Coffee Table With Tilt Up Function

Hi dear readers and esteemed woodworking contest judges! :)

In the following sections, I'd like to guide you through building a mid-century modern-inspired coffee table. This table can also be upgraded with a tilt-up function that's cleverly concealed when not in use.

I've wanted to build a coffee table for quite a while. When I moved out of my parents' house for university, I lived in a shared flat and had to make the most of the limited space. Without room for a dining table, I opted for one of those relatively inexpensive lifting coffee tables. It looked a bit like this:

Not the prettiest, but very practical! The mechanism in my old table had an extending brace, which required the table to be quite boxy to accommodate it. It was also made from cheap veneered MDF boards with a Sonoma Oak finish, similar to IKEA’s oak veneer but a bit more rustic. In general, I'm not a fan of wood-look particle board or MDF, so I never considered this a nice piece of furniture. Plus, as a relatively tall person, I found that my legs barely fit under the table, and I always had to hunch over a bit. But I digress. All in all, it was practical, though not perfect.

When I finally moved, I decided it was time to retire that table and build a new one. I set myself the following requirements:

• The table height should allow for an upright sitting position, making it comfortable for working, eating, and more while on the couch.
• The legs should fit comfortably under the table, allowing for an ergonomic 90-degree angle.
• Two people should be able to sit next to each other and comfortably use the table.
• It should have a wood construction.
• The design should be clean and somewhat timeless.
• 
  

Before we dive into the process, a quick disclaimer: I’m not a professional carpenter, but I do consider myself someone who knows his way around power tools, and I have access to some pretty potent woodworking equipment. This instructable isn’t meant to be a step-by-step guide to building this exact table. However, I will provide my building plans and a (hopefully) clear set of steps to follow.

In a way, this table has been part of the family for decades, as I built it from two 2.3-meter-long European walnut slabs that have been around since my granddad cut down the tree a few years ago in his garden. While this might sound like a bit of a flex, it was actually the most affordable option for me, and it added an endearing, personal touch to the project. The wood, however, wasn't perfect. As you can see in the picture, it had a lot of sapwood and only small strips of the rich, dark walnut heartwood. But in the end, I think it turned out quite nice.

Feel free to choose whatever hardwood you like for your table. If I had to purchase wood, I probably would have gone with white oak—because, well, I’m a bit basic.

For the tilt mechanism, I bought one of those scissor hinges from the big A (search for something like "coffee table lift-up hinge"). I won’t include a specific link because these listings change frequently, and most of them are pretty similar. Just make sure you get one that allows for the greatest height differential, so the table can be nice and low when in the down position.

The rest of the project requires basic materials like wood glue, a few screws, oil for finishing, and the usual consumables.

Since I was working with a live edge tree slab, I spent quite a bit of time preparing the boards. If you're buying pre-cut wood, you can skip this step.

I used a table saw to cut the slab into appropriately sized pieces and then used a planer to create even boards.

These are probably the only interesting parts from a woodworking perspective:

I used a hole saw to create the same radius for all the legs, then cut the rest of the legs on the table saw. Afterward, I rounded the outer edges with a router.

Of course, I sanded all the parts once the cutting and shaping were done. I started with 180-grit sandpaper before applying the first coat of oil, then moved up to 240-grit before and in between two additional coats of oil. Finally, I sanded everything up to 1000-grit for a smooth finish.

The rest of the process is very straightforward. The parts are shown in the provided build plan PDF. Since everyone has different tools, I won’t go into too much detail on how to cut square pieces of wood.

I cut the individual beams using a table saw and connected them with wood glue and small hidden screws (3x16mm) from the inside. To assemble it, I laid the table upside down and clamped everything together as best as I could. It was a bit of a freestyle situation—a jig would definitely be helpful here, but sometimes you just have to roll with it.

The actual tabletop is made from several individual 80mm strips, aligned with alternating grain orientations to minimize warping. My boards are relatively thin (~18mm), so I decided not to cut grooves for a steel C-rail or similar reinforcements.

To create the shallow angle chamfer, I built a simple jig out of particle board, allowing me to position the strips upright on the table saw. This method worked out beautifully, and the thin edge created by the chamfer is definitely one of the key details that gives this table its distinctive look.

Once all the parts were made and sanded, I placed the tabletop on the frame, marked the positions for the hinges, and pre-drilled the holes. Afterward, I applied oil to everything. As mentioned earlier, I used three coats, with quick sanding sessions between each one.

All in all, I hope this guide has been at least somewhat helpful. In the end, I believe the building plans and pictures are what really matter, and I doubt many people will read through my rambling descriptions anyway. But if you're still here, I’m happy to answer any detailed questions you might have. I may take some time to respond, but I’ll do my best to address any queries. After all, if anyone truly wants to build this exact table based on this instructable, there are probably plenty of questions that will come up!

Lastly, I would be very grateful if my little table is considered for the current woodworking contest!