Reading table with magazines

Table Daphne's Diary

Last week I spent a rainy afternoon putting together this reading table. It’s made from magazines! I used copies of Daphne’s Diary for mine of course. It was quite easy to make.

What you need:

The only thing I had to order to make this table was a round sheet of glass with a 60 cm diameter.  I found all the other materials out in the shed, in Rob’s collection of ‘useful things’. An MDF sheet, four old castors, long cable ties, a lashing strap and some nuts and bolts.

What you need to do:

1. For the base, you will need a sheet of MDF at least 10 mm thick. Place a round sheet of glass 60 cm wide on top. 

Table Daphne's Diary Table Daphne's Diary Table Daphne's Diary

2. Draw the outline of the glass circle onto the MDF.

Table Daphne's Diary

3. Saw this out using a jigsaw.

Table Daphne's Diary Table Daphne's Diary

4. Sand the wood until it’s smooth. 

Table Daphne's Diary

5. Mark out the position of the four castors and drill holes for the bolts. 

Table Daphne's Diary

6. Use a drill like this (I’m not sure exactly what it’s called!) to make the holes a bit bigger at the top, so that the head of the bolt will sink neatly into the wood.

Table Daphne's Diary

7. Attach the wheels to the base.

Table Daphne's Diary

8. Grind off any protruding parts of the bolt.

Table Daphne's Diary

9. Choose a nice colour to paint the base of the table.

Table Daphne's Diary

10. I used some leftover paint and applied it to the wood using a small roller. Allow the paint to dry fully.

Table Daphne's Diary

11. Collect some old magazines. I used lots of past issues of Daphne’s Diary, but you could use a range of different magazines too.

Table Daphne's Diary

12. Roll the magazines up tightly and attach a cable tie around each one.

13. Trim the cable ties with a wire cutter.

Table Daphne's Diary

14. Arrange the rolled-up magazines on the base. Use a lashing strap to hold them in place and then position the piece of glass on top.

Table Daphne's Diary