Instructions to Build a Lazy Susan

A lazy Susan is a round, turning table commonly used for ease of storage. Lazy Susans are available in numerous materials, including plastic and wood, and can be found at most kitchen retailers. If you wish to save a few dollars, or need a customized lazy Susan, they are quite simple to build with a little creativity and a good jigsaw.

Things You'll Need

• Tempered 1/4-inch hardwood, 12 by 4 inches
• Jigsaw
• Clamp
• Carpenter's square
• Pencil
• Double-sided carpet tape
• Cordless drill
• Driver bits
• 3/4-inch birch plywood
• Nails
• Hammer
• Scrap plywood
• Wood edge banding
• Iron
• Laminate roller
• Utility knife
• Bearing
• Pan head screws
• Awl
• Hole saw, 1/2 inch
• 4 self-adhering plastic feet

Instructions

Cutting the Lazy Susan Circles

1. Form a jig out of the tempered hardwood by removing 1 square inch from one end of the pieces and drilling a hole in the center of the other, roughly 2 inches in from the end of the piece. Use a carpenter's square and pencil to precisely measure and clamp down the wood to your work bench before cutting or drilling.

2. Stick the jigsaw, temporarily, to the jig with a piece of carpet tape.

3. Position the jigsaw so that the saw's blade is touching the side of the birch plywood.

4. Drive a nail through the hole on the board into the birch plywood. This will serve as a pivot point.

5. Stick three pieces of scrap plywood together with the carpet tape. Stick the birch plywood square on top of the scrap wood with more carpet tape.

6. Move the jigsaw in a circle around the plywood, drawing the lazy Susan's circle.

7. Drill a second hole in the jig, roughly 1 inch closer to the jigsaw.

8. Repeat the sawing procedure using the new hole for the pivot to create the smaller bottom circle.

Applying the Wood Edge Banding

1. Place one of the circles into a vice.

2. Center the wood edge banding onto the circle.

3. Bond the wood edge banding into place with an iron, set to high.

4. Follow the banding all the way around the circle, repositioning the circle as necessary in the vice.

5. Roll the sealant with a laminate roller to ensure that it's completely set. Repeat this process with the other circle.

Installing the Bearing

1. Place the bearing on the smaller circle, so that the pivot point nail hole is in the center. Screw the bearing into position with pan head screws.

2. Rotate the top half of the bearing so that the first of its holes clear of the bottom piece. Mark this point by poking the wood with an awl.

3. Drill a 1/2-inch hole, using a hole saw through the marked point on the base.

4. Turn the piece over and center the hole so that it lines up with one of the mounting points on the bearing. The base should be on top of the top circle piece. Insert a screw through the hole and screw the bearing onto the base. Repeat this step for all four bearing holes.

5. Stick four plastic feet onto the base to ensure the lazy Susan is stable on any surface.

References

• "Woodworking Basics: Mastering the Essentials of Craftsmanship"; Peter Korn; 2003