Pallet FurniturePallet Desks & Pallet TablesFolding Lap Table from Upcycled Pallet

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by Heatherstiletto

Folding Lap Table from Upcycled Pallet

This was inspired by a product I bought from Ikea. It is a lightweight, folding lap table, but although I am currently using it, many little things frustrate me. It’s just a little too short – my cats have clawed me accidentally trying to play underneath and hooking into my legs (ouch!), and it’s too narrow when you’ve got a 17″ laptop. There’s ZERO room to use a mouse, or have a place to make notes if you’re trying to work in bed or while kicking back on the couch.

Soooo…. time to see what scraps I have in my founded wood pallet pile. I built a lap desk out of primarily pine and oak, with a couple of scraps of redwood I had lying around just for some color differences on the legs. I always try to pick out wood with unusual patterns, and once I got started, I realized that it would make a great last-minute gift for a good friend who could use something like this!

I built it in two afternoons. I did a lot (!!!) of sanding with my palm sander to try to straighten and fit the edges of each slat tight, and glued each piece together, clamping them overnight. After sanding for what seemed like forever, I stained it with the last remnants of the light cherry finish I’ve used on other projects I’ve posted up (only one coat!), and then followed up with four coats of water-based polyurethane.

Total cost: $1.79 (USD) – I had to buy four small hinges. I only had largely recycled hinges from doors, so I had actually to spend money this time… The good news is that my friend loved her Christmas present! I hope you all enjoy it too, and go out there and have some fun recycling some wood!

Take the risk. I have no woodworking talent, no training, no special tools (I have a basic table saw, a basic chop saw, a cordless drill & screwdriver, and two palm sanders), and I am grateful for others who share their ideas and inspirations… it’s helped me try it too!

Now I’ve got to build another one for myself. I can already think of some things I want to tweak. HA HA

Folding Lap Table from Upcycled Pallet Pallet Desks & Pallet Tables
Folding Lap Table from Upcycled Pallet Pallet Desks & Pallet Tables
Folding Lap Table from Upcycled Pallet Pallet Desks & Pallet Tables
Folding Lap Table from Upcycled Pallet Pallet Desks & Pallet Tables
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Cyndie
Cyndie

What a lovely color! I sew, write, sketch, and all kinds of other things I can think of to use this for. I think I’d add a little pocket type of thing for pencils or scissors, quilting pins, measuring tape or ruler, etc . . . I’m thinking I would just use a staple gun and some faux leather stapled to the edge of one short side or something . . . I dunno . . . It’s gorgeous JUST like that! This is a great tutorial, one thing missing. . . Or I just missed it. Could you show… Read more »

Lora Cotton
Lora Cotton

I too have a 17″ laptop, so I’ll have to make it a bit longer as well. Thanks!!!

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