Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
EASY STEPS TO YOUR COFFEE TABLE
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Gather your supplies
• Timber wedge door stops (3)
• 400mm pine tapered legs (3)
• 600mm diameter 17mm pine panel
• Clear polyurethane or timber stain and varnish in colour of choice
You’ll also need Combination square; pencil; drill; 25mm spade bit; masking tape; 11mm twist bit; 3 and 4.5mm drill bits; hammer; cup head bolt; T nuts; protractor; steel rule; PVA glue; 25 and 50mm timber screws; 180-grit and 240-grit sandpaper; paintbrush
Here’s how
STEP 1 Using square, measure and mark 10mm from square end of wedges, then mark a centred perpendicular line. Repeat to mark lines 30mm from thin end of wedges. These are your screw locations.
STEP 2 Sit each leg next to its wedge so base is on top and threaded rod reaches work surface. Mark line on side and up over wedge face, then mark a centred line for T nut location.
STEP 3 Use spade bit to drill 2mm deep holes at T nut locations to create a housing, using masking tape as a depth gauge.
STEP 4 Use 11mm twist bit to drill holes in the housing centres to the depth of threaded rods.
STEP 5 Predrill and countersink wedges at marked screw locations on ends, making pilot holes with 3mm bit and clearance holes with 4.5mm bit.
STEP 6 Use cup head bolt to hammer in T nuts.
STEP 7 Draw a centreline on pine panel; mark centre point of circle. Mark wedge positions at 0, 120, and 240° with protractor and draw 3 lines from these locations.
STEP 8 Measure and mark 10mm from tabletop edges for wedge locations.
STEP 9 Apply glue to back of wedges, sit on marked lines and secure to table underside with 25mm screws at thin edge, 50mm at square end. Let glue set.
STEP 10 Insert legs into T nuts and screw into place.
STEP 11 Sand top and legs with 180-grit paper. Apply 2-3 coats of polyurethane or varnish with paintbrush, leaving to dry after each coat and sanding with 240-grit paper between coats.