How to Make Foldable Table Legs

Sand and stain or paint the table top and legs as desired. Allow them to dry completely if they have been stained or painted, then lay the table top upside down on a clean, flat surface. If you are working on an existing table with the legs already attached, use an electric drill or screwdriver to remove the screws holding the legs to the table.

Use a pencil to mark where the legs should be located when they are unfolded and sticking out vertically from the table top. There should be one leg at each corner of the table.

Fold the legs down before installing brackets to be sure that they don’t overlap or obstruct one another. Depending on the length of the legs, they may be able to fold toward each other at the center of the table or each leg may need to fold down to its right or left so that one leg runs along each side of the table when they are all folded. Once the folding layout has been finalized, stand one of the legs back up vertically and set the others aside.

Open the first bracket all the way and lock it into position. Place the bracket against the table leg so that the small plate at one end of the bracket fits flush against the leg while the other fits against the bottom of the table. Double-check to be sure that the bracket is positioned so that the leg will fold in the right direction.

Mark the locations of the screw holes against the leg and table with a pencil, and then remove the bracket. Use an electric drill with a 1/16-inch drill bit to drill small holes at each pencil mark, and then put the bracket back into place. Drive screws into each hole to secure the bracket in place.

Repeat the bracket installation process on each of the remaining three table legs.