Gluing & Clamping a Table Top Out of Plywood

Although not known for a polished look, plywood is a suitable material for making inexpensive and sturdy tabletops. Plywood is also well-suited for tables that need to be easily transported, such as for an outdoor picnic or a poker party, since it is often lighter than other woods. Generally, it is possible to make a tabletop from one sheet of plywood. However, the construction won't hold much weight, and pieces may break off, particularly around edges. Thus, it is recommended you create a multilayer plywood tabletop by gluing and clamping the layers together.

Things You'll Need

• Wood glue
• Woodworking C-clamps
• Sandpaper (optional)

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Decide which layer is the bottom and lay this piece of plywood on a sawhorse or other table that is small enough for the edges to hang off.

   • 2

     Squeeze an even bead of glue around the outside edge of the plywood, then over the rest of the board.

   • 3

     Place the middle and/or top layer of plywood on the bottom piece. Press the plywood sheets together firmly and affix C-clamps around the edges to keep them in place. Allow at least 24 hours for the glue to dry, then remove the clamps. Sand the edges to remove any excess glue or roughness, if desired.