on reverse side slats, retreating an equal distance from the ends. Pre-melt the edges of the belts in the flame of a lighter.
Using a stapler, attach the belt to the slats as shown in the attached photos. Watch the distance between the slats.
If the stapler does not finish the staples slightly, use a hammer to fit them more tightly into the material. In this way, attach all the tabletop slats to the belts. Next, we move on to installing the threaded bushings in the legs of the camping table.
To do this, drill blind holes about 40 mm deep from one of the ends with a drill of the required diameter, then carefully screw in the bushings with a screwdriver, trying to maintain their alignment with the hole.
Now, with the tabletop facing down, place the slats prepared in advance at an equal distance from the ends of the tabletop elements and drill one hole in each slat (as shown below).
The diameter of the holes must be such that the bolts pass through them freely.
Since ancient times, man has tried to use the free space around him as rationally as possible. That is why today folding furniture is in great demand. If you think about it, a folding dining table can not only save space in the apartment, but also come in handy for travelers and fishermen. This table will feel great both in a small kitchen and on a spacious terrace when entertaining a large number of guests.
Reasons to make a folding table with your own hands
Today, a potential buyer can easily find a huge number of folding tables on sale various types and designs. However, making a round folding table with your own hands will not pose any difficulties. Moreover, this is almost always more economically profitable and rational:
- The dimensions of the table can be precisely selected based on your needs.
- The choice in the type of table designs is also unlimited. Choose what best suits your needs.
- The design of the table varies freely depending on the interior of the room and personal preferences.
Materials and tools
To start making folding tables from wood or metal, you don’t have to complete a carpentry course. To get started, buy all the necessary materials and be patient.
If you have ever done minor repairs around the house, then most likely you already have all the necessary tools. To assemble a wooden table, use only high-quality timber and boards. The miser pays twice, as they say.
Before starting work, prepare the basic fasteners, varnish and primer for wood. Here is a list of materials that will be needed:
- timber for legs;
- boards for making a table frame;
- plywood sheets for shelves and tabletops;
- hinges;
- stainless steel screws;
- metal dowels.
On the beams intended for the frame, cut grooves approximately 2 cm wide at a distance of several centimeters from the edges. Make cross-shaped cuts on the future legs. Now you can be sure that the table frame will not warp in the future.
Table assembly
For high-quality and quick assembly of the structure, it is advisable to have a drill and a circular saw in your arsenal. The assembly process at first glance seems complicated, but only at first glance.
The workpieces are connected according to the following algorithm:
- First of all, start assembling the frame for the tabletop. After aligning the grooves, the joints must be secured with countersunk hexagon screws.
- Pre-prepared legs with cross-shaped cuts are mounted on the frame.
- The next step is to cut out the shelf. To ensure that it stands securely and without distortion, we install it on each leg at a distance of 22 cm from the bottom along a metal dowel.
- To assemble the retractable supports, boards are inserted into the grooves on the timber and securely fixed with countersunk hexagon screws.
- Before painting, all parts of the table must be sanded with fine sandpaper and coated with wood primer.
First, the slats, tabletop and footrests are painted. - Now we begin assembling the internal lintel for the shelf. We connect the side beams to the main beam. Holes are drilled at one level to secure the support rails.
- The next step is to fasten the base of the lintel to the frame, and don’t forget to install additional slats.
- We attach legs to the jumper, which will extend in the future.
- We connect the tabletop to the frame.
Now you can exhale, the table is assembled and almost ready for use in any conditions. You can download a photo of a folding table from the Internet and compare your result with the picture.
It is important to remember that it is best to treat wood before the assembly begins, and not after it is completed. If you have any difficulties, you can watch visual assembly video tutorials on the Internet.
It is worth saying that a folding metal table is made and assembled in a similar way. The main thing is to take into account the peculiarities of using various materials and tools for their processing.
Do not forget that wood really does not like moisture and dampness. Before you take your new product out into the wild, you should take care of its protection. First of all, treat the table with an antiseptic. It is recommended to shed the ends of all workpieces with olive oil. The olive must be heated in a water bath until it is as liquid as possible.
You need to be careful with varnish. Mindlessly “bathing” the bars in a container of varnish will have virtually no effect. The varnish needs to be rubbed into the wood and it is better to do this 2-3 times. Finally, you can take care of making an improvised waterproof cover to protect and conveniently carry the folding table.
If everything is done efficiently and in compliance with technology, then such a table will delight its owner for many years. And with the money you save you can buy comfortable camp chairs. It’s better to make them yourself, because it’s also not difficult.
Photos of do-it-yourself folding tables
If you are a summer resident, the owner of a private house, or just like to relax in nature, you should know that tables and tables on the street can become a real problem. This is all due to the lack of mobility and familiar furniture that you can’t easily take with you on a picnic. Great option can become a folding table that you can assemble with your own hands.
If we move a little away from the topic of outdoor recreation, we can also recall small apartments, in the kitchen of which it is sometimes very difficult to place a large table for the whole family. This problem can also be solved with the help of folding furniture. After all, now practicality is increasingly capturing the hearts of ordinary residents. We will talk about the complexities of the device, the parameters for choosing materials and the creation process.
Varieties
In this regard, everything depends more on the physical dimensions of the tables and their area of application. One way or another, the moving part should be at least a little shorter than the height of the entire table. Otherwise, your design simply will not be able to come together. There are many ideas for folding tables that can be complemented with your own options for the exterior decoration of an interior or exterior piece.
It's no secret that the most popular places to use tables of this type are places Catering, in particular outdoor sections, trade, picnics, you should not discount the option of placing a similar item in your apartment. As for the last option, most of the attention can be paid to exterior decoration table.
The main differences between folding tables are concentrated in the tabletops. They can come in a variety of different and unusual shapes, although this is limited to simple geometric shapes.
If you doubt their versatility, you can look on the Internet or in magazines for photos of the most popular folding tables. different forms. Here everything depends more on the taste of the owner and the purpose of the table. The most practical are rectangular tabletops, which are most often found in folding tables.
Leg design
Legs are almost always made of steel, aluminum or wood. This does not apply to the situation when the entire table is made of plastic, in which case the legs are also made of this material. This must be taken into account when thinking about how to make a folding table with your own hands, because metal and plastic are poorly processed without the necessary tools. Plastic can actually work only if the structure is ready-made. In this regard, the tree is excellent for home options.
If you are buying a table, then you should pay attention to the legs, which can be of several types. Here the division into materials fades into the background. First you need to look at their position.
If they are located parallel to each other, then it will be much easier and more comfortable to sit at such a table. But the cross design of their positioning has a higher level of stability.
In addition, in some cases, the legs can be adjusted, which has a good effect on the stability of the table. This is especially useful in nature and simply with uneven floors.
If you are chasing aesthetic pleasure, then pay attention to tables that have parallel legs made of metal or wood, and a wooden tabletop, which can be simply sanded or varnished. This set looks especially attractive both at home and on the street.
But this does not apply to trips with picnics. In this case, tables with a lightweight design are best suited. Usually this is aluminum for the lower part, and a light substitute for wood for the tabletop, which, if desired, can be painted or covered with some kind of appliqué, and varnished on top, it’s a matter of taste.
Making a table yourself
Step-by-step instructions for a folding table can be found on the Internet along with drawings. If you prefer self-invented solutions, then it would be better to make a table of a simple design. This option can be made from wood, and it will be quite light and practical. An excellent solution for outdoor recreation or just in your backyard garden.
It is better to take the tabletop from chipboard. This will make the structure lighter, but after treating it with varnish, you will not notice much of a difference. There will be twelve parts in total, and this number may change depending on your preferences. We are talking about paired legs that will be connected by a cross, legs that will need three pieces, two parallel strips on both sides for the moving mechanism, and the tabletop itself.
Such a design is easy to find on the Internet or a thematic magazine, and the general scheme will not change. In addition, you can make drawings of a folding table yourself.
All parts need to be cut out, and it will be more convenient to do this with a circular saw. Next you will need: a drill, a screwdriver, screws, bolts and sandpaper. With such a minimal set of tools, you can easily cope with the task.
It is better to connect moving parts with bolts that will not protrude more than twenty millimeters. First you need to connect the supports to which the rods are attached. Next comes the tabletop, on which you first need to mark the mounting points, then screw the main structure.
Next come the auxiliary components of the table. As you can see, there is nothing complicated about this. Assembling the table is, in fact, a stage that is second in simplicity only to varnishing and choosing a design. The most difficult thing in all this is to cut out the parts correctly and choose the size for them before doing this.
Photos of folding tables with your own hands
Several years ago I was puzzled by the purchase of a folding travel table. Having studied the assortment in local stores, I came to the conclusion that decent copies are either too expensive, or if the price is acceptable, the quality leaves much to be desired.
It was decided to make the table ourselves.
So, a homemade tourist table.
The design was based on an old Soviet stool with twist-off legs. 
All you need from the stool is a silumin frame, which needs to be unscrewed from the stool and cut into 4 equal parts with a hacksaw. 
Next we make the tabletop. It can be anything. For example: a piece of plywood, chipboard, a piece of plastic window sill, etc... The size is also whatever you like. I made it from what I found in the garage, namely from two pieces of 10mm thick plywood. Both pieces were glued together with PVA glue and additionally tightened together with self-tapping screws for reliability. The corners were rounded with a jigsaw. The finished tabletop was covered with stain and painted with two layers of varnish.
Next, we screw 4 parts of the sawn frame of the stool into the corners of the tabletop, stepping back slightly from the edge. The distance from the edge is measured experimentally so that the screwed-in legs do not protrude beyond the edges of the tabletop. 
The legs of the stool are not suitable because... they are too short. They must either be lengthened or new ones made. I was lucky in this regard, since time immemorial I had legs from an ancient tube TV lying around that fit perfectly into the thread and their length suited me quite well. They turned out to be 10 centimeters longer than the stool ones. 
If you don’t have ready-made legs, you can easily make them yourself. To do this, you will need four pieces of polypropylene water pipe of the same size that corresponds to the length of the future legs.
You will also need a stud with an M10 thread. From the hairpin we cut 4 pieces of 8-10 cm each. 
We wrap electrical tape around the hairpin so that the hairpin fits tightly into the propylene pipe (future leg). But I did it a little differently. I wrapped a little electrical tape around the pin. 
And I pulled a piece of garden hose over the duct tape. 
All this has gone down my drain tightly. It is important that the pin fits tightly, is strictly in the center and is aligned with the leg. 
We do not completely recess the pin into the pipe, but leave 15 mm - this is the part that will be screwed in. 
Next, fill the space between the stud and the pipe wall with epoxy resin. 
Leave for a day until the epoxy completely hardens. That's it, the leg is ready. 
I've been using this table for a long time and I really like it. If we go by car to the countryside to barbecue or just relax for a few days with tents, he is always with me. It takes up almost no space - it fits on the bottom of the trunk, everything else is on top...
In Elantra: 
In viburnum hatch: 
I keep it hanging in my garage so it doesn't get in the way. To do this, I screwed a ring to the tabletop, by which it hangs (you can see it in the photo above) 
The design of the table has proven itself: it is durable, stable, not afraid of rain and strong wind, and it is also easy to manufacture. 
Well, that seems to be it. Thank you for your attention!
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