Free Kids Table And Chairs
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Today I'm participating in a challenge hosted by the amazing Sandra at Sawdust Girl.
Create something with only scrap wood!
- Free wood, branches, pallets, reclaimed lumber is all good.
- Also feel free to use new fasteners (nails, screws etc.) and finishing products.
She put out a challenge to build a project using your sCrap pile, which was perfect because I have a large sCrap pile! I'm a bit of a collector and saver, because I might need that piece…sometime for something. 🙂
About 1 1/2 years ago my Dad had a big building project on his farm. There were a bunch of these shipping pallets/sheet supports left and some other pieces of less than stellar wood.
Even though there probably wasn't a straight board in the piles, I saved the wood…because it was free. I've used the best of that wood (even made a dresser) over the last 1 1/2 years and I finally went through my remaining wood and sorted it, determined to clear out my sCrap pile. Here is what I started with for this project.
The wood was very crooked and in bad shape, but since most of the cuts are short it didn't matter too much. I saw this idea for a table set at a craft show this summer and decided that it would be perfect for my pile.
How to Build a Kid's Table and Chair Set
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This is an easy project for any skill level. You'll need a miter saw, drill and sander.
Materials
- 1 – 2″ x 4″ x 8′ stud
- 1 – 1″ x 6″ x 8′ board
- 2 – 1″ x 6″ x 6′ boards
- 3 – 1″ x 4″ x 8′ boards
- 3 – 1″ x 3″ x 8′ boards
- 1 1/4″ screws (about 1 lb of grabber screws)
- 2″ screws (if needed)
- wood glue
- paint/stain
- optional – 1/2″ plywood
- optional – 1″ pocket hole screws
- optional – 14″ full extension ball bearing slides
- Approximate project cost $35 to buy the wood and screws.
Chairs x4
Cut List
- 8 – 3/4″ x 2 1/2″ x 10″ skirt (1×3)
- 8 – 3/4″ x 2 1/2″ x 8 3/4″ skirt (1×3)
- 16 – 3/4″ x 3 1/2″ x 11″ legs (1×4)
- 8 – 3/4″ x 2 1/2″ x 13 1/2″ back support (1×3)
- 12 – 3/4″ x 5 1/4″ x 11 7/8″ seats/back (5 1/2″ width ok) (1×6)
Cut all of the pieces according to the cut list. Wherever you are placing a screw, use a countersink bit* to pre-drill the holes so the screw head will sit flush.
About 3/8″ in from each end of the 10″ pieces, drill 2 pilot holes to attach the 10″ pieces to the 8 3/4″ pieces. Use wood glue and 1 1/4″ screws to assemble the chair skirts.
Pre-drill 3 holes in the top 2 1/2″ of the chair legs. Use wood glue and 1 1/4″ screws to attach the legs to the chair skirt as shown.
Tip for getting the chair to not rock. Attach 3 legs to the skirt. Place the chair on a flat surface, legs down, hold the 4th leg onto the skirt so there is no rocking between the legs and screw into place.
Pre-drill 2-3 holes in the bottom and 2 holes in the top 5″ of the 13 1/2″ back support pieces. Attach the back supports to the chair skirt with wood glue and 1 1/4″ screws.
At this point I primed/painted the chairs and table frames white.
Once the paint dried, I attached the seats and backs (which I painted before installation).
Pre-drill holes in the seats to attach to the chair skirt. Center the seats on the chair frame and secure the seats with 1 1/4″ screws. Offset the back from the top of the back support about 1/2″ and secure with 1 1/4″ screws.
The chairs turned out really cute.
Table – regular
Cut List
- 2 – 3/4″ x 3 1/2″ x 19″ skirt (1×4)
- 2 – 3/4″ x 3 1/2″ x 18 1/2″ skirt (1×4)
- 4 – 1 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ x 20 1/2″ legs (2×4)
- 4 – 3/4″ x 5 1/2″ x 23 7/8″ top (1×6)
Cut all of the pieces according to the cut list. Wherever you are placing a screw, use a countersink bit to pre-drill the holes so the screw head will sit flush.
About 3/8″ in from each end of the 19″ pieces, drill 2 pilot holes to attach the 19″ pieces to the 18 1/2″ pieces. Use wood glue and 1 1/4″ screws to assemble the table skirt.
It is best to attach the legs to the skirt from the inside of the skirt. Use wood glue and 1 1/4″ screws to attach the legs to the skirt as shown.
Tip for getting the table to not rock. Attach 3 legs to the skirt. Place the table on a flat surface, legs down, hold the 4th leg onto the skirt so there is no rocking between the legs and screw into place.
Center the table top on the table skirt. Use brad nails or 1 1/4″ screws to attach the table top to the skirt.
Table – Storage Option
My son is really into Legos right now. We've been using the Lego tray which has been good, but I wanted something a little more contained (hopefully). So I added a little storage to this table and a sliding top. Now he can put his Legos in the table and slide the top open to work on them and still have a build surface, when done just slide it shut…so far so good.
Just a note, I'm not using the ball bearing slides as intended. They work great unless the table is fully open and someone pushes hard on the table top end, it may come off. Just slide it back on and it'll be fine.
Cut List
- 2 – 3/4″ x 3 1/2″ x 19″ skirt (1×4)
- 2 – 3/4″ x 3 1/2″ x 18 1/2″ skirt (1×4)
- 2 – 1 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ x 20 1/2″ legs (2×4)
- 2 – 1 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ x 21″ legs (2×4)
- 4 – 3/4″ x 5 1/2″ x 23 7/8″ top (1×6)
- 1 – 1/2″ x 18 1/2″ x 17 1/2″ bottom (1/2″ plywood)
Cut all of the pieces according to the cut list. Wherever you are placing a screw, use a countersink bit to pre-drill the holes so the screw head will sit flush.
About 3/8″ in from each end of the 19″ pieces, drill 2 pilot holes to attach the 19″ pieces to the 18 1/2″ pieces. Use wood glue and 1 1/4″ screws to assemble the table skirt.
Drill pocket holes for 1/2″ material around the edge of the plywood. Use wood glue and 1″ pocket hole screws to secure the table bottom into the skirt.
It is best to attach the legs to the skirt from the inside of the skirt. Use wood glue and 1 1/4″ screws to attach the legs to the skirt as shown. The 21″ legs will stick up 1/2″ (this makes up for the drawer slides).
Tip for getting the table to not rock. Attach 3 legs to the skirt. Place the table on a flat surface, legs down, hold the 4th leg onto the skirt so there is no rocking between the legs and screw into place.
I joined 3 of the top pieces together with pocket holes, then attach the drawer slides to the top.
Place the drawer slides onto the skirt and mark the locations for holes. Install the drawer slides with top onto the skirt.
Line up the 4th top piece and secure it into place with wood glue and brad nails or screws.
Give everything a good sanding and paint or stain. I think eventually I'll distress mine, I know my kids will help with that!
Download free plans
Kids Table and Chair Set Plans- Hertoolbelt
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If you have a project made from your scrap pile, feel free to link it up. The link up will be open for a week.
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Source: https://www.hertoolbelt.com/simple-kids-table-chair-set/
