Kids Table & Chair Set

Video - September 11, 2015

Every kid deserves a Kids Table & Chair Set! Easy to build with basic tools and requires only one single sheet of 3/4″ plywood!

This is the 2015 Woodworkers Fighting Cancer project so that means you can help the cause just by building it. For each person who builds the project and sends us a picture, we’ll personally donate $5 to the charity. And if you’re a YouTuber and you make a video of your build, we’ll donate $10 to the cause! Send us your photos and links here. Deadline is November 30th, 2015. For more details, go to WoodworkersFightingCancer.com.

Download the FREE Plans!

Sketchup Plan
PDF Plan/Cutlist
Sketchup Plan (Metric)
PDF Plan/Cutlist (Metric)
8×11 Printable Template
Full Size Template
Alternative Cut Diagram (with proper grain orientation) (thanks to Mike O’Malley)
Template SVG File for CNC (thanks to Jarek Ostaszewski)

Recommended Hardware:

(12) Threaded Inserts – EZ Lock 1/4″-20
(20) 1 1/8” Long, 1/4”-20 Connector Bolts (Note that the chair can use up to 1 1/2” long for additional support.)
(8) Cap Nuts
(24) 1 1/2” Long, 3/8” Diameter Dowels

Build-a-Thon

In case you missed it, I made this project during a live all day Build-a-Thon on September 4th 2015. It was an amazing day and we managed to get halfway to our $15,000 goal on that day alone! The entire video is 8.5 hours long so feel free to just skim it. Ha!

Sponsors & Donations

We’d like to thank our sponsors for helping us out with this event. They include Powermatic, Fuji Spray, MicroJig, Rockler, Eagle America, Bell Forest Products, and ProCon Supply. You can donate directly if you’d like or feel free to participate in our charity auctions.

Keep up with the latest at WoodWorkersFightingCancer.com or follow us on Facebook!

Viewer Gallery

Discussion

michael michalofsky September 11, 2015 12:34 pm

what do i do with the thing after i build it?
i have no kids at home?

michael

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo September 11, 2015 1:41 pm
  
  Find a family or organization that might be able to use it. Local library or hospital maybe?
  
  Reply
- Nigel September 11, 2015 8:53 pm
  
  Or perhaps auction it amongst your friends or e-bay and donate the proceeds to WWFC?
  
  Reply
Jen Burns September 11, 2015 3:09 pm

We have until November or they post donations in November? If I’m not too late I’d like to do this.

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo September 12, 2015 7:22 am
  
  You have until November 30th to submit your picture or video link.
  
  Reply
Jeremy Crawford September 11, 2015 4:49 pm

Marc,
I haven’t used my Q4 that I won from TWW yet. Mainly because I am intimidated by spray finishing and don’t know where to begin and also not sure of how much over spray I should expect. Using said sawhorses or rolling cart, do you find much over spray on your concrete or walls, windows, etc.?

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo September 12, 2015 7:24 am
  
  I am usually 15 feet or more away from any vertical surface in my back yard so the overspray usually dissipates by then. I do get some on the concrete but unless it has color in it, you don’t see it and it eventually wears off with sun/rain exposure. So for me, it hasn’t been much of an issue.
  
  Reply
  - James M Morriss September 29, 2015 12:23 am
    
    I save old shower curtains for just such situations. Those 7’X9′ tarps you can buy for just a few dollars, or painters plastic drop sheets will make a nice “spray booth” in the yard (or garage/basement) too.
    
    I used to clean my spray equipment aginst an oil drum. It always had good paint on it so it didn’t rust. My clothes line pole were colorful too. They tended to get the extra paint that got mixed, even clear finishes. It stopped the rust. Even if the finnish did not hold up well outside, I was always adding more layers.
    
    Reply
Ryan Faerman September 15, 2015 8:18 pm

Where do you purchase your finishes? I also like working with lacquer and I want to give the pigment a try.

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo September 16, 2015 6:35 am
  
  Depends on the finish. The lacquer is from Sherwin Williams. The UTC pigment was also from Sherwin Williams but purchased about 10 years ago. Not sure if they still carry it.
  
  Reply
Bob Snyder September 16, 2015 9:08 am

Has anyone been able to find bronze 11/2″ connector bolts?

Reply
- James M Morriss September 29, 2015 12:10 am
  
  Use stainless. Or brass can be found in the plumbing supply. You can find them at the BORG. (Big Ol’ Retail Giants) Or find your local Fastener Supply. Fastener Supply will have most anything you want in most any material. Look in your local yellow pages under “bolts”, “fasteners”, or “hardware” to find them.
  
  (Yellow Pages – It’s a big book made with yellow paper that has phone numbers printed in it. They are listed by catagory and then alphabetically by the business name.)
  
  Reply
Vinnyjojo September 19, 2015 6:47 am

Hardware ordered. Kid’s 2nd birthday on Oct 11th. Time to get cracking!

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo September 19, 2015 8:34 am
  
  Get on it dude! :)
  
  Reply
Vinnyjojo September 20, 2015 6:45 pm

Is anyone else having trouble with the margins on the template pdf? The crosshairs appear to run all the way to the edge of the page on the document. I’ve tried on a few printers, all with 1/4″ minimum margins – no crosshairs print, and part of the template is cut off – on page two for instance, the left-most drill hole is cut by a little under half. Grids measure at a perfect square inch.

Can’t believe I’m already stuck at step one!

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo September 21, 2015 6:58 am
  
  Do you have it set to print as “poster?”
  
  Reply
Vinnjojo September 22, 2015 5:54 pm

No, single sheet. Should I be using ‘poster’?

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo September 23, 2015 7:09 am
  
  Yes. Try it and let me know if it works.
  
  Reply
  - Vinnyjojo September 25, 2015 9:05 pm
    
    Worked on ‘poster’ mode. Thanks!
    
    Reply
Todd September 24, 2015 9:03 am

Are there DXF files for this project? Would like to use this as a teaching example on a CNC router.

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo September 24, 2015 9:41 am
  
  Not unless someone wants to volunteer to make a DXF file. :)
  
  Reply
Dave Melk September 26, 2015 6:08 am

Mark, if I would like to take the chair side drawings to a copy center in order to have full size templates made, what do I tell them to do? Is there a percentage increase i should ask for? I have never worked with templates before

Reply
Paul Corliss September 29, 2015 8:41 am

I am trying to print off the templates. When I print it on my laser printer, nothing prints, just blank sheets of paper. When I print it on my ink jet printer the template is not to scale. The 1″ squares are 7/8″ x 15/16″ I have tried changing setting on my printers but nothing seems to help. Any ideas?? Thanks for any help you can give me. Paul

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo September 29, 2015 11:56 am
  
  Unfortunately I don’t have much in the way of suggestions. I know printing like this can be finicky so you might just need to keep dinking around with the settings and get as close as you can. Or perhaps take the full size template file to a print shop and have them printed out for a couple of bucks.
  
  Reply
Mark Consolver October 2, 2015 2:11 pm

I was having a hard time too figuring out the templates. First some pages that print out in poster mode are not needed. Lay them out on a large table and get them oriented. I found it helpful to pull up the full size image on my tablet so see how they look. Then just start piecing them into place. The crosshairs are not on all four side but when laying them out you can figure out which ones to cut and which ones to sketch the line just a hair. Also, I used a small ruler to check for 1″ x 1″ square when taping them to each other. Templates done today and start layout tomorrow. I am going to try the alternate layout for grain orientation. Hope project turns out for grandson’s Christmas.

Reply
Chet Kloss October 15, 2015 1:11 pm

Did anyone create the G-Code to cut the parts on a CNC?

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo October 16, 2015 3:28 pm
  
  We just added a SVG file thanks to Jarek, but I don’t know if that’s going to work for your purposes. See the list of files above for the link.
  
  Reply
Don October 18, 2015 8:27 am

Hi Marc,

I`m having a bit of an issue with the scale of the legs. You mention 22 inches, as does the plan, but the template clearly has the leg at 21 1/2 if the grid is to be 1 inch. Is that an error in the final drawing?

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo October 18, 2015 10:02 am
  
  To be honest, it doesn’t really matter. You aren’t using the template to make the end cuts so if you measure out to 22″ and your template’s final dimension is 21 1/2″, it won’t have much impact. If you want it to be an exact match, either make your template exactly 22″ long or make your leg 21 1/2″.
  
  Reply
mike November 28, 2015 5:46 pm

Hi Marc,
Watching your kids table and chairs video again, I’m curious what type of screws and pre drill bit you’re using. It’s hard to tell, but I don’t think I’ve seen them before. I’ll probably use drywall screws, since it’s what I have and am familiar with. I’m sure there are probably better options though, for future projects.

Thank you,
Mike Heinicke

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo November 29, 2015 9:30 am
  
  The countersink bit is made by Festool. A little expensive for what it does though. And the screws can be any type of screw really. But I use square drive wood screws in all of my work.
  
  Reply
Tim December 1, 2015 11:11 am

Nice Project and thx for the plans. In Metric there is a little problem. The thicknis of our plywood is 18mm not 19mm.

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo December 1, 2015 11:25 am
  
  Most everything I read refers to the metric equivalent of 3/4″ plywood as 19mm.
  
  Reply
Raul September 13, 2016 2:57 am

Hi Marc,

Just found out this project via youtube and wanted to try building it for my little daughter. Unfortunately, I cannot download the pdf plan (metric) and wanted to ask whether it is still available.

Thanks in advance!
Cheers,
Raul

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo September 13, 2016 6:22 am
  
  I just checked and the link still works.
  
  Reply
Spence October 18, 2016 3:39 pm

I just found this project also. I can’t wait to begin. I’ve got templates cut and three sheets of Baltic Birch to use. I want to make two extra chairs. Does anyone have a layout plan for the 5X5 sheets of Baltic Birch?

Reply
Bob in NC May 8, 2017 1:35 pm

I wanted to do this when it first came out but never got around to it. Bought a new truck a couple weeks and thought, now I can go get the supplies I need for this project. Hardware and wood purchased, not I need to get to work. Love your stuff Mark.

Reply
Cheryl July 26, 2017 12:54 pm

LOVE this design…especially the unique chairs. My husband is looking for a new wood project after making our son’s dresser, our nightstands and some headboards. Question, if you don’t mind…Up to what age can this be used, do you think?
Thanks kindly!

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo July 27, 2017 5:49 am
  
  Hard to say. I still sit at the table with my kids so I’m not sure there’s really a limit.
  
  Reply
Walter Burke December 29, 2017 1:33 pm

Marc, my next project is going to be this table, thank you for the plans. I do not have too many tools yet but my next purchase is going to be a router so I can tackle this table. My question is which router bits I would need. I know I will need a round over bit, I think you said 1/4″ in the video? and the any recommendations on which bit to do the rabbit and the slot for the base of the table?

Thank you.

Reply
Kuba March 23, 2018 2:00 am

Are this plans are totally free? Can i build and sell this ? Don’t give me wrong i only asking.

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo March 23, 2018 8:17 am
  
  https://www.thewoodwhisperer.c.....or-profit/
  
  Reply
Bob Thomas April 6, 2018 1:04 pm

What kind of plywood did you use to make the Kids table and chair set?

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo April 6, 2018 3:16 pm
  
  It’s been a while, but looking at the video it appears to be baltic birch.
  
  Reply
Gilberto July 9, 2018 7:38 am

Hello Marc, how are you?
You really inspired me to build this table to my son.

I know it’s been a while but, i would like to know what i could use to replace those Threaded Insert’s. Really hard to find these, where i live.

Thank’s

Reply
- Gary March 28, 2019 2:51 am
  
  Hi, did you find an alternative for the threaded inserts? been a while and Marc not sent you a reply. I am considering building this table and chairs and wondered did you manage to build one?
  Thanks Gaz
  
  Reply
Gary March 28, 2019 2:48 am

Hi Marc, would you recomend MDF? what thickness 18mm or 12mm? appreciate your guidance on this project and although some time ago, still a great project and build for us all. Thanks

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo March 29, 2019 6:57 am
  
  I’m generally not a huge fan of MDF since it doesn’t have much structural integrity. But you can probably get away with it on a project like this. Still, not my favorite option. 18mm if you are going for it.
  
  Reply

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