Building an Aluminum Frame Table
Aluminum is a versatile material that can be applied in a wide variety of industrial uses as well as for home décor items. Aluminum is lightweight, which makes it a good choice for home furnishings that must be moved frequently for housecleaning. Aluminum also provides a sleek, modern look for table frames or other decorative pieces. Aluminum extrusions, sheets and bars provide many building opportunities for do-it-yourselfers to create their own table frames, shelves, mirror frames and other items. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Aluminum tubing, 1-1/2 inch square
- Metal saw
- Combination square
- Corner clamps
- Regular clamps
- MIG (metal inert gas) welder
- Aluminum welding wire
- Argon gas for shielding
- Helmet
- Gloves
- Grinder with 80-grit abrasive pads
Instructions
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1
Measure the length, width and height of the desired table frame. For instance, the length and width of a dining table varies, but the standard height is 29 inches, according to the Highland Woodworking website. Similarly, the standard height for an end table is 20 inches tall. A workstation table may be 26 inches high for comfortable use.
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2
Cut your aluminum tubing into two lengths for the long edges of the table, mitering each end to a 45-degree angle using a combination square.
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3
Cut two more pieces for the short edges of the table. Miter the ends of these to a 45-degree angle.
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4
Set the aluminum lengths into a rectangle and weld the mitered edges to make the top frame edge of the table.
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5
Cut four pieces of aluminum to your desired height for the table legs.
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6
Clamp the legs to the frame and weld them into position at the edge of the frame corner. Corner clamps will help preserve the correct angle of the legs as you weld them to the top frame portion.
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7
Measure and cut four lengths of aluminum to serve as stabilizers at the lower edge of the table frame. Because aluminum is a lightweight and flexible material, these additional supports will keep the frame from wobbling.
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8
Cut a V-shape at the ends of the lengths with a metal saw to allow the diagonal lengths to fit against the legs.
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9
Clamp and weld the diagonals into position.
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10
Grind the welds smooth with 80-grit abrasive pads to create a smooth appearance on the surface of the metal.
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Tips & Warnings
When building a table for use with chairs, such as a dining table, design the table to ensure that the stabilizing bars at the bottom do not get in the way of chair legs. It is often best to do so by making the stabilizing bars at the bottom of the table into a crisscross diagonal shape.
Although aluminum is a strong material, it is lightweight and flexible. These qualities may make it unsuitable for thick, heavy stone tabletops. Use a thin stone if that is the material you desire for the table surface.
Always use safety equipment when welding, including a darkening welding helmet to protect eyes, goggles when grinding and a respiratory mask to prevent breathing in harmful welding fumes.
References
- Photo Credit Ciaran Griffin/Stockbyte/Getty Images
