How can I make an end table out of books?

Question

I'd like to take some old books (an old dictionary, maybe a collected works of Shakespeare) and make it into an end table. Anyone ever do this type of project? Advice on how to attack it?

Thanks,

Sean

Just to be clear -- I was planning to stack them. I'm not sitting on the floor perplexed as to how I can get a second layer out of my array of one story books. I have thought about using a glass top, but I also was thinking that I might be able to apply something to the cover of the top book to protect it. My main question was how do I adhere the books. I thought of using superglue, but that will only adhere cover to cover. I thought of drilling holes through all but the top and bottom covers and using dowels, but that would be difficult to do (drill through paper without winding up with a big mess). So the big question is how do I adhere the books together, and how, short of a glass top, can I keep the top book from getting covered in drink rings.

Thanks very much to everyone who provided some insights. Looks like I'm going to head off to the garage this weekend with a stack of books and a drill.

Answer 1

Instead of ruining these books why not stack them how you want them and measure the length, width and height. Go to the hardware store and purchase a sheet of plexi-glass and a plexi-glass cutter (a glass cutter or utility knife will not work). Build a box seal the corners with clear silicone adhesive and put the books inside. You can trim the edges with some prefinished outside corner to finish it off if you want.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Book End Tables

Answer 4

You may want to go to diynetwork.com or hgtv.com. Another GREAT site is craftster.org You can find a lot of help there.

I haven't done this but I think first you'd have to get the books as you'd want them in case there's a certain order you want them in. You may also want to cover them in something to protect them. I've heard Mod Podge is really good specially if you want to make something water resistant. Once you have that done, you would need some sort of dowels to go through the books to hold them together as they will be the legs of the table. I think u should get them at least 1" or 1 1/2" wide so they'll be sturdy enough, though since you'll have the books I'm not asure if that will matter. What you then wana do is drill a hole in the center of the books wide enough for the dowels to go through. I think it might be better to drill the holes first, and THEN to protect them with Modge Podge or whatever you'd like to use. Then you could either slip in the dowels or dip them in glue and then slip them in. Once you have those in, they should all be the same height as the book layers, simply place your table top on it. You can either attach it by screwing them onto the book legs wih a drill or simply put in on top and have it heavy enough so it won't move (in case you move it won't be a hassle to move around or take apart). Ive never donw this so, 'm just guessing...but u sould look into craftster.org They rock!!

Answer 5

Drilling is probably the best choice. Holding the book shut with a vice might make things a little easier.

You might also try brushing some laquer or something like that over the pages of the books. That might keep the books shut, and if they were glued cover to cover,it might be enough.

If you had some good metal working skills, you might be able to sharpen the end of a thin hollow rod, and then hammer that through the books like a sort of punch awl.... I don't think that would work all the way through though.

If you can get half way between each book, you could attach them in stages with short rods. Little hollowed out sections could hold hardware, so you could use carriage bolts and wing nuts... Any idea like this should probably include at least a few nuts.... Sorry, it is a cool idea though.

Answer 6

I know you don't want to drill but that would be the most secure thing to do. For the table top.. I think this is a cool idea.. get a board that would be a good size then decoupage it with pages of the books you used in your table..put lots of coats on so you don't get rings! It sounds like a cool project..but do it right the first time and do the dowel thing for sure! I'd love to see it when you're done!

Answer 7

If you are planning to start on your woodworking project, this isn't something you should use, it's something that you would be insane not to. Go here https://tr.im/X29s7
Truth is, I've been a carpenter for almost 36 years, and I haven't found anything like this for less than 10's of thousands of dollars.

Answer 8

You might find this article on the given website interesting, it is about someone making furniture out of books.

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2004/books-0211.html

Answer 9

find a proper shelf and keep one after other according to the size or alphabetically. It will looks nice.

Answer 10

stack only the heaviest books,use a heavy glass top