This vodka bottle coffee table was inspired by the wonderful Ten Green bottle shelves.
In this instructable I demonstrate various simple uses for a router: rounding edges, making template curves, and cutting small circles.
You can easily make a bottle table or shelf with no router, but I wanted this project to look really nice. I also like using my router. :-)
Basically we are going to build two wooden shelves and cut holes for the tops of the bottles, slot the bottles in, and then tension the two turnbuckles to hold the whole thing together. It's genius, really.
In this instructable I demonstrate various simple uses for a router: rounding edges, making template curves, and cutting small circles.
You can easily make a bottle table or shelf with no router, but I wanted this project to look really nice. I also like using my router. :-)
Basically we are going to build two wooden shelves and cut holes for the tops of the bottles, slot the bottles in, and then tension the two turnbuckles to hold the whole thing together. It's genius, really.
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1: Materials and tools
Materials:
4 identical solid glass bottles (I used 500 mL 42 Below vodka bottles, they are long and thin)
A sufficient quantity of reasonable quality wood (I used 10 planks of white pine, measuring 90 x 20 x 900 mm)
50 x 30mm wood screws (I used square-drive, the bits never slip and eat the screws)
4 x metal hooks
2 x turnbuckles (I used the cheapest ones the hardware store had)
Small amount of chain, or a few S hooks
Tools:
Router with straight and roundover bits
Square
Pencil and paper
Saw of some kind (I used a circular saw)
Cordless drill
Holesaw
Sandpaper - I used grits 100, 180, 220, 280
Earmuffs (essential)
Eye protection (essential)
I also used the following tools, but they aren't essential:
Drill press
Electric sander (without this you will need a lot of elbow grease)
Extra handheld drill
Angle grinder (for cutting chain)
This project is quite router-heavy, I haven't had access to a router for a project like this before, and I wanted to try it out various router techniques.
Safety First
This project uses several power tools. Respect these tools, never take shortcuts. Safety First. Remember hearing and eye protection.
4 identical solid glass bottles (I used 500 mL 42 Below vodka bottles, they are long and thin)
A sufficient quantity of reasonable quality wood (I used 10 planks of white pine, measuring 90 x 20 x 900 mm)
50 x 30mm wood screws (I used square-drive, the bits never slip and eat the screws)
4 x metal hooks
2 x turnbuckles (I used the cheapest ones the hardware store had)
Small amount of chain, or a few S hooks
Tools:
Router with straight and roundover bits
Square
Pencil and paper
Saw of some kind (I used a circular saw)
Cordless drill
Holesaw
Sandpaper - I used grits 100, 180, 220, 280
Earmuffs (essential)
Eye protection (essential)
I also used the following tools, but they aren't essential:
Drill press
Electric sander (without this you will need a lot of elbow grease)
Extra handheld drill
Angle grinder (for cutting chain)
This project is quite router-heavy, I haven't had access to a router for a project like this before, and I wanted to try it out various router techniques.
Safety First
This project uses several power tools. Respect these tools, never take shortcuts. Safety First. Remember hearing and eye protection.
Visit Our Store »
Go Pro Today »
Firstly, within a few months I replaced the turnbuckle hooks with much stronger hardware, as the force exerted by the turnbuckles started to pull the original skinny hooks straight. For the bottom, I used a bolt-through hook; under the table top I used a loop which has two screws into the table top.
I was surprised that the curve of the hooks started to give way before the threads pulled out of the pine - I guess threads are much stronger than I thought.
The other piece of advice I would offer is to make sure the turnbuckles are between the bottles. On this table the turnbuckles are offset somewhat towards the middle of the table, and when tightened they pull the middle of the table inward, putting a slight curve in the whole structure. It's not noticeable to the naked eye, but it's certainly an easy fix (just put the turnbuckles exactly between the bottles).