Turning an Old Bed Into a Foldable Table

With some basic tools anyone can disassemble an old bed and use the parts (even the nails) to recreate a nice and sturdy foldable table (or a fixed one if you want to pass those steps)

BTW, English is not my first language, please be kind.

Basically an old bed recovered from the street, a board at least 4mm thick, some nails (recovered or new), four hinges and adhesive.

For the tools, a saw, hammer gouge and/or rasp will be enough.

The first step is to take the old bed apart, being careful not to break any boards. For this we can help ourselves with a lever or screwdriver. It is common for nails to bend when removed, but we will save them for later.

Once it´s done, we separate slats, the slats supports and the frame.

For this step, we will measure the total length and width of the bed slats, and calculate the surface that we can cover and how to distribute them to do it. I´ll try to explain my proccess here:

1 - The total length of the slats

2 - Each division that we can make in each slat

3 - I made check boxes so I won´t loose track of every cut I had to make. Trust me, it will help.

4 - Here is to have a visual of the desing I will use for the table.

cut cut cut cut.. and lot of cuts!

Now that we have a lot of wood around, lets paste them to a board at least 4mm thick. (its not displayed in the picures, but there it is)

I put the paste all over the board and distributed the mosaic of tables, then put all possible weigth so it stay on it place once dry.

I made this desing for the table frame, it´s simple and effective. we are using here the slats supports. it goes encastrated and pasted

The frame of the bed is thick, so we will use it for the legs of the table. And to be sure of it, we will make it double (1st pic).

we have to be sure that all pieces have the same length!

Finally we give them an angle

Beside all the desing i put in it, the easiest way was really effective.

In this way, the weight of the table is fully supported on the surface of the legs, and the same weight prevents the table to close accidentally

The body of the table is set. lets put the table on.

The table is screwed to the frame from the downside in case i have to disassemble it in the future.

Once in its place, we cut the exceedents from the body.

now we go for a smoth finish, removing all imperfections, and oiling the surface... and done!

Your very own foldable table made from an old bed.

Enjoy it!