Keggers Posted January 6, 2016 Report Share Posted January 6, 2016 I've been asked to build a lego table for my granddaughter's birthday. Building the table is pretty straight forward. My plan is to attach the lego plates to a piece of 1/2" mdf. Each plate is 10" x 10" and there will be nine plates in total. I was thinking that I'd use epoxy to attach the plates to the mdf. Does anyone see a problem with my thinking? Is there a better adhesive to use on the plates? The table will be made from ash with a clear finish and the plates will be green. I haven't decided if I'm going to make the top flush with the aprons or have it stand proud. Any suggestions or advice will be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted January 6, 2016 Report Share Posted January 6, 2016 Only thing I can think of is if she wants to use the table for something different when she outgrows the legos? Perhaps a replaceable top or screws to hold the plates down? Sounds like a fun project! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post drzaius Posted January 6, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 6, 2016 2 sided carpet tape like I use to stick templates on would work great, is faster & less messy. No worries about it letting go either. Edit: And it isn't permanent. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keggers Posted January 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 I have some carpet tape. It certainly is strong enough to hold the plates. I think that's a great idea. As far as what to do with the table when she outgrows it - I guess it will pass to either my grandson or my other granddaughter when she gets old enough. I see many years of use! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dknapp34 Posted January 7, 2016 Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 Will you be posting pics of the table when it's done? I may build something like this in the future when my kid gets a little older, so I'd love to see it for some inspiration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keggers Posted January 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 15 minutes ago, Dknapp34 said: Will you be posting pics of the table when it's done? I may build something like this in the future when my kid gets a little older, so I'd love to see it for some inspiration. I'll sure try to remember to do that for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post -MattK- Posted January 7, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 I made one a few years ago. It's a pretty far ways from fine woodworking! You'll have to excuse the miter that's coming apart in the picture of the leg, but it's been beat on by my son for 4 years now! I used the same 10"x10" plates but it's 4x4. I added a road to it - it was made using this spray rubber sealant material so it has a bumpy / ashphalt-y profile to it. It's the stuff you see a guy spray on a screen door that's installed in the bottom of a boat and it still floats. The lines are just different colors of electrical tape, cut a bit narrower than they come off the roll. I made sure to space the plates across the road a "proper" lego distance so things could be built across the road. I can't remember what I used to attach the plates but it didn't agree with the lego plastic material - it kinda melted the plate a bit - you can see the discoloration in this picture - doesn't impact the functionality of the table but it's a bit ugly. Suggestion would be to get an extra 10x10 plate and test a few adhesives (or use the carpet tape suggestion above). The plates are really cheap on amazon (I paid $7.52 each). Finally the legs are just stainless conduit with caps, screwed into a flange. And that miter that's given up... heck it might not have even been closed when I built it! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodenskye Posted January 7, 2016 Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 When I made my sons, I used construction adhesive to attach to the table top. It has held up good. Carpet tape would probably be better in hind site. Just make sure you take some Legos and attach them before putting the plates in place so everything remains lined up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted January 7, 2016 Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 Helluva an idea. Kent, put a yellow sticky note on your whatever to remember to post pics so we don't have to remind you. I see one in the future for my 3 yo son? Matt, neat job, stretch marks or not! They're to be expected! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keggers Posted January 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 54 minutes ago, K Cooper said: Helluva an idea. Kent, put a yellow sticky note on your whatever to remember to post pics so we don't have to remind you. I see one in the future for my 3 yo son? Matt, neat job, stretch marks or not! They're to be expected! I'll sure try, Ken. Thanks for posting those pictures Matt. They gave me some ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dknapp34 Posted January 7, 2016 Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 Very cool, Matt. I love the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris b Posted January 7, 2016 Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 I think it would be more fun to make a Lego table out of Legos! Kidding aside, after building a Thomas train table / Lego table for my boys a few years back. I listed a few changes I would make if I were to do it again. Mostly design and use not so much construction... 1. Adding a tall lip above the table surface, I had 1" but a taller lip would be better. 2. Don't use a chip board like it did, it was nice and smooth at first but warped after spilled drinks, foods etc. then it started to peel/blister. 3. I wish I added a removable top that slide underneath or just set aside. Any legos could be left on the table with a nice top set over the creations for later play. This top will also hide the clutter of Legos or if new toys were to be played on the same table. Possibly the back side of this top could be painted as street, land, etc. 4. Side wells for holding legos 4. Round the hell out of the corners! The table will be used as diving board, race car, fort, etc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keggers Posted January 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 I finally got the 10" x 10" lego plates in the mail yesterday. I was thinking that I need to paint the mdf with an exterior paint to protect against accidental spills. I'm guessing that the carpet tape that I'll be using to attach the plates to the painted mdf will still work. Any thoughts? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted January 9, 2016 Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 The tape should stick fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keggers Posted January 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 3 minutes ago, wtnhighlander said: The tape should stick fine. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted January 9, 2016 Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 Use oil base to paint the MDF. It's more liquid resistant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keggers Posted January 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 3 hours ago, drzaius said: Use oil base to paint the MDF. It's more liquid resistant. Okay, thanks. I'd planned to use oil based paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Keggers Posted January 21, 2016 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted January 21, 2016 I was able to finish my Lego table for my granddaughter's birthday tomorrow - just in time. I'd planned to make it using ash but ran into a problem with my 8/4 leg stock having stress fractures inside the piece. I only had four ash blanks to make the legs and lucked out by finding the the cracks in the first piece I worked. I had plenty of red oak available and decided to use that. I kept the project pretty simple due to the short amount of time I had to work on it. I finished the oak with Danish oil and attached the Lego plates to a piece of 3/4" plywood using carpet tape. The picture attached was taken before I'd attached the plates. I built it kind of beefy just in case "someone" decides to climb on it. Hope she likes it. Really hope it doesn't snow and sleet too much that it keeps us from taking it too her tomorrow. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trialbyfire Posted January 21, 2016 Report Share Posted January 21, 2016 Table looks great! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keggers Posted January 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2016 2 minutes ago, trialbyfire said: Table looks great! Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted January 22, 2016 Report Share Posted January 22, 2016 Very nicely done! And great idea! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keggers Posted January 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2016 1 minute ago, Immortan D said: Very nicely done! And great idea! Thanks! I don't get to build much, but this project was fun. Anything for the grand kids! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davewyo Posted January 22, 2016 Report Share Posted January 22, 2016 Well done Kent! I should make one of those for my grand son. He sure does like his Lego. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted January 22, 2016 Report Share Posted January 22, 2016 i like it - may need to build one in the near future as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dknapp34 Posted January 22, 2016 Report Share Posted January 22, 2016 Looks great! Definitely going to build one of these when my son is Lego age. Actually, maybe I should build it sooner...there's a really awesome Lego version of the Frank Llyod Wright Fallingwater house...there's nothing wrong with adults playing with Legos, right... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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