Chalkboard Table

The chalkboard table is a creative twist on the common coffee table. Its functionality ranges from regular table to artsy masterpiece. The chalkboard table has a simple design and can be assembled with minimal effort. The table is a canvas for builders to personalize as they please.

Step 1: Tools and Parts

Required for all builds:

1. One 12' wood 2x4 plank

2. One 6' wood 2x2 post

3. One 4' x 2' piece of particle board

4. One 4' x 2' piece of chalkboard surface

5. Twenty 3" Phillips Bugle-Head drywall screws (other 3" screws can be used)

6. Twelve 1" panel board nails (other 1" nails can be used)

7. Claw hammer

8. Power drill

9. Phillips drill bit tip (if different screws are used, use appropriate drill bit tip)

10. Liquid Nails adhesive

Required if cutting wood at home:

1. Safety equipment (i.e gloves, goggles, etc.)

2. Tape measure

3. Sharpened pencil

4. Circular saw

Required if applying finishing touches:

1. Sandpaper

2. Stain or paint

3. Chalk

Step 2: Work Environment

- If the wood and boards do not need to be cut, any 5' x 5' work area with a flat, hard surface to work on will be acceptable for the build.

- If the wood and boards do need to be cut, the work area must contain a circular saw and must be able to accommodate a 12' 2x4 wood plank.

Step 3: Wood and Board Cutting

Two Options:

1. Get the wood cut at an appliance store.

2. Cut the wood on your own.

Both will produce the following materials:

- Two 2’ 2x4 wood planks

- Two 2'8" 2x4 wood planks

- Four 16" 2x2 wood posts

- One 3' x 2' sheet of particle board

- One 3' x 2' sheet of chalkboard surface

Option #1

1. Ask appliance store employee or other qualified person to cut the purchased wood to the size specifications listed above.

Option #2

1. Using the tape measure, measure out a 2' 2x4 plank starting from the edge of the 12' 2x4 plank.

2. Using the pencil, mark the 2' measurement on the 2x4 plank.

3. Bring the 12' 2x4 plank over to the circular saw.

4. Before using the power saw, make sure to put on safety equipment.

5. Using the circular saw, cut the measured off section of the plank.

6. Repeat 1-5 for another 2' 2x4 plank and two 2'8" 2x4 planks.

7. Using the tape measure, measure out a 3' x 2' section of the 4' x 2' particle board (1' will be cut off the board).

8. Using the pencil, mark the 3' x 2' section.

9. Bring the particle board over to the circular saw.

10. Before using the circular saw, make sure to put on safety equipment.

11. Using the circular saw, cut the measured off section of the board.

12. Repeat 7-11 for the 4' x 2' chalkboard surface.

13. Using the the tape measure, measure out a 16" post starting from the edge of the 6' 2x2 post.

14. Using the pencil, mark the 16" measurement on the post.

15. Bring the 6' post over to the circular saw.

16. Before using the circular saw, make sure to put on safety equipment (i.e goggles and gloves).

17. Using the circular saw, cut the measured off section of the post.

18. Repeat 13-17 for three more 16'' posts.

Step 4: Frame

1. Lay the planks out on a hard, flat surface as pictured above in the left picture.

- The edges of the 2'8" planks should be placed up against the 4" faces of the 2' planks. In other words, the 2'8" planks should be on the inside of the 2' planks.

2. Pick one corner of the rectangular frame to start drilling screws into the frame.

3. Drill two screws through the outward facing 4" face of the 2' plank into the edge of the 2'8" plank, as pictured above in the right picture.

4. Repeat for each corner of the frame.

Step 5: Legs

Disclaimer: If the frame is not already on a flat, hard surface move the frame to a flat, hard surface.

1. Pick one corner of the frame to place a post, as pictured above.

2. Drill one screw through the outward facing 4" face of the 2' plank into the post, as shown in the left picture above.

3. Drill one screw through the outward facing 4" face of the 2'8" plank into the post, as shown in the middle picture above.

4. Drill one screw through the side of the post closer to the 2' plank into the inward facing 4" face of the 2'8" plank,as shown above in the right picture.

Step 6: Surface

1. Stand the table up on its legs.

2. Place the 3' x 2' piece of particle board on top of the rectangular frame, as pictured in the left picture above. The edges of the particle board should line up with the edges of the frame.

3. Pick a corner to start nailing the particle board to the frame.

4. Using the hammer, hammer one nail through particle board into the frame near the edge of the particle board.

5. Repeat for all 4 corners.

6. Pick a side of the table to hammer two additional nails.

- If the side is 2' long, space the nails apart by 8".

- If the side is 2'8" long, space the nails apart by 10 2/3".

7. Hammer the nails through the particle board into the frame.

8. Repeat 6 and 7 for each side of the frame.

9. Once all nails have been hammered into the frame, put the Liquid Nails adhesive on top of the particle board.

- Apply generously.

- Line the edge of the particle board with a frame of adhesive.

- Pick a corner of the board and apply a line of adhesive from that corner to the corner diagonally across the particle board.

- Repeat for the other two open corners.

- Fill in the open spaces with lines of adhesive. Lines should be between 4" - 6" apart.

10. After applying the adhesive, place the chalkboard surface on top of the particle board with the edges lined up.

11. Allow adhesive to set for specified amount of time on packaging.

Step 7: Finishing Touches (Optional But Recommended)

1. Sandpaper wood to smooth out any rough patches or imperfections.

2. Paint or stain the wood with any preferred paint or stain.

3. Decorate the chalkboard surface.