My version of the Mom's Lego Table

Submitted by dspguy on Thu, 09/01/2011 - 06:09

This is my second woodworking project. I picked up this hobby with some spare time and with my tools that were collecting dust after I completed most of my home renovations. Cost: $80 wood ($35 just on plywood) $35 hardware (2 recessed handles and 2 drawer pulls) $20 finishing products $40 lego baseplates On the lego baseplate side, I stained but only poly'd just enough so that the border around the plates would be covered. Baseplates had to be cut in order to get the custom size I wanted. The "play area" on one side of the table is 20 inches x 13.75 inches. Each side of the table is made with three 10x10 inch plates. Two 10x10s are side by side. The other 10x10 was cut with a razor to make it into two 10 x 3.75 inch pieces. I cut the plates so that I always had a "smooth edge" on three sides. I affixed the baseplates with epoxy. Simply butting up the baseplates does not work as the gap between plates is too small. To get the proper size, hold the baseplates together with lego pieces. Wipe any excess epoxy with mineral spirits. (Note: I tried liquid nails first on a test piece. The glue heats up after application and slightly warped the lego baseplate. Not recommended). The "mom side" of the coffee table has two recessed handles. The handles on the "lego side" are made with lego bricks. I drilled a tiny hole in the lego bricks. I threaded 50 lb fishing line through the lego brick to the hidden recessed area of the "mom's side handle" and tied off the line in there. Project took me over a month of time (probably 20-25 hours of labor). It could have and should have taken less, but I'm a newbie and am very cautious with my work.

Estimated Cost
$175
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Brushed on Minwax wood pre-stain (1 application) Minwax Kona (3 applications) followed by 2 applications of Minwax Clear Gloss Poly (400 grit sanding and wiping down with a damp cloth to pick up leftovers), followed by 3 applications of Minwax Satin Gloss Poly (600 grit sanding, and wiping up any dust).
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

connorsmom24 (not verified)

Thu, 09/01/2011 - 08:26

I am in LOVE with the area rug in this photo. Where can I get one???

FurnitureDreamer

Sun, 08/20/2017 - 07:16

Thanks for the detail on how to cut and glue the lego plates.  I like the recessed handles you used.  Do you remember where you got them.  Looks great!