Project Information
This coffee table is one of my favorite projects that I've made. It consists of mahogany, walnut, ash, and ambrosia maple. I'm a fan of contrasting woods, as you can tell.
In addition, I wanted to really use it, so I figured that if I could put some tile in it, I wouldn't have to worry about coasters. It's worked well.
The tile is only held in with gravity so I can change the tiles anytime I wish (there are holes drilled through the top so I can easily poke it out from the bottom. Most of the top is made of plywood, with some mahogany glued (laminated, I supposed you could say), then edged with the walnut and maple.
The drawers are on oak runners and they ride in the middle of the drawer, which is great for preventing the drawers from tipping out.
So now fast forward 5 years after I completed this, and I decided I wanted to be able to lift the top up and toward the couch so I could use it as a tray, instead of sitting on the floor to eat (or getting tv trays). I looked around and they make top hinges, but they run about $180. Well, I've always wanted to learn how to weld, so I bought a Lincoln Arc Welder for $280 and made it myself. WORKS GREAT, and the way I made the runners really came into play in the design of the hinge, which I designed myself.
In addition, I wanted to really use it, so I figured that if I could put some tile in it, I wouldn't have to worry about coasters. It's worked well.
The tile is only held in with gravity so I can change the tiles anytime I wish (there are holes drilled through the top so I can easily poke it out from the bottom. Most of the top is made of plywood, with some mahogany glued (laminated, I supposed you could say), then edged with the walnut and maple.
The drawers are on oak runners and they ride in the middle of the drawer, which is great for preventing the drawers from tipping out.
So now fast forward 5 years after I completed this, and I decided I wanted to be able to lift the top up and toward the couch so I could use it as a tray, instead of sitting on the floor to eat (or getting tv trays). I looked around and they make top hinges, but they run about $180. Well, I've always wanted to learn how to weld, so I bought a Lincoln Arc Welder for $280 and made it myself. WORKS GREAT, and the way I made the runners really came into play in the design of the hinge, which I designed myself.
