Serves 1
Directions
- 1Cut the hole in the middle of the plywood for the TV, tracing the TV frame for a perfect fit.
- 2Use a circular saw for most of the cutout and a jigsaw to finish off the corners. (Alternatively, overcut with the circular saw or use a jigsaw for the entire cutout).
- 3Cut the 2x4s to size for the legs and the support frame underneath the board.
- 4Assemble the 2x4 frame using 2.5-inch screws, pre-drilling holes to prevent splitting.
- 5Affix the plywood board onto the 2x4 frame by drilling underneath and putting in screws.
- 6Flip the entire assembly over and use 1 5/8-inch screws to attach the board onto the frame, pre-drilling holes.
- 7Raise the inset for the TV to match the thickness of the table's covering by sliding 5mm thick foam sheets underneath and pushing down the inside frame.
- 8Screw the raised inset into the 2x4 material.
- 9Flip the table back over and screw down more screws to attach it to the 2x4s.
- 10Install cross beams for the TV to rest on, adding spacers if needed to make the TV flush with the top of the frame.
- 11Cut all the legs and assemble them using three screws each (or use lag bolts for stronger connections, pre-drilling holes).
- 12Flip the tabletop right side up and start framing around the edge.
- 13Cut pieces for the inside border and mark 2.5 inches for the desired drop-down height of the table.
- 14Apply a line of glue on the edge and use an air nailer to hold the border pieces in place, then secure with screws.
- 15Notch the support pieces (2x4s) along the edge to allow for cutouts on the top.
- 16Cut the side boards at a 45-degree angle for the corners.
- 17Cut out holes for electrical outlets on all four sides of the side boards.
- 18Glue and nail the side boards in place, filling any small holes with wood putty later.
- 19Cut the 5.5-inch wide top pieces, including holes for cup holders and notches for dice and pencils.
- 20Attach a tag board underneath the notched areas to create a bottom for the dice and pencil holders.
- 21Flip the table over and glue and nail the top pieces.
- 22Install the corner trim around the outside edge to create a catch for a future tabletop insert.
- 23Apply wood filler to all air nailer holes and other imperfections using a putty knife, then sand once dry.
- 24Cut down the 10 ft by 8-inch wide boards to the width of the bottom frame for the shelf, cutting through two boards at a time with a circular saw and a guide for clean cuts.
- 25Trim the tabletop boards slightly to fit in their slots.
- 26Finish the bottom platform by inserting a 1x3 in the middle to eliminate any gaps between the 10-inch wide boards.
Ingredients
- 2x material
- floor mats
- black felts
- 0.25 in smaller, both length and width plywood
- 20 $ plywood
- 2x4s
- 2.5 in screws
- 1.625 in screws
- 5 mm thick foam sheets
- lag bolts
- glue
- wood filler
- putty knife
- 10 ft board
- 8 inch wide board
- 4 boards
- 1 1x3
Equipment
miter sawmiter boxhandsawcircular sawair nailercompressorhammerfinish nailsjigsawdrillwood puttycup holdersbottle openers
Tips
- Pre-drill holes to prevent wood from cracking, especially near the end of a board.
- Use a circular saw for straighter edges when making large cutouts, then finish corners with a jigsaw.
- Using an air nailer speeds up assembly and leaves small holes that are easy to patch.
- For movable tables, use bolts with nuts instead of lag bolts for easier disassembly.