How To Make a Cardboard Coffee Table With Chairs

In this instructable I will show you how to make a cardboard coffee table with matching chairs

Step 1 Materials and Tools

The materials:
-cardboard (lots)
-white glue (Elmer's Glue-All multi purpose) (not school glue)
-industrial hot glue sticks (lots)
-weights (about 20 lbs)
-packing tape

Tools:
-packing tape gun
-box cutter (razor blade)
-industrial hot glue gun
-sawzall (with blade matal and wood wood ones work best)
-marker (sharpie or Marks-a-lot)
-tape measure

Comments

[mischeya]

If you use an acrylic sealer (brushed or sprayed) on the coffee table then it will be waterproof, so you won't have to worry about spills. I'd put it on the top and side surfaces. But, (as a separate step) I'd also seal also along the bottom edge, and up a few inches on the inside. That way if a drink spills to the floor, the cardboard won't start soaking it up. It might be worth it to seal the chairs, too.

[Chocomarshfrog]

I always thought my 3rd grade teacher was wrong when she said little dots.

[he who crashes often]

my teacher (9th grade) got out colorful paper and glue the other day so i went home sick. why do they do assignments that involve no brain work whatsoever just to make stupid people feel better about themselves? if he tries it again i will "accidentally" glue his ear to the floor.

[ppatches24]

ohhh yaa i had to read that a couple times haha that made my day lol lol

[nbagf]

just leave it standing up and you have some nice cardboard shelves! lol

[ArtsyFartsyGirl]

The seamstress in me would not let me get away with not covering them, probably with SUEDE, since the rest was so inexpensive!!!!!!!

[ppatches24]

Nice that would be super classy hahahaif you ever do which I hope you do make sure to post a picture of it please :P

[MachGaoGamon]

One thing is missing.......collapsable cup holder

[chakra]

i made this twin-seater almost a year ago. amongst the pessimistic comments from parents and friends making fun of it as a paper box crumbling under their weight, it has stood the test of time. (AND many overweight relatives too!! :-D )
thanks for the inspiration!! :-)

[demonsonic1]

Must now go make chair! Can not.... form.... coherent statements!! Too... much included....AWESOME!!

[ppatches24]

hahaha lol thank you they are really quite EZ to make to

[testingtosee]

awesome

[ppatches24]

That is so sweet happy to help send me pictures if you do it would be soo coool to see :)))

[sadiecoons]

That is SSSSOOOO COOL! My twin brother loves to make stuff out of cardboard, so we will probably have new stuff for our den. THANKS!

[golddigger1559]

it would seem that your second attempt went better

[ppatches24]

ya it did

[golddigger1559]

btw where can i get hex board? or really thick cardbord???????????

[ppatches24]

i got my cardboard from a box that my dad had left over he was not useing, the comany that supplies the boxes is called reliapak there web page that has the box info on it is here (copy and paste it into your web browser)----------------------------> http://www.menashapackaging.com/o/o/DistributionHandling/ReliaPak.html i think they cost around 70 $ and the boxes are customizable with the thicknes and stuff. I hpoed this help if it did good and if it did not just post an other comment with what you need and i will be glad to help :)
-patrick

[REA]

cant we just get 500 large boxes from UPS for free?

[ppatches24]

ya if u want to glue them together

[lexiia7]

Can you actually sit on the chairs without them breaking????

[ppatches24]

ya you can i am going to post a vid of that soon

[chibiturtleboi]

Most people don't think to highly of the strength of cardboard, but if you build them right, they can be pretty strong! :D

[ppatches24]

yes the chair are very very strong i jumped up and down ont hem to make sure yup these chairs are strong :)

[ppatches24]

oh ya and evey body do not for get to vote :)

[spayz]

i love this idea as soon as i improve it with my latest ideas i will let u know

[ppatches24]

ok cool

[socca_grl101]

it is so cool! it even looks really good.

[ppatches24]

Thank you :)

[socca_grl101]

no prob

[bacon lover]

how long did it take you to make the chairs

[ppatches24]

it took me 1 1/2 weeks but the only reason it did was that i did this at my dads shop because it is bigger than my house. So i had to drive back and forth geting materials i would a lways leave somthing at my house. But if you did this in one loaction it would probley take 2 to 3 days because you have to wait for the glue to dry.

[bacon lover]

ok thanks and about haw much cardbord do you need

[ppatches24]

it took a lot but the more you have is better :)

[bacon lover]

oh

[eat.eggs.for.lunch]

it would be nice if you had actual photos of you sitting / jumping on them... :) great job by the way... we did this experiment in college too

[ppatches24]

ya i will post them soon i am on vacation they will be posted aug 30 and vids of me jumping hahah

[ronmaggi]

A trick is to use a piece of string. Lay it along the perimeter, then measure the string.

[ppatches24]

that is a really good idea that would have been very helpful

[chaoszerom]

It looks like you have a confortable set of chairs and a table there, and I cannot deny that it is a strudy design that will hold up to what a set like that needs to. Personally, I don't like the looks of it, but to each their own. Good job.