Sliced LACK Table

Intro: Sliced LACK Table

In this instructable I am going to show you how to make an ikea LACK table stand on two legs. Even though this is a rather simple mod, it is going to get you quite a few puzzled looks.
I originally wanted to make the table stand on one leg, but even though it is stable enough to support itself I was afraid that it could break should somebody lean on it.

After I had finished the table it reminded me of the TV show Dexter. So I spray painted a quote on it and after distressing the letters a bit sealed the surface, to prevent wear.

I built a more stable version. You find it here.

STEP 1: Stuff You Need

Materials

• LACK side table, 55x55 cm (from ikea)
• Plywood or MDF board 1x55x55 cm
• Cheap rug (mine is 80x140 cm)
• Double-sided tape
• Wood filler (Spatula or something else to apply it)
• Paint (Paint brush)
• Rectangular block of wood, 4.5x4.5x36 cm
• Newspaper
• Wood Glue
• Long screws
• Sanding paper
• Optional: primer, masking tape

Tools

• Drill
• Saw
• Hammer and chisel

STEP 2: Supportive Legs

The legs of the LACK table are hollow and will not be able to hold up the weight, unless you stabilize them. I used a hammer and chisel to break through the bottom of the leg, as shown in the first picture.

To fill the leg I used a Rectangular block of wood, which I glued to the inside.

STEP 3: Sliced Legs

Use the saw to remove a piece from the middle of two of the legs. You can either make a straight cut or an angled cut like me. Then fill the legs with newspaper and a top layer of wood filler.

Afterwarts I sanded the cuts and primed and painted them.

STEP 4: Assembly

In order to assemble the table, drill holes in the MDF or plywood plate for the screws and stick it to the back of the carpet with double sided tape.

I removed the carped fibers underneath the legs, in order to get better stability. Then screw the legs to the table and afterwards to the MDF plate (make sure the screw heads don't stick out, or they will scratch your floor). Make sure that the two long legs support the table and attach the two shorter legs.

Comments

[M.J.J]

This is so awesome, it made me late for work! Could the supporting legs be filled with a quick-set type concrete, as in, mix it in a bag, cut off a corner and squeeze it into the hollow leg? A block of wood could be the "cap" for the screw to attach through the rug?

[austin.hall.129794]

Yes the legs could be filled with quick set concrete, but you would then either need to drill and use rawl plugs to set the legs to the base / top, (which actually have LESS strength when used vertically) set wooden dowels into the concrete to screw into or still use wood blocks both ends to screw into, which IMHO sounds like more work esp as the legs are little more than pressed hardboard and I've no idea how they would react to being soaked full of water.

All in all considered, I'd avoid it.

[pachytrance]

cool

[Zappzipper]

are you in my house lol your room looks exactly like mine haha nice instructable :)

[zack_man888]

I know this is all about using the provided parts of the table to make something, but I have an idea that may help with further reinforcement of the table. Replace the uncut legs with square steel tubing of the same size and attach it to a steel plate on the underside of the table and to another steel plate under the rug. This would obviously require metal cutting and welding or drilling, but the steel would give you a thinner under-rug surface, and would immensely increase the amount of weight that the table could bear. However, increased weight would also be a consideration here.

[7nexx]

This is really cool. Just an idea, could you have made a fill in out of plexiglass for the parts of leg you cut out. maybe it would achieve the same effect with the table being moveable and stable.

[scooter76]

How have I missed this for over a year. Such a cool idea. I am off to Ikea this weekend and will have to give this a try. One question, I have two young kids, and wondered how sturdy is the table? Would you call it more decorative, or if a 4 year old leaned on it would it break? Great Instructable.

[gazoutg]

another question, about the supportives legs. did you remove both ends of the corks-like material? did you put your 2side screw that came with the table in your new support wood or did you screw the tables to the legs in the original leg materials?

thx.

[BrittLiv]

Hi, I am not a 100% sure, but I think I left them as they were. I screwed and glued the legs to the table for some extra support.

[gazoutg]

how did you spray paint arial? This is not a stencil-easy font.. how did you made the centers of "O" ?

[BrittLiv]

I cut the letters out of a vinyl sticker sheet.

[OjoeMDC]

how did you make it unattached?

[JimTheSoundman]

There is a piece of wood hidden under the black rug. That piece of wood is screwed to the two remaining legs and makes the table stable.

[shootermatic]

Genius!

[Lucky7x7]

love it. making one!

[aahhhshaddap]

super creative. awesome!

[donedirtcheap]

The cream really rises to the top here. This has my vote!
Good luck,
DDC

[BrittLiv]

Thank you! I love your stuff, too.

[smallebee]

just love it when women one up the lads DIY.
man "I can build a one legged table".
woman "I can build a two legged table that defies your eyes...."

[titopablito]

GIRL, you are so cool. You must have 1,000 dudes on their knees proposing. A true mushroom or FUN-gal!