World Map Table Top (Lift Up Lid)

In this Instructbles build, I will show how I built the table, the table storage

and the world map on top.

I am entering this into the 'Make it Move' contest.

The movement being in the hinged, lift up lid.

My boys are home schooled, so I have slowly been turning our outdoor room

into a comfortable and practical school room.

Step 1:

If you wanted to see how I made the 'Booth Seating area'.

Then you can check that video out here ▲

Step 2:

First up we need to create a solid frame.
I attached a length of 70x35mm timber either side.

Step 3:

And made sure they were level.

Step 4:

Before attaching those pieces I pre-drilled pocket holes

so the screws can be hidden from the front face.

Step 5:

I ran the lengths of 70 x 35 through the thickness planer

to remove the fine edges from the visible faces.

Step 6:

And stained them before attaching.

Step 7:

Now to cover in the underside of the table.
I pre-cut and drilled all my lengths before climbing in underneath.

Step 8:

The more I attached the more boxed in and cramped I was getting under there.
I am glad I am not claustrophobic, because I got stuck and needed to do some

wiggling and readjusting to get back out of there.

Step 9:

For the hinge up lid I first attached three hinges between two of the pre-cut palings.

Step 10:

I laid the rest of the palings in place,
then cut all those to length.

Step 11:

I ripped some palings down the center
to create the supports for the underside of the table-top.

Step 12:

Laid them on top to mark the holes and my overall length.

Pre-drilled and chamfered.

Step 13:

Then attached them to the underside of the table top.

Step 14:

For the map. I first measured the length of the table,

worked out how many sheets of A4 paper would fit and in what orientation.

Step 15:

Then took a basic map from google images into Photoshop

and stretched it out over 9 sheets of paper.

Step 16:

Printed it out, taped it together
and taped it to the bench.

Step 17:

Grab a strong pencil, one that is not going to keep breaking under pressure

and start tracing back and forth over the lines.

Step 18:

This will leave a slight indentation on the tabletop.

Step 19:

Instead of using the "Indentation method".
You might prefer the "carbon paper method" I used in this video ▲

Timestamp 03:13

Step 20:

Then I very gently paint in the grooves with dark brown acrylic paint.

Step 21:

I use cheap acrylic paint mixed with a drying retardant

so I could leave the paint out all day without it drying out.

Step 22:

Added the finishing touches of the bench
and it is done.

Step 23:

If you are interested in these kinds of builds.
Then I would love to have you join me over on YouTube ♥

YouTube - Nikita Maree