PVC Pipe DIY: Upcycle Scrap Wood Into An Easy-To-Build Entryway Table

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It's tremendously satisfying to turn what would otherwise be scrap into things that are useful, attractive, or both. There are lots of clever ways to turn scrap wood into beautiful entryway pieces, and today we're going to look at a stylish, slender table that's easy to build and requires only basic tools. If you don't already have the materials you need, you should be able to find everything at the local hardware store. What's more, there are finishing options so it can be customized to suit your decor.

You can size the entryway table to suit the space you have available, although given the way the legs are assembled and attached (more on that in a moment), somewhere from 30 to 40 inches long and 12 to 20 inches wide will be good dimensions. If the boards you have are too narrow, you can join two together for more width using what are called metal mending plates. These are flat sheets with holes that you can screw on underneath, where they won't show. The scrap wood for the top should be at least an inch thick.

The only tools you need are a cordless drill/driver and a saw. Although you'll find numerous power tools among the types of saws to cut any wood, in this case a handsaw is probably the best option. Maintaining accuracy while cutting PVC pipe with an electric saw can be challenging, and doing the job by hand forces you to slow down.

TikTok user rosalyscastillo shows most of the process. The commentary is in Spanish, so for those who don't speak the language, we've covered the key steps here and added a couple of our own suggestions.

@rosalyscastillo

Te muestro paso a paso cómo realice esta repisa con tubo de PVC y madera, queda super hermosa, elegante y con pocos materiales. Corta la madera luego líjala, corta los tubos y lijados, pega los tubos y úntale la masilla, pinta la madera y cuando todo esté seco pega la madera a las patas. Listo #decoraciondeinteriores #manualidadesencasa #hogar #AntesYDespués #beforeandafter

♬ chill jazz beats – MrE4zyChill

You can trim the corners of the tabletop or leave it rectangular. Depending on the condition of your scrap, you may want to sand the top smooth. The legs are cut from standard 4-inch PVC pipe. Saw them carefully, or the table might rock. To mark the line accurately, wrap masking tape around the pipe, and then fit a zip tie, tighten it, and draw around it with a pencil.

Cut three lengths for each leg, and glue them together. Structural adhesive like Loctite PL Polyurethane is recommended. You'll need to sand the legs so that either paint or wood filler will adhere (if you want a textured finish). Some wood fillers won't stick to PVC, so check before using.

The TikToker suggests gluing the legs to the wood. There's a danger there won't be enough surface area to provide the necessary strength, so you could use L-shaped metal brackets instead. Drill a hole in each leg, and use a small nut and bolt to fix it; then screw them onto the wood. To finish, apply acrylic or latex paint in your preferred color. Once that's done, you might want to consider a matching scrap wood project to organize your keys.