This isn’t the first lift-top coffee table we’ve shown you and it probably won’t be the last. But it may well be the least expensive! It’s unique in some ways including the fact that it’s made out of reclaimed shipping pallets that would otherwise end up in a landfill.
The great benefit of these lift top tables is the mechanism that keeps you from hunching over your laptop, or your food when eating off the coffee table. Another highlight of this design is the huge central storage space and the side storage compartments.
If you’re to build one, what changes would you make to make it more personalized?
BTW, if you want to know which pallets are safe to use, you can get all the facts – and instructions on how to dismantle a pallet, in this post: Pallets – fact, and fiction (or how to tell a safe pallet from a toxic one)…
Click on any image to start lightbox display. Use your Esc key to close the lightbox. 8-)
Materials:
- 2 Pallets
- Wood slats (that matches the pallets, or you can buy a third pallet and disassemble them to use the pieces)
- Heavy-duty Casters
- Heavy duty Cantilever Hinge
- 2 Heavy duty Slides
- Screws
- Thick Steel Straps (for holding table top pieces together)
- Wood Glue
Tools:
- Cordless Screwdriver
- Saw
- Belt sander
- Crow bar
- Drill with 3-4 mm drill bit for pre-drilling (optional)
Steps:
Start with the first (bottom) pallet. The steps needed to be taken here would depend on the kind of pallet that you have. Ultimately, the goal is to have a box-like result where a space is available for storage inside and the bottom is closed.
You want to start by cleaning it up by sanding it or removing unnecessary things found on it. Cut some wood slats, if necessary, to provide the space that you are aiming for.
Now pallets have holes on all four sides, right? Close these with the smaller wood slats or boards.
Then turn it upside down to work on the bottom. You need to close it as well by hammering or screwing wood slats.
Attach the casters on the corners.
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