AWESOME Folding Table Base for Your Shop

Featured Wood Plans Workshop Plans March 18, 2013 WoodworkCity 17

This folding table base plan is AWESOME! In fact, you could build 5 of these and it would only take a few square feet...

This folding table base plan is AWESOME! In fact, you could build 5 of these and it would only take a few square feet of shop space, or wall space. Two of these table bases would certainly work as well as a set of sawhorses.

The pictures below tell the story about this plan. Click through on the Free Plan link at the bottom to head over to American Woodworker for the full set of plans.

One of our readers (Joe in the comments below) came up with the idea to add a top to the folding table base to make a complete table. He documented his final build in the following video.

I think that you will agree that Joe made this plan a great deal more functional. The table top portion that he added to the design did not take up much more space than the original design. The width is only an additional 1 1/2″. If you don’t need the flip up table top portion, you can leave it down and it doesn’t get in the way at all.

Great job Joe.

Free Plans

Comments

Jon
April 9, 2018 #1 Author

I know this article is old but thought I’d post my thoughts for anyone who stumbles across it. I just finished making this table and I have to say I’m very disappointed in the result. When you close the table everything seems alright. Unfortunately, when you move the table the casters rotate from their outward orientation to a position underneath the table. Once the wheels are under the table it does not free-stand reliably. in my limited space, one of the most important things is that I be able to roll it out of the way and trust it not to fall over on something.

Anyone else try Joe’s tabletops? I can’t imagine them being level or stable just cantilevered from a couple hinges.
maggie
November 29, 2015 #2 Author

I really love this! want to make a few for my “shop”
Joe, I can’t quite tell from your video how you have those hinges mounted for the table tops?
Any help appreciated!
Kristyn
September 19, 2015 #3 Author

I can’t find the plans to make this table. I have registered for the site and still no luck. Please help!
- WoodworkCity
  September 21, 2015 #4 Author
  
  Kristin,
  Here is the link to the plan page at PopularWoodworking (http://www.popularwoodworking.com/projects/aw-extra-4512-folding-table-base). Unfortunately, it appears that they removed the “free” plan and are now pitching the sale of the back issue of the magazine. I wish that wasn’t the case. Sorry.
- WoodworkCity
  September 21, 2015 #5 Author
  
  Kristin,
  Great news. Looks like the Internet Archive has a version of the magazine published online. Here is the link to the full issue that contains the folding table base plan.
  https://archive.org/details/american-woodworker-127
Paul
May 12, 2015 #6 Author

The link for the free plan for the folding table is still not working. I’ve tried it multiple times
- WoodworkCity
  May 12, 2015 #7 Author
  
  Looks like the link may have updated. Give this a try.
  http://www.popularwoodworking.com/projects/aw-extra-4512-folding-table-base
Jon Torres
December 11, 2014 #8 Author

Is there any place you can buy this?
Joe
May 15, 2013 #9 Author

Video sent. Please let me know if you got it, and, what you think.
Joe
May 15, 2013 #10 Author

I finished it and like what I came up with. I made a video and am trying to get it emailed to you. Hopefully you will have it soon.
Joe
April 24, 2013 #11 Author

Will plan on building it in the next month or so. I have many other projects to go along with this great idea. Thanks for the super idea which I think will lend to a contributor to this site.

Joe
Joe
April 23, 2013 #12 Author

It seems possible to put plywood on hinges on the ends. Then when opened up, flip the plywood panels over and you have your workbench ready to go. I plan to build this and If you have thoughts on that (like it has already been tried), please pass them on.

Thanks!
- admin
  April 23, 2013 #13 Author
  
  Joe,
  
  In taking a look at the plan, I think you are correct. Adding a plywood top would just require some hinges on the end pieces. At that point the only real limitation would be the size of the base. In order for the pieces to meet in the middle, the ends would have to be a specific dimension.
  
  Great idea.
  
  Send over a photo if you decide to make a version with your idea. E-mail a photo to contact@woodworkcity.com. We would love to see your work.
  
  Good luck.
  
  http://www.WoodworkCity.com
Fred Loveland
March 28, 2013 #14 Author

I tried joining the free plan site, and it keeps telling me there was a problem processing my submission.
- admin
  March 29, 2013 #15 Author
  
  Fred,
  
  I show that this e-mail address already subscribed in January. If you aren’t receiving the mailing (Tuesday mornings), check your SPAM folder and add the email address contact@woodworkcity.com to your address book.
  
  WoodworkCity.com
admin
March 28, 2013 #16 Author

Gary,

Sorry about that. The link should function now. It is a bit slow (the Am Woodworker site that is) but it works.

Good luck.

WoodworkCity.com
Gary Brannan
March 28, 2013 #17 Author

The link for free plans is broken.

Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.