Holley Simmons is the lifestyle and dining editor of The Washington Post Express. When she’s not reporting on local fashion, beauty and restaurants, you can find her sewing a dress from a 1950s pattern or planting a windowsill herb garden. A New Jersey native, she likes porkroll egg and cheese and says the word “drawer” funny. Get in touch at Holleysimmons.com.
Materials
These are the materials I used for my table. Yours may vary depending on the size and height of the table you want. I purchased all of my materials from Community Forklift where you can find tons of salvaged wood on the cheap.
- 5 wood boards measuring 2 x 6 x 60 inches
- 2 wood boards measuring 2 x 7 x 27 inches
- 3 wood boards measuring 1 x 2.5 x 27 inches
- 4 caster wheels with an 8 inch diameter
- 16 ¼ inch carriage bolts measuring 4 inches long
- 16 ¼ inch nuts
- 9 ¼ inch screws measuring 2 inches long
- Wrench
- Screwdriver
- Pen
- Drill with a ¼ inch bit
Directions
- Text your friend and see if she wants to come over in an hour and take pictures of you building a table. (Hopefully she will bring beer too!)
- Arrange the five 60-inch boards on the floor. This will be the top of the table, so they should be aligned precisely, with the side you want to be the top facing down.
- Place the two boards measuring 2 x 7 x 27 on opposite ends so they span the tabletop.
- Position the four wheels in each corner and, using a pen, mark where the carriage bolts will mount them to the board. Remove the wheels and place them aside.
- Drill a hole all the way through both boards, being careful not to let the top board shift. And be sure NOT TO DRILL A HOLE IN YOUR BEAUTIFUL HARDWOOD FLOOR.
- Slip the carriage bolts through all the holes you just drilled, with the heads facing the floor.
- Place the four wheels back on the boards, with the bolts through the mounting plate. Twist on the nuts to keep the wheels in place. Tighten them with a wrench.
- Position the three 1 x 2.5 x 27 inch boards equidistantly in the middle.
- Drill three pilot holes on each of the three boards making sure not to go through this time.
- Using the screwdriver, screw the three boards to the tabletop. Putting a little soap on the screw makes it go in easier.
- Flip the table over, and there you have it! Sanding and staining is optional. I left mine natural.
- DECORATE AS YOU PLEASE.