Amazing Disappearing Coffee Table!

OK, I admit: it's not all that amazing, and it doesn't really disappear (it just folds up), and it's not much of a "coffee table;" more of a teeny little end-table/foot stool. But it does give me a place to put my feet/netbook/coffee/breakfast/etc while I'm preventing the couch from levitating, and it does fold up and hide quite nicely.

Step 1 Materials

Materials:
Two 18" lengths of 2"x2"
Two 5" lengths of 2"x2"
One 15" dowel (I used an old broom handle)
One 3" metal rod
Two 12" squares (for the base & top). I used 1"x12" pine shelving (plywood would be fine, too)
Two hinges (almost any size or style will work). Note: Four would provide less wobbly results.
Short wood screws: enough for the hinges
Four long wood screws: about 2"

Tools:
Saw
Drill
Small drill bit (for pilot holes)
1" drill bit (or: just a little bigger than the dowel)
1/2" drill bit (or: just a little bigger than the metal rod)

Comments

[PeckLauros]

Nice instructables.

[tinker234]

hey just a thought could i use this and upscale and make a bed that dissapers under my flour and then a cover that mathches my floor

[theexpert]

i feel this is more of one of those mini fold tables for eating next to the couch yes a coffee table is similar to a mini couch side eating table but i feel this is less of a coffie table unless it was bigger

[mcraghead]

I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment, theexpert, but I couldn't think of a good word for "mini couch-side eating table," so I sacrificed accuracy for simplicity. Although the principle would work fine scaled up-and-out: perhaps the "legs" could become a big plywood sheet with one (or two) dowels that swing out to support a full-fledged coffee table? Or instead of a dowel, a section of plywood spinning on a frame of plywood, pivoting on a rod through its center. Then it still folds flat, but could truly do a coffee table's job...

[theexpert]

those are both very good ideas i might just try one

[gserrano701]

Great, worth giving it a try, thanks

[Rizwan Azami]

This was a clever constructible. Will definitely try it and report back.Thank you for it, Rizwan

[Bongmaster]

pretty neat