DIY Welding Project: Bedside Table [Guide] | MillerWelds

DIY Welding Project: Bedside Table [Guide]

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Get step-by-step instructions to build a custom metal bedside table that would look great in any bedroom.
DOWNLOAD PROJECT PLAN

SKILL LEVEL: Moderate

TIME COMMITMENT: 20–24 hours

Here's what you'll need to get started.

TOOLS AND MATERIALS

Millermatic® 255 MIG welder (used on the tabletop frame)
Multimatic® 220 AC/DC multiprocess welder
4-1/2" grinder
Portable band saw

1/2" square tubing

1-1/2" angle iron  

1" x 1" angle iron (for the bottom slides) 

1/2" angle iron (for the drawer pull) 

14 gauge sheet metal 

14 gauge stainless steel 

Silicon bronze 
3/8" bar stock
1-1/4" diameter round stock
 

WARNING: READ AND FOLLOW ALL LABELS AND THE OWNER'S MANUAL.

STEP BY STEP

Piece of wood showing its angled cut.

STEP ONE:

Find a piece of wood, cut it to the size you want and sand it to serve as your table top. Staining the wood is optional. You can then use this as the template for building the frame. Mine had an angled edge that allowed me to set it in a frame. 

Image of the piece of wood laid out to make a frame around it.

STEP TWO:

Make the table top frame to put the wood into by using 1-1/2" angle iron.

Image of the frame showing the angled edges.

STEP THREE:

Tip the top pieces of the angle iron so they match the angle on the wood, allowing the wood to sit into the frame.

Frame laid out and tack welded.

STEP FOUR:

Once you have the angle you need for the top of the frame, tack weld it together using your Millermatic 255. I used silicon bronze throughout this project for a contrasting look.

Close-up shot of the bottom of the angle iron frame.

STEP FIVE:

Using more angle iron, box the bottom of the tabletop frame with tack welds using the Millermatic 255.

Image showing the gap in the frame./ Close-up shot of the frame showing the top edge of the welded with no gaps.

STEP SIX:

Once you have the top and bottom of the table top, weld the edges to remove any gaps in the frame and sand the edges down until the wood fits nicely.

Image that shows the legs and drawers created./ Close-up image of the 6” square tubing divider.

STEP SEVEN:

Using 1/2" square tubing, you will create the two shelves and legs of the table. For the top shelf, I cut six pieces of square tubing 6" in length. For the horizontal parts I cut them to 16-1/2" long.

Image showing the two drawers.

STEP EIGHT:

Tack weld the tubes to the frame of the tabletop. Be sure to keep the middle tube centered to allow the shelves to be symmetrical.

Image of the base of the table being constructed.

STEP NINE:

Measure and determine the height you would like your table to be, keeping in mind the shelves are 6" tall. My legs are about 18" long, for a total height of 25-1/2". (The round stock feet add 1-1/2" to the total height.) 

Image of the bottom complete.

STEP TEN:

Once the top shelf and legs are created, build the bottom frame/shelf of the table using the rest of the square tubing. I created a geometric pattern and measured the distance between each tube to keep the distance between them the same. Tack weld into place.

Image of the bottom complete.

STEP ELEVEN:

Weld the 1-1/4" diameter round stock to the four bottom corners of the table. You can drill into the bottom and add feet later to help level the table.

Close-up of the angle iron slides for the drawers to sit on and slide into./ Wide shot of the drawers.

STEP TWELVE:

Next, create slides for the drawers to rest on and slide into. I used 1" x 1" angle iron for the bottom and 3/8" bar stock for the top. 

3/4” hole into the top bar stock on either side at the front of the stand.

STEP THIRTEEN:

Drill and tap a 3/4" hole into the top bar stock on either side at the front of the stand to add a drawer stop later.

Image of sheet metal./ Welding the sheet metal together to form drawers.

STEP FOURTEEN:

Using sheet metal, tack weld and build the drawers into a box shape that will fit the shelves. 

Image of the drawer and handle.

STEP FIFTEEN:

For the front of the drawer, I used stainless steel for contrast and attached 1/2" angle iron for a handle to pull it open and shut.

Image of the bolt going into the bar stock./ Image screwing on the anchors.

STEP SIXTEEN:

Slide the drawers into the shelves. Using the holes you made in the bar stock previously, screw in the bolts and add the anchors to set the depth of the drawer and stop it from falling out. 

Image of the wood set into the frame.

STEP SEVENTEEN:

To finish the bedside table, set your piece of wood on top, inside the frame.

About Josh Welton

Josh Welton headshot

Josh Welton, owner/operator of Brown Dog Welding LLC — a fabrication and art studio in Detroit — is an established welder, fabricator, teacher, artist, writer, social media influencer, podcast host, entrepreneur and automotive enthusiast. He is a contributing writer to TheFabricator.com, The Welder Magazine and DodgeGarage.com. 

Follow Josh at BrownDogWelding.com or on Instagram @WelderAssassin.

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