DIY File Cabinet Table

Using filing cabinets to make a table has a couple of benefits: you get the extra storage space of the filing cabinets, and the construction becomes quite simple. Make use of filing cabinets that are the right height for the table you want -- around 28 to 30 inches high is usually ideal. If you use a ready-made flat panel door for the table top, you won’t have to do any cutting at all, and you can assemble your filing cabinet table in next to no time.

Things You'll Need

• 2 filing cabinets, 28 to 30 inches high
• Flat panel door
• Paint (optional)
• Paintbrush (optional)
• 8 angle brackets
• Marker
• Drill
• Screws with screw anchors

Instructions

1. Paint your two filing cabinets and the door you will use as the table top if desired. Painting the table elements separately is much simpler than painting the table once it has been assembled. Leave all components to dry thoroughly.

2. Position an angle bracket around 4 to 5 inches in from each corner of the filing cabinets, on the sides. The angle of each bracket should be exactly flush with the top of the cabinets, with the horizontal arm of the bracket on the same plane as the cabinet tops.

3. Mark the screw hole positions of the brackets with a marker and remove the brackets for the time being.

4. Drill a pilot hole through each of the marked screw hole positions. The pilot hole should be sized for the screw anchors of your chosen screws; the screws should be long enough to go through your filing cabinet sides.

5. Put the angle brackets back in position, then pop in a screw anchor into each hole before securing the brackets in place with screws through the screw holes into the screw anchors.

6. Position the two filing cabinets where you want the table to go, wide enough apart so that the door table top will fit between them with around 10 inches over on the outer side of each filing cabinet.

7. Place the door on top of the filing cabinets. Secure the door to the cabinets with screws driven through the screw holes in the horizontal arm of the angle brackets into the underside of the door. Screw anchors won’t be needed as the screws will bite well into the wood of the door.

Tips & Warnings

• This filing cabinet table is easily disassembled by removing the screws between the brackets and the underside of the door.

• If you only have one filing cabinet, purchase ready-made table legs the same height as the cabinet and use them instead of a second filing cabinet.

• This kind of table is ideally suited for a workshop or craft room.

References

• Home Made Simple: Filing Cabinet Desk