How to Make Folding Table Legs with Brackets

Make folding table legs with scissor brackets. These handy gadgets can be found at any home improvement store and assembled onto a fully functional table in a few minutes. These table legs lock in place when upright, and then fold back up under the table when not in use. Everything you need comes in four small packages, and you can install them in minutes using only a cordless screw gun.

Instructions

1

Cut two 32-inch pieces from each of the 2x2 boards with a miter saw. Sand the legs with 100-grit sandpaper by hand. Fold the sandpaper around the legs with the palm of your hand to smooth and round the corners.

2

Place the table top upside down. Place the four legs in place, sticking them up vertically. Remove the scissor brackets and screws from the packaging.

3

Spread the legs of the scissor bracket open. Push the small button on the side of the bracket to lock it open. The brackets may seem very stiff at first. Open and shut them a few times to loosen them up if you need to.

4

Place the bracket in the corner of one of the legs. There should be one small plate that fits flush on the bottom of the table, and one plate that fits flush against the side of the leg, approximately 6 inches up from the bottom of the table. Position each bracket so that the legs will fold down on each side and do not overlap.

5

Mark the positions of the bracket holes with a pencil. Use a cordless drill and a 1/16-inch bit to drill pilot holes for all the screws. Put the brackets back in place one at a time. Insert screws into the holes. Place a Phillips tip in the screw gun and screw the brackets in place using the cordless gun and screws that came in the package. Do all four legs.