DIY Octagonal Drum Table

Give yourself more storage and give any room a decorative look with a homemade octagonal drum table. Octagonal panels on the top and bottom form the shape of the piece, while the side panels create the height. Small hinges turn one of the side panels into a door, which lets you use the inside of the table for storage. A DIY octagonal drum table works nicely as a nightstand or end table. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Set a 2-foot-by-2-foot-by-2-inch board on top of a second board the same size. Sketch the octagon shape on the top board using a measuring tape as your guide. An octagon has eight sides; when you draw the design, make sure that each point on the octagon is an equal distance apart.

2

Cut the octagon shape from the board using a circular saw. Use the cutting blade to go through both pieces of wood at the same time. Lightly sand the edges of the wood, removing any splinters or uneven spots and leaving behind a smooth edge.

3

Measure 24 inches down a board that is 4 feet by 2 inches by 2 inches. Cut the board across this line and repeat with the remaining boards. These boards serve as the side panels of the drum table. Sand the edges of each board.

4

Drill a series of 1-inch holes around one of the octagon shapes. Place the holes every two inches along the piece. Repeat with the second octagon piece. Drill two holes 1-inch deep onto the ends of each side panel. Leave one of the sides of the octagon and one side panel free of holes.

5

Place a dollop of wood glue in each hole on the octagon pieces. Set a wood dowel on top of the glue and tap into place with a hammer. Repeat this step with each hole, placing glue and a dowel in each hole on the octagon pieces.

6

Apply a coat of wood stain to each piece of wood. Paint the stain on the wood with a foam paintbrush. Wait 30 to 60 seconds and wipe off any remaining stain with an old rag, which absorbs any stain the wood did not absorb.

7

Turn one of the side panels upside down and coat the inside of the holes with wood glue. Carefully place the panel on top of the octagonal piece, lining up the dowels with the holes. Tap the top of the wood with a hammer until the panel sits flush with the octagonal piece. Repeat this step with each panel, working your way around the table until you only have the nondrilled piece remaining.

8

Press a small amount of glue into the top holes of the side panels. Center the remaining octagonal piece on top and line up the dowels with the holes. Carefully wiggle the piece onto the dowels, using a hammer if needed. Let the wood glue dry overnight.

9

Attach two metal hinges to the edge of your remaining board. The hinges should sit two inches from the top and bottom of the piece. Set the panel on the empty spot in the drum table and screw the hinge to the table with 2-inch wood screws.