Introduction: Toy Dinette Set Made W/ Gum Wrappers

Create a miniature dinette set using gum wrappers.
Amaze you friends and family with you new found creative skills!

You'll need lots of wrappers for this one so start chewing.

Materials: 23 foil gum wrappers
Optional material: ruler, extra foil gum wrappers, protractor

Based on feedback from a previous instructable, I have decided to expand upon the tiny gum wrapper chair project and complete an entire dinette set based on that scale.

Now why, you may ask, would someone want to make such a dinette set? Well, what if you met some new friends and invited them over for dinner but they were very very small. You wouldn't want them to feel uncomfortable and out of place. You, as a good host, would want them to feel at home and feel respected as people regardless of their size. You could make them a cozy little place to enjoy their meal. (I'm still trying to figure out why I do these things...)

This may take awhile, so lets get rollin'

Step 1: Make Six Chairs

In this step you will make six chairs.
Simply follow the instructions for one chair six times.

Requires 18 foil gum wrappers.
tiny chair instructable

This can be hard work, but just think of the look on your guests little faces when they see how much you cared about their comfort.

Step 2: Make Sticks for the Table

In this step you will need to make enough sticks for the dinning table. You will need at least 4 sticks to complete the table (an extra stick is always helpful for making connections and protects the shape of the pieces used in the actual table).

I won't repeat the steps for making sticks since, after making six chairs, you will be well versed in that skill.

Again, keep thinking about those bright smiles on your friends' little faces when they see all you have done with them in mind.

You want the table to seat six chairs around with enough elbow room for everyone to eat comfortably. Based on the size of my chairs, the table should be as long as the gum wrapper is wide (fully unfolded). That works out to about 1 3/4 inches long. It should be about 1 inch wide.

Measure:
You want to take two of the straight sticks and center that 1 3/4 section on both of them. Don't bend anything yet. We'll do that next.

Step 3: Bend the Legs One Side of the Table

Now that you have the two stick that will hold the sides of the table together, you want to bend the legs on just one side. That's about 3/4 of an inch from each end of the two sticks. Make the bend a 90 degree angle. Don't worry about which way you bend it ( right, left, up or down) because it doesn't matter.

Step 4: Make the Table Top

The top of the table will be about an inch wide (good fit for the chairs on the end). Take a gum wrapper, unfold it all the way. Center that inch and make two 90 degree folds, one from each end about 1 1/4 inches. This will make a "U" shaped piece. (The folds just show you have far to roll each side, the angle doesn't really matter) What really matters is what side do you want up? If you want the foil side up, you will want to make the rolls on the paper side. Other wise, you would want to make the rolls with the foils side facing up. If you roll it the wrong way you will not get a good looking table top - it will look like a table trough (not good for impressing your new friends).

Take a straight stick and roll the wrapper around stick down the leg of each side toward the middle. Stop when you reach the crease of the fold. Pull the stick out gently and do the other side the same. Try to make the roll as tight as possible. These are the the connections to the table sides.

Shown below is my preference of a foil table top (not a trough).

Step 5: Braces and Assembly

In this step you'll create the leg braces and assemble the dinning table.

Create braces:
Take a straight stick and mark off the center inch. It doesn't have to be exact but you want the braces to look fairly even on each side. This will also show you how far to wrap the connector on each leg. I just use my finger nail to put a little crease on each side 1 1/4 from each end. These are your brace sticks for holding the legs apart at a fixed length (table width).

Take one straight stick and cross it at one of these crease marks on a brace at a 90 degree angle. Now wrap the brace stick around the straight stick in a tight spiral until you run out of length on that side.
Slide the two sticks apart.
Repeat the same process for the other end of the brace stick so that you have a "U" shaped brace with spiral connectors on both legs and a straight piece in the middle. (if it looks like a "Z" then it's not the way I wanted to show you here.)

Repeat this process for the other brace. You now have all the pieces to assemble the table.

Assembly:
Now is the time to put the table together. Take the two piece you created for the table sides and slide the long parts through the connectors on the table top. These should slide though easily but may require some gentle twisting to get through. Make sure the both go in all the way to the bends legs.

Once they are all the way through, you will have bent legs on one side and a straight piece sticking out the other. Bend the straight side down the same direction as the bend side at a 90 degree angle. Now the table should look like one and the table top should be pretty secure. Make sure the legs and table top are situated the way you want before you put on the braces (its each to rotate the sides before the braces are on, tougher afterwards).

The legs need more support to stay put so we will install the bracing pieces. Slide the braces up the table legs threading each leg through one of the spiral connectors of the brace. Make sure you start each leg and get both going in before pushing any one side up too much. Gently move one side up and then the other to avoid bends. Repeat for ends of the table.

(I like the bars on the inside of the table and the spirals wrapping outside-in.)

Step 6: Set Up the Dinnette Set

The final step is to get the chairs all in place.

Simply arrange the chairs you made in step one around the table. Two will fit on each of the long sides and one each on the ends. If some of your chairs don't look very good, you may want to slide those right under the table. Put your best foot forward.

Just remember that your friends, no matter how small, will appreciate that you took the extra time and effort to consider their needs and to make them feel welcome in your home.



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