DIY: Wooden Laptop Table

Constructing a laptop table is a relatively simple woodworking task, and is a suitable project for the beginner. By liberating suitable lumber from recycling outlets, dumpsites and old furniture, the cost can be brought down to almost nothing. Building your own furniture is a satisfying task and the final product will be given more care than cheap furniture bought from a store. Don't worry if small mistakes are made during construction --- this will simply remind you and your visitors that your own hands produced this table.

Instructions

1

Determine the size of the tabletop. Allow enough space for the laptop, the mouse if you use one, speakers and anything else you'll set on the table. If you plan to have only the laptop on the table, this step should be fairly simple, though you may wish to leave a 1/2- to 1-inch border between the edges of the laptop and the edge of the table.

2

Cut the wood panel to the size you will need for the tabletop.

3

Sand, paint or finish the tabletop if necessary. Start with the medium sandpaper, then finish off with the fine.

4

Go to the place where the laptop table will be located in your home, and determine how high the table has to be for comfortable use.

5

Cut the legs of the table to the length you have decided upon.

6

Sand, paint or finish the table legs as needed. Again, start with medium sandpaper, then use the fine.

7

Mark the points on the underside of the table where the legs will go. Do not place them right at the edge of the board. Situate the legs at about inch to 1 inch in from the edge of the tabletop.

8

Glue the table legs to the underside of the table, and leave to dry for the length of time recommended for the glue (look on the tube or box for this information.)

9

Position the first L-shaped brace against one of the table legs, while the table is upside-down with the legs in the air. Screw the brace into place, starting with the tabletop, and then screw the brace to the leg. You may need to hold the table leg with your free hand as you do so, to brace the back of the leg.

10

Repeat this process for the rest of the legs --- the laptop table is now complete.