Space Saving Expandable Table for Tabletop and Board Games
Introduction: Space Saving Expandable Table for Tabletop and Board Games
We needed a table for playing board games. We were using our dining room table, but we always had to cut games short, or starve. No problem, time to build a table! However, we like to play miniature games that require a four-foot square table. Well, that kind takes over a room. OK… still no problem, just expand the table when needed and shrink it when not! Originally, we thought of making a table where you can take leaves in or out, but then they have to be stored. How about a table where the sides fold down? They’re not that functional when small; you can’t sit and tuck your knees under the sides. We wanted a usable table when big and small! Since the answer was non-obvious, I naturally turned this into a challenge with my kids - best idea gets ice cream! I sauntered off, trying to decide just what flavour I will be enjoying.
The next day, one of my sons bounced into my office with this:
“Hey dad, I have an idea. 622
Instead of leaves that fold down, we have them fold up to make a second tabletop! If the leaves are four right isosceles triangles with the hypotenuse along the table’s edges, we could unfold them to double the surface area of the table.”
Whoa, my kid just said what now? (and well-done Ontario teachers). But he wasn’t done there.
“If we rotate the tabletop, but not the table legs, the legs will stick out and we can unfold the triangles leaves and have them supported by the table legs. Will that work?”
“Ugh”, I said. “I’m not sure how we’ll do that, but to support the leaves on the table legs, they need to rest at half the height of the triangles. Why don’t you go run the numbers?”
“OK, thanks Dad.” Out the door he went, and with him my double chocolate, peanut butter swirl, with marshmallow ice cream cone sailed away.
Not long after, he returned.
“Dad the table legs go out 94% of the way there.” (Did I say bravo to his teachers yet?) “Hmm, let me see your calculations.”
He was right on, and this design was Officially A Go!
Supplies
4 - basic table legs, black (https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/hardware/table-hardware/legs/legs/72628-tubular-steel-table-leg)
1 - 4’ x 8’ x ¾” finished on both sides plywood (https://www.homedepot.ca/product/araucoply-premium-pine-plywood-acx-3-4-inch-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-/1000119483)
1 - Chicago Bolt, brass (https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/hardware/fasteners/nuts-and-bolts/40051-chicago-bolts)
8 - Card Table hinges, brass (https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/hardware/table-hardware/extenders-and-leafs/40208-card-table-hinges?item=00W2301)
1 - Round Campaign-Style Ring Pull, brass (https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/hardware/pulls/ring/73173-campaign-style-ring-pulls?item=00A1822)
51 - #7 ½” Brass Screws, I got mine from a specialty shop with no online links (Sorry!)
1 - 4’ x 8’ x ¾” OSB sheet. OK, I went with this because a neighbor down the street has just finished laying sod for his yard and the chipboard was out for the taking. I say SCORE! My wife… not so much. Luckily, it cleaned up nice-ish, a thick layer of paint hides many things!
Black Paint (I hear it hides many things)
Golden Oak Stain (https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/minwax-wood-finish-0480700p.0480847.html)
Expresso Stain (https://www.homehardware. 226