Easy Way to Make a Drop-leaf Table

Janice Anderssen
by Janice Anderssen
I have received plenty of requests on how to make a drop-leaf table and most of the instructions you find are extremely complex. This DIY round drop-leaf table is easy enough for anyone to make. The table shown here is a design that quite easily be done as a DIY project using table legs that are available from a local woodturner. The leg that I have used for my table differs slightly in profile, but it is still sturdy enough to make the table.
How to make a drop-leaf table
YOU WILL NEED:


1 of table leg TW33 (100 x 100mm)*


2 of 1800mm lengths of 22mm diameter Meranti dowels


Sheet of 16mm MDF cut to:


- 1 of 500 x 1000mm - centre top


- 2 of 250 x 1000mm - flaps top


- 4 of 220 x 300mm for the feet


- 2 of 50 x 500mm for the sides (support frame)


-2 of 50 x 132mm for ends (support frame)


4 of 22mm pipe brackets


Pack of 13mm screws


8 of 4 x 45mm screws (support frame)


4 of 5 x 50mm screws (support frame)


4 large brass butt hinges


8 of 8mm dowels and 8mm dowel centres


8 brackets (support frame)


Ponal wood glue


2 cans of Rust-Oleum 2X satin espresso


1 can of Rust-Oleum 2X semi-gloss white


TOOLS:


Drill / Driver plus assorted bits


22mm spade bit


Jigsaw and clean-cut blade


Sander plus 120- and 240-grit sanding pads


Router plus straight and roundover bit


Hammer, panel pin and length of chain


Tape measure and pencil


Steel ruler or straight edge


Note: When making up the prototype for this project I used a complete leg and added a block of 100 x 100mm pine onto the other end, but this is not necessary. The total height of the leg, including feet assembly, only needs to be between 720 and 760mm. This means you can cut some off the top of the leg with the block - which becomes the base, and add the offcut to the bottom - which becomes the top. This is better explained below.
1. The foot of the original leg is removed. If you refer to my note above this then becomes the top of the leg for the table. However, you need to add a block here for stability and support. You can add a block of 100 x 100mm PAR pine, or trim some off the other end to add to the now top.


2. The top for the new leg is attached to the block using a length of 22mm dowel and wood glue. Use a 22mm spade bit to drill out in the leg and top block. Add wood glue and join the sections together. Leave this overnight to set. Fill any defects with wood filler, let dry and then sand smooth to prepare for painting.
3. While waiting for glue to dry you can start cutting out the feet. Draw out the design for one foot, cut this out and then use as a template for the remaining three feet. The shape must form a perfect 90-degree angle down the side and along the bottom so that you don't have a wobbly table. Enlarge the design before to use as a template.


4. Use 120- and then 240-grit sanding pads to remove uneven edges and smooth.
5. Now you can use a router and straight bit to cut a rebate 0.5mm deep and 16mm wide to the length (plus extra) to fit the feet into the base. This will ensure you have sturdy feet to support the weight of the table.


5. Now you can use a router and straight bit to cut a rebate 0.5mm deep and 16mm wide to the length (plus extra) to fit the feet into the base. This will ensure you have sturdy feet to support the weight of the table.


GOOD TO KNOW


Make sure that each individual slot is a snug fit for each foot.
6. On the edge of each foot drill an 8mm hole to half the depth of your 8mm dowels. Hold the drill at an angle to that of the edge while you drill the holes, so that the holes are straight.
7. Working one foot at a time, insert dowel centres to mark the cut out slots. Mark each foot an corresponding slot so that you know which foot fits into which slot.


8. Drill an 8mm hole to half the depth of your 8mm dowels. Make sure the holes are free from debris and do a dry fit for each foot before adding some Ponal wood glue and popping in a dowel.


9. Pop some wood glue into the holes in the foot and place on top of the dowels. Tap down into place. Fill up around the edges with more wood glue and immediately wipe away any excess.


10. Leave overnight for the glue to dry and then cover any gaps with wood filler. Let this dry and then sand smooth.
11. I cut the top out of a single sheet, but it is far easier to have 3 sections cut as per the cutting list at the top (a centre and two flaps). By doing this you will have perfectly straight joins between the three sections. and place these side-by-side as they will be fitted onto the leg - hammer a panel pin in the absolute middle of the centre section, place a length of chain onto this and use this to draw a circle around all three sections.


12. Cut out the circular shapes with a jigsaw.


13. Sand with 120- and then 240-grit sanding pads to remove any uneven edges and smooth the edges.
14. I used a roundover bit to finish off the edges of the table. This is part of the Tork Craft Router Bit set that I invested in. Set the depth so that the roller bearing will sit flush against the edge of the board. Use a scrap piece of board to ensure the depth is correct before you cut the edge of the top.


GOOD TO KNOW


Work from right to left around the edge of all three sections.
15. Place the three top sections face down on a flat surface and position the butt hinges. The barrel of the hinge should be placed to overlap onto the flap sections.


16. Use 13mm screws to secure the butt hinges to the underside of the top. The hinges should be about 150mm in from the edges.
Assembling the table


Use a 22mm spade bit to drill two holes at the ends of both side sections for the support frame. The holes must be as close to the edge as possible to ensure that the dowels support the flaps.


BELOW: While I used a jigsaw to clean up the holes, this isn't absolutely necessary.


Drill 3mm pilot holes and then use 45mm screws to attach the support ends to the support sides.


BELOW: The dowels fit into the cut slots and move in alternate directions.


Secure the brackets to the support frame. These will also be secured to the underside of the table top using 16mm screws.


Attach the support frame to the table leg using two 50mm screws on either side. DO drill 4mm pilot holes beforehand.
With the support frame secure you can add the dowels. Note: To prevent the dowels from going straight through I wrapped a rubber band tightly around one end - not a great idea but it works like a dream!


Push the dowels out and secure a pipe bracket on each dowel at about 20mm in from the end of the centre section using 16mm screws.
Finishing the top


The edges were sanded with 240-grit sand paper and then the entire table top sprayed with Rust-Oleum 2X UltraCover in satin espresso. Shake the can well and hold 30 cm away from the surface. Spray the edges first, as these will require more paint. Work from side to side in slightly overlapping strokes to spray the entire top - allowing drying time between each coat of paint. I applied 5 coats of paint to the table top, which is why I recommend two cans of satin espresso - or your choice of colour.


You will also need to spray the edges of the flaps, so that when the flaps are down the edges are painted. Cover the hinges with a strip of masking tape to protect from spray.
Make a drop leaf table
And there you have it... An easy drop-leaf table without all the technical jargon that few can understand, and that won't cost you a small fortune to make. It took me 2 days to make, and that includes waiting for paint to dry!
instructions for drop leaf table
If I had one recommendation to make, I would probably make the centre wider and the flaps smaller. While the flaps can take a fair amount of weight it will only allow for one person dining in this area.
easy drop leaf dining table
You will find full and detailed instructions here: http://www.home-dzine.co.za/diy-1/diy-circular-table.html
Janice Anderssen
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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3 of 4 questions
  • Shannon Lorenz Shannon Lorenz on Oct 05, 2016
    How much weight can those dowel rods support? Does the leaf give any when leaning on the table? I have a drop leaf table the supports are worthless on. When playing cards, with just the weight of your elbows /forearms leaning on them the leafs droop down and do not stay in place. Everything eventually rolls of the table.
  • Amanda Reynolds Amanda Reynolds on Dec 28, 2016
    I have a round wood table that I would like to make into a drop leaf so that it will fit in any space. Can I use this pedestal round table just the same by skipping to the part of cutting into 3 sections and adding the hinges?
  • Tia Tia on Oct 26, 2018

    I have a round 42" table. How can I make just one side into a drop-leaf? Can I just do it with a saw? I don't have any tools so I would have to buy them at the hardware store, so the cheaper the better for me. Thanks.

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