DIY Network

Tin Can Table Legs Recycle your cans—into furniture! From "B. Original" episode DBOR-150

Turn trash to treasure—this cool table!

You can build a cool table out of items that otherwise would be bound for the trash or the recycling bin, with help from Michele Beschen. For this project, the B. Original host connects cans and wooden discs on a long, threaded rod to form table legs. Top yours with anything from a wooden game board to an old framed picture.

This project is loaded with versatility: A simple coat of paint can completely change the look of your table legs. It's just as easy to make the legs taller or shorter—simply change the number of cans, the size of cans or the thickness of your wooden spacer discs.

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Materials:

20 standard-size soup cans, all the same diameter
embellishments for cans (optional)
spray paint
awl
24 wooden discs or scrap wood and jigsaw
paint
drill
3/8" drill bit
1" spade bit
4 threaded rods, 3/8" diameter
hacksaw
3/8" nuts and washers
3/8" connector plates

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

• Wash cans and spray paint the color of your choice. You also can decorate them with stickers or other embellishments; Michele Beschen punched holes in the sides of her cans and attached small metal ornaments (figure A).

• Find the center of the bottom of each can. Use the awl to punch a small hole at the center.

• Purchase precut wooden discs or cut from scrap wood with a jigsaw. Discs must be larger in diameter than cans, and four of the discs must be at least ¾" to 1" thick. These will be the base discs for the table legs. Paint the discs any color you like, or leave them natural.

• Mark the center point of each disc. One way to find the center is to place a can on top of the disc and use the awl to mark the center through the hole in the can bottom.

• Use the 1" spade bit to drill a recess in the center of the four base discs (figure B). The recess should be deep enough to accommodate a washer and nut.

• Use the 3/8" bit to drill a hole through the center of each recess. Also drill a 3/8" hole through the center of the other discs.

• Drill a 3/8" hole through the pre-marked hole in the center of each can.

• Thread a rod through a base disc at the recessed area. Secure a washer and a nut to the rod so that they fit into the recess (figure C).

• Thread another nut onto the other end of the rod and tight down to the base disc.

• Drill a 3/8" hole through the pre-marked hole in the center of each can.

• Thread a can over the rod, bottom (drilled) side up. Thread a disc over the rod (figure D)

• Alternate threading discs and cans over the rod until you have five cans and six discs. Use the hacksaw to trim the threaded rod, leaving enough sticking out above the top disc to secure the leg to a plate connector.

• Repeat the process of threading discs and cans on the other three threaded rods.

• Attach plate connectors to the underside of your tabletop. Thread the completed table legs onto each connector and tighten all connections (figure E).

Experiment with different types of cans, tabletops and embellishments—it’s an earth-friendly way to B. Original!