Drum Base Coffee Table With Internal Lighting

One day, I found several pieces of an old drum set that someone had thrown away near the trash.

Without thinking twice, I picked them up, knowing they had the potential to become something interesting.

These parts sat in my storage for quite some time while I brainstormed different ideas on what I could create with them and how.

At some point, I came up with the idea of turning the large bass drum (the one that sits on the floor and has a foot pedal) into a coffee table.

I knew I needed legs to raise it to the right height and a solid surface on top to replace the stretched drum head, ensuring stability for placing items.

Recently, I was incredibly lucky (to say the least) and received a once-in-a-lifetime gift.

A friend who bought a new CNC machine and couldn’t sell his old one decided to give it to me!

I can’t even begin to express my gratitude for this amazing gesture.

From the moment I got the machine, I started teaching myself how to use it through trial and error, with a little help from my friend.

One of the best recommendations I got from my friend was to learn Autodesk Fusion 360 a powerful software that covers everything from 3D design to generating G-code for CNC machines.

I downloaded the free hobby version and slowly started learning it by watching YouTube tutorials and experimenting a lot.

I began with small projects, and over time, I gained experience and confidence in creating tool paths and operating the CNC machine.

You can check out my previous experiments on my YouTube channel and Instagram.

I started this journey with zero prior experience in CNC machining.

Now, about a year and a half after getting the machine, I finally felt confident enough to take on this long-awaited project.

For me, it feels like a final project in my CNC learning journey, although I still have so much more to learn. Exciting!

Tools Used:

1. CNC Machine
2. Autodesk Fusion 360 (for design and tool path creation)
3. Jigsaw (for cutting the leg notches)
4. Router (alternative for shaping parts)
5. Sander (for finishing)
6. Ratchet with a Phillips bit (for driving screws in tight spaces)
7. Drill (for making holes in the aluminum brackets)
8. Screwdriver (for assembly)
9. Spray Paint (for coloring the wooden ring)
10. Masking Tape (to protect surfaces from paint transfer)

Materials Used:

1. Bass Drum (repurposed)
2. Plywood or Hardwood (for the legs and bottom ring)
3. Aluminum Brackets (for leg attachment)
4. Wood Screws (for securing parts)
5. Wood Glue

First, I took general measurements of the drum and calculated the ideal table height to fit my living room.

Then, I sat down to design the legs in Fusion 360.

Once I was happy with the design, I moved to the manufacturing area in Fusion 360, where I created the tool paths based on the cutting tools I had available.

I cut the parts using the CNC machine, the precision is amazing!

To achieve the desired material thickness, I cut each leg twice and then glued the pieces together.

I glued the pieces together using wood glue and held them in place with clamps until they were fully dry.

Tip: Along with the glue, I sprinkled a little table salt. The salt helps prevent the pieces from sliding around when clamping them together.

I joined the legs together without any additional glue.

The tolerance was tight enough that they held firmly under pressure.

I used a rubber mallet to fit them securely into place.

For this step, I wanted to preserve the original look of the drum as much as possible or at least use screws that matched its style.

My first idea was to drill two wood screws into each side of the legs where they met the drum shell but I rejected it because it didn’t look good.

The solution I came up with was using aluminum brackets. I drilled four holes in each bracket:

1. Two smaller holes for wood screws
2. Two larger holes for dome nuts and chrome-plated bolts, which would be visible on the outside of the drum and blend well with its overall look

Conveniently, the larger holes were already there from previous hardware, making this solution even better.

Since the space was too tight to use a screwdriver for the wood screws, I used a ratchet with a socket adapter and a Phillips bit and it worked perfectly!

To make the attachment process easier, I temporarily clamped wooden planks to the legs.

These planks served as a support ledge, ensuring the drum sat at the exact position where the legs would be attached.

This was the most challenging part of the table, both conceptually and practically. The ring had one main purpose to hold the lower metal hoop (the black-silver rim).

I wanted to preserve the original look of the drum as much as possible. The part that originally secured the metal hoop was the drum’s bottom cover, but I had to remove it to make space for the legs.

I machined a groove in the ring to match the diameter and thickness of the drum shell. Then, I added a step to fit the metal hoop.

I didn't cut the leg notches in the CNC because I wasn’t sure about the final dimensions. Instead, I cut them manually toward the end using a jigsaw, allowing for final adjustments. After multiple tests, sanding, and fine-tuning, I spray-painted the ring black so it would blend seamlessly with the drum.

To prevent paint transfer, I applied masking tape around the notches so that when assembling the ring onto the legs, the black paint wouldn’t stain them.

A lot of effort went into a part that is barely visible!

For the tabletop, I chose a 3mm milky white Plexiglas sheet , which I cut using my CNC machine.

Adding a solid top was necessary because the original drum head isn’t stable enough to hold objects especially a coffee cup.

Additionally, I wanted to conceal the interior of the drum for a cleaner look.

Inside the drum, I added LED lights (which, funnily enough, were also something I found discarded near the trash).

I attached them using small wood screws to the top part of the legs, positioning them to shine upward.

This was a simple and easy step, but once the lights are turned on, the effect is beautiful creating a warm and inviting atmosphere!

This project was both challenging and incredibly fun on so many levels.

For me, it was an opportunity to showcase the skills I’ve developed recently from designing 3D models in Fusion 360, creating an accurate and efficient tool path, and exporting G-code seamlessly for my CNC machine.

I know that most people don’t have a CNC machine at home, but I encourage makers to experiment and explore if they have the passion and ability. I never imagined I’d own one myself, and I’m grateful for it every single day!

That said, if anyone wants to create something similar, the parts I made can definitely be crafted using more basic tools like a jigsaw, a router, and a sander.

I hope you enjoy seeing the process I went through, and I also hope I didn’t ramble too much!

The table is now sitting in my living room, adding a unique and cozy atmosphere especially in the evenings when the family gathers together.

Feel free to follow me on my platforms, and see you in the next project!

Thank you for reading !

--------------------------------------------------------

You're invited to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow all of my projects:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkNrUodcQbCM8FDG...

social media:

https://www.instagram.com/kultakala_design_studio/

https://www.facebook.com/kultakaladesign/

https://www.pinterest.com/omerorbach/_created/

Your support is much appreciated!

New projects coming soon!