Coffee table design plans - display top

**bassmansimon** · 20th January 2014, 03:18 PM

Hi everyone,

I have been asked to make a coffee table for a family member, to hold a type case which will contain some display items.

I am looking for some plans to build a coffee table which has a glass top and a removable face on one side. I have done a rough sketch of my initial designs, but if anyone can give some guidance, I would really appreciate it. And yes, I have done searches on the forum and the net, but unfortunately have not yet found one that would work to my knowledge.

I have lots of problems with my design which I'm wondering if I could get some help with (or if someone has plans that already overcome this issue).

1. Construction style and joinery selection best for this. The coffee table will be moved around a bit (as they do from time to time). I don't really know what joints to use, and how properly to construct the table frame. I would imagine that it would have to be a stand-alone frame (simple square box from rails attached to the legs), and then the table top attaches to that frame, with the sliding drawer in it, and glass top sits in a routed slot.

2. If the glass sits in a routered slot of the four pieces of the table top, will this be an issue that I want one of the sides not to be fixed to the others (to act as a removable drawer to hold the type case)? My question here is whether the glass can happily sit in three sides of the top - i presume so.

Any tips you might have would really be appreciated. Thanks, Simon.

**bassmansimon** · 20th January 2014, 03:30 PM

The picture makes it look as though the table top will be quite skinny (edge of board) when viewed from top.

What I actually had in mind was something like below, where it would have a decent size surround (when looked at from side view) so that it can be big enough to hide a rail and also the type case insert, but also a decent amount of material when viewed from the top.

I realise this puts some strain on the L shaped joint between the two materials in the table top, and again I would appreciate your advice on how to minimise this.

**LGS** · 20th January 2014, 04:59 PM

Hi Simon,
You're effectively making a display picture frame (box frame) on it's back. You could do a search on box frames and perhaps take a trip to one of the sports memorabilia framers to get an idea of how to make it work.
You will need to put reinforcement rails across the base and these might be best rebated into the frame and screwed in.

Have a look at this site. They are in Sydney and would probably be able to assist you in making your frame to the depth you require. Maybe this UTube clip could help as well.

Regards,

Rob

**bassmansimon** · 21st January 2014, 06:09 PM

Thanks Rob. The youtube clip gave me a few more ideas.
But I am still struggling for construction designs.

**DonIncognito** · 21st January 2014, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by bassmansimon

Thanks Rob. The youtube clip gave me a few more ideas.
But I am still struggling for construction designs.

Did you see https://www.woodworkforums.com/f187/c...fetish-172319/ that thread?

**bassmansimon** · 21st January 2014, 06:33 PM

Thanks for a link to that thread. I hadn't come across that one. Same idea as what I'm trying to create.

**Chris Parks** · 21st January 2014, 07:18 PM

That brings back horrible memories, a wasted compositor apprenticeship in hot lead printing.

**ian** · 21st January 2014, 07:29 PM

Hi Simon

I'm away from my main PC, so can't access my stock of pictures
however what you need to build is a desk with very short legs and a single wide drawer
the desk top is a sheet of glass in a picture frame
the drawer is where the item to be displayed goes.

looked at this way the construction is straight forward

**bassmansimon** · 21st January 2014, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

That brings back horrible memories, a wasted compositor apprenticeship in hot lead printing.

I'm interested in getting my hands on the type case as my farther, his father, and his father before him have all worked in printing using these.

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