Making a glass table Original glass table with your own hands. DIY glass table: a variety of shapes and configurations

Tables made of glass look appropriate in any interior. Their sleek and airy appearance does not overwhelm the space, leaving the room visually spacious and uncluttered. From a material such as glass, you can make a serving, coffee, computer or even dining table, and it is quite possible to make a structure with your own hands.

Such interior items differ in shape, design and materials. As for the geometry of the tabletop, the glass table is:

• round;
• rectangular;
• triangular;
• square;
• oval;
• have an unusual curly shape.

Depending on the design features, there are such types of tables:

• transformer;
• table with bottom shelf;
• sliding table;
• mobile structure;
• monolithic table and others.

Such furniture can also be made from various types of glass. For example, a coffee table can be made of black, tempered, tinted, frosted, clear glass or triplex.

Not only the tabletops, but also the underframe and legs of the structures are distinguished by a variety of designs. The most common options are materials such as wood or chrome-plated metal. Forged tables with glass look very rich and elegant, which are chosen for interiors in a classic style. A rattan table with glass looks simpler, but fits well with most designs.

Pros and cons of glass structures

The positive qualities of glass tables include the following:

• beauty, neatness, lightness of appearance;
• the ability to fit a similar piece of furniture into almost any design;
• ease of care, hygiene, environmental friendliness;
• sufficient strength;
• resistance to chemical environments, moisture and temperature conditions of the environment.

Among the disadvantages of glass tables are the following features:

• stains from water or improperly selected care products often remain on the glass;
• low-quality or cheap material is quickly scratched;
• fingerprints often remain on the glass;
• with careless handling, you can get cracks and chips, or even completely break the table;
• prefabricated designs are expensive.

We make a glass table with our own hands

Preparatory stage

Having decided to make a glass table with your own hands, you have probably decided in advance on its location and role. Depending on where this piece of furniture will be placed and what function it will perform, a preliminary sketch should be made on paper, taking into account the features of the room in which you put the table. On the sketch, you need to indicate the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe countertop and the location of the legs.

To make a glass table, prepare the following materials and tools:

• glass thickness from 6 to 12 mm;
• special glue for glass;
• cleaning agent;
• acetone;
• file or emery bar;
• legs for construction;
• suction cups for legs;
• sunflower oil;
• plywood or chipboard on which you will cut glass;
• paste for polishing the material;
• marker or marker;
• ruler and tape measure;
• glass cutter;
• hammer with a rubber head;
• rags;
• goggles and gloves;
• grinder with a grinding wheel.

In work, you should use only clean and dry glass, on which there is no dust and other, even the smallest, contaminants. You can clean the material with a simple solution of baking soda using a soft cloth. If the glass remains dirty, it may break away from the cut line.

It is most convenient to cut glass on a large sheet of plywood or chipboard, and the material should be in contact with the table with almost no gaps and pressed as tightly as possible.

Glass and metal coffee table, photo:

Features of glass cutting

It is most convenient to cut glass using a thin and long metal ruler, or you can draw a line in advance with a felt-tip pen, so that you can subsequently lead along it with a glass cutter. If you are new to this business, then it is better to practice on an unnecessary piece of glass, and only then proceed to create a table.

Please note that it is advisable to complete the line that you will draw with a glass cutter at a time, and in order for the tool to work easier and slide better, its wheel must be lubricated with vegetable oil. When working with a diamond glass cutter, a very thin and almost imperceptible line remains on the material. Putting the glass to the edge of the table so that this line coincides with it, the material is broken along the notch line. The pressing force should be approximately 2 kg. When breaking glass, be sure to wear protective gloves so as not to cut your hands, and your eyes must be protected with glasses.

After you break off the main part of the glass, sharp protrusions or extra pieces may remain on the cut. You can remove them with pliers by wearing special rubber pads. If there are no such linings, use paper folded in several layers.

Glass cutting is carried out from the far edge, making a sufficiently strong pressure on the glass cutter. If you work with a sharp tool, but the incision does not work, grease the disk with kerosene and draw along the same line several times. If you are not sure that the cut is the right depth, turn the glass over and repeat the procedure.

If you're making a round coffee table with glass or any other complex curved shapes, it's easiest to use a stencil for ease of use. Having cut out the circle according to the stencil, draw rays from it with a glass cutter and break off the glass in parts.

Reinforced glass is cut in a special way. First, a glass cutter is carried out along the smooth side, and then, with the help of a sharp tool, a deep hollow is scratched to the grid. After that, the glass is turned upside down and broken off along the notch line. The mesh is bitten or cut off.

Worktop processing

After cutting along a fault line, sharp protrusions often remain on the glass, which should be removed. In production, end processing is carried out on special machines, but at home, improvised tools can be used for this purpose. Please note that for this work you will also need to protect your hands with thick cotton gloves or mittens.

You can clean the places of cuts with a file or an emery bar. The file in the process of performing manipulations should be periodically moistened in turpentine or kerosene. When working with thin glass, you need to be very careful.

The next step is polishing the ends, for which a grinder with a grinding wheel is used. The speed of the grinder should be small and be 1200-1700 rpm so that the glass does not overheat. In the first run, you should use coarse-grained paper, then change it to a finer one, and as a final step, you can grind the ends with the finest-grained paper itself. During operation, the glass can be wetted with water. A special smoothness can be achieved using a felt wheel or a special glass polishing paste.

To make the countertop more attractive and unusual, there are several ways to decorate glass. The following methods are often used:

• decoupage;
• glass etching;
• drawing a sandblasting pattern;
• toning;
• image printing;
• stained glass drawing;
• the use of double glass with a decorative layer of flowers, stones, shells, coffee beans and other elements.

Decoupage and stained glass painting are made from the "inside out" of the countertop, so that the drawing is not damaged during operation. In addition to the methods described above, a glass table can be decorated with decorative lighting, which looks very impressive, especially at night.

Leg fixation

Before mounting the legs in each of them, it is necessary to make a hole on the end side. These holes are needed in order to fix special suction cups in them. For greater strength, the suction cups are put on glue.

While the glue dries, mark the places on the countertop with a marker where the legs will be attached. In these areas, it is necessary to degrease the surface with acetone or gasoline.

As for the glue, it is not recommended to use the composition used for mirrors in the manufacture of a glass table, as it dries for a long time and shines through a transparent surface. For a glass table, it is better to purchase a special high-quality glue. On the Russian market, you can find 2 popular varieties of such materials: glass-glass and glass-metal compositions. To polymerize such an adhesive, it must be exposed to an ultraviolet lamp.

The legs are glued to the table one at a time. First, the element is lubricated, put it to a pre-marked place, wait about 30-60 seconds, after which an ultraviolet lamp is directed to this area and left so until the composition is completely polymerized.

Since it will be impossible to dismantle the legs after the final curing of the glue, the places of their attachment should be marked very carefully.

A glass coffee table requires special operating conditions. First of all, we note that you need to handle it carefully, trying not to break the countertop. Caring for such a table is not difficult, you just need to wipe the glass from time to time with a soft cloth or a piece of microfiber using a window cleaner.

Scratches sometimes appear on the glass table. A special GOI paste will help to correct such a defect. It is pushed to the state of very fine crumbs, applied to a piece of cotton wool, a stick or a swab, after which the damaged surface is polished. You don't need to press hard. The scratch is treated for 15 seconds, then the paste is washed off and the procedure is repeated again. In some cases, the number of approaches may be large.

There are other ways to eliminate or mask scratches on glass. You can buy the Polarit product or some of its analogues in the store, you can use a simple toothpaste, although its effectiveness is much lower. You can mask the damage with ordinary clear nail polish.

To prevent scratches, it is better to place napkins or small bamboo mats on the glass table.

Glass coffee tables, photo:

Glass table with your own hands. Video

Recently, furniture made of glass has become increasingly popular. And this is no coincidence, because this material is environmentally friendly and natural, allows you to give lightness, sophistication to the room and visually expand the space. Until recently, glass was used in the manufacture of furniture very rarely, as many people associated it with fragility. However, modern technologies for its production provide excellent strength to products, which makes it possible for interior items and furniture made of glass to withstand significant loads.

The first pieces of furniture made of glass were small tables. Today, glass is used to make shelves, coffee, serving and dining tables, bar counters, kitchen worktops, whatnots, cabinets, racks for equipment, etc. This was also made possible by combining glass with various materials: wood, plastic, metal. The only significant drawback of glass furniture is its cost. To produce a quality product, sometimes it is necessary to perform complex high-tech operations. In addition, glass products are usually made in small quantities according to the designer's sketches.

This also has a significant impact on the final cost. But if you are ready to become both a designer and a craftsman for your product, then its price will become quite acceptable. When choosing glass, it must be remembered that its thickness directly depends on the functional purpose of the future product. So, for the manufacture of a simple shelf, glass with a thickness of 5 mm is quite suitable, and for a table - at least 8 mm. For reference: a sheet of glass with a thickness of 15 mm with dimensions of 1 × 1 m can withstand a load of up to 100 kg.

Glass processing methods

Numerous types of processing of this material allow to significantly expand the scope of glass. First of all, it's cutting.

The main key to the success of such an operation as cutting glass is the glazier's table, which should not have deflections and bumps. Otherwise, the glass can simply burst, crack. Glass cutting can be done with a roller or diamond glass cutter, the main thing is that the tool used in
this, was not worn out.

The main sign of proper cutting is a characteristic hissing-crunchy sound. The glass cutter in action should not creak, squeak, bounce on the glass. The incision line must be carried out in one motion, without stopping and without going back. If you run the glass cutter twice along the same line, the resulting edge will crumble and chip off.

glass cutter

After making the notch line, the glass is tapped on the reverse side with a special hammer or the handle of the glass cutter itself, and then it is broken off with light pressure. To remove small fragments of glass remaining on the fault line, use the slots located on the handle of the glass cutter. After the element of the required size is cut out, its edges should be processed. This will give the edge a rounded and safe appearance. At home, this can be done with an emery bar, periodically wetting the glass with water. The direction of movement of the bar should be along the edge of the glass. In this case, there will be no chips.

To drill holes in glass, you will need a cylindrical diamond-coated glass crown, drills and a plastic water bottle. To avoid overheating of the glass during drilling, it is poured with water. If the glass is thick, it is drilled only halfway, then turned over and the part is drilled through.

The surface of glass or mirror can be either glossy or matte. For matting glass, a special paste is used (for example, "GlassMat"). By the way, applying it through a stencil, you can get a drawing or ornament on the workpiece. Glass processed in this way has a lower surface roughness than mechanically processed glass and a kind of “silky” surface.

If necessary, ordinary glass can be covered with a film for tinting car windows. So you get tinted glass, which will cost you much less than buying ready-made glass with a factory coating.

Shelves

Glass shelves are the perfect solution for small spaces. They help to rationally use the space of the room, without visually reducing it. Also, glass shelves do not create shady areas on the walls, so that the room retains a feeling of lightness and airiness. For the manufacture of glass shelves, you will need a planed wooden beam with a section of 20 × 80-100 mm and glass with a thickness of at least 5 mm

1. From glass, cut out rectangular blanks measuring 200 × 800 mm. Their number depends on how many sections your shelf will have. Finish the edges of the blanks.
2. Saw cuts in each blank from the timber grooves of about 50mm. To do this, it is better to squeeze the bars together and make cuts simultaneously in both blanks. The shelves should slide into these slots with light force. If the grooves are too wide, strips of adhesive tape can be attached to the glass. The edges of the bars can be decorated at your discretion or simply sawed off at an angle of 45 degrees.
3. Carefully attach the beams to the wall, while controlling their location. Insert the shelves into the slots. One or more shelves can be replaced with wooden or laminated chipboard - and then heavier objects can be placed on them

Coffee table

Glass coffee tables as an interior element easily fit into any design composition due to their non-standard features. So, for example, a glass tabletop can be given any shape, and the glass itself can be painted in almost any color.

Glass coffee table height usually does not exceed the curbstone. Its legs are made of chrome-plated steel pipes or wood.

To make a coffee table with a glass top, you will need a chrome-plated pipe with a diameter of 50 mm, fittings for pipes, and glass with a thickness of at least 6 mm.

1. Before proceeding for table making, sketch it. To do this, first plan in which part of the apartment it will be placed. and in what style should be done, to match room interior
2. cut out of glass countertop necessary config. Finish the edges of the workpiece
3. Saw off the required number of blanks for supports (legs) from the pipe. Depending on the design their table can be three or four.
4. To the countertop using special glue (it is better to use UV - glue) when gluing the top supports. Connect each support with threadedstuds with thrust bushing cylindrical, installed in the upper part of each support.
5. Insert thrust cylindrical bushings into the lower part of the supports. Screw into the support bushings flat or wheeled

You can make several coffee tables of different heights and combine them. The originality of this design lies in the fact that the entire contents of the lower shelf can be viewed without looking under the countertop.

Tiered coffee table

Cabinet for equipment

A glass cabinet for equipment does not clutter up the space and visually makes it freer, while a TV, DVD-meep or music
the center look elegant on her. Despite the fact that there is a huge selection of cabinets in stores, their cost is very significant. In addition, it can be difficult to find the right size and design to match your interior and equipment. You can solve these problems by making a glass cabinet with your own hands.

To make it, you will need a chrome-plated pipe with a diameter of 50 mm, fittings for pipes, glass 10 mm thick for the top shelf and at least 5 mm for the bottom ones.

1. Cut glass shelves to size. Process the edges of the workpieces
2. Cut off the support parts from the pipe: four 150 mm long, four 550 mm long and four 50 mm long. Dimensions are approximate and can be changed to suit your project.
3. Attach the top shelf to the supports with glue, as described earlier.
4. Assemble the cabinet upside down. To do this, lay the top shelf of the cabinet with the glued top supports on a flat surface. Screw the threaded rods into the threaded holes of the upper supports. Fasten the support parts with a length of 150 mm to the studs.
5. Secure the middle and bottom with break knots. To do this, drill holes with a diameter of 10 mm at the corners of the shelves.
   Insert thrust cylindrical bushings into the lower part of the supports. Screw the flat supports into the bushings as described.
6. her. Holding the cabinet by its supports, carefully turn it over.

Thanks to the play of sunlight, glass furniture in interior design can enliven any environment and create a feeling of weightlessness, airiness, extraordinary comfort and coziness. Cabinets, tables and coffee tables, cabinets and other items made entirely of glass or combined with glass elements do not clutter up the space at all, but, on the contrary, visually expand it, which plays a significant role in the arrangement of small spaces. Thanks to the transparency and clarity of the designs, glass can be called a real find, allowing designers to implement a wide variety of ideas and solutions.

Video: Do-it-yourself glass luminous shelves

• Advantages and disadvantages of glass tables in the interior
• DIY high-tech glass table
• Glass table with wrought iron legs

Glass tables complemented, for example, with wrought iron legs, are very elegant and refined interior elements. However, how to make such a table with your own hands and in general, is it possible to make it yourself? Answer: yes, it is possible. The following tips will help you make this piece of furniture with your own hands. However, before you get down to work, remember that glass is a rather complex material. It must be handled with extreme care. The option “and so it will do” in the case of a glass table will not work. You will have to throw all your efforts to make a truly worthwhile thing for your interior design.

Advantages and disadvantages of glass tables in the interior

In addition to the fact that glass is a “delicate material”, you need to know about its other advantages and disadvantages before you take on the job yourself. So, let's start with the benefits, because they are really tangible.

1. This is a very stylish element of the interior. It will look good in almost any interior style, especially if you combine glass and wrought iron legs.
2. Practicality. Modern glass tables are designed to be truly functional pieces of furniture, not just serving as decorations.
3. Finally, these tables have a high level of durability. They are not afraid of high temperatures or humidity. So, unlike a wooden table, a glass table with wrought iron legs can perfectly get along in the kitchen. In addition, it can be washed with any household detergent, which makes the table easy to clean.

The main disadvantage of a do-it-yourself glass table is that it is very easily soiled. It will permanently leave fingerprints and other traces. That is why it will have to be washed very often. However, this drawback is solved by replacing the traditional glass with a matte glass of the desired tinting.

In addition, if you decide to make a table with your own hands, do not forget about the high cost of materials. This is especially true if you want to combine glass with wrought iron elements.

DIY high-tech glass table

The easiest way to make a glass table with your own hands is to use simple metal tubes and glass. The simplicity of this method is that all you need to do is glue all the elements together. You can buy a ready-made sheet of glass or cut the table top into any shape you want. Metal pipes can be bought at a hardware store.

To make this piece of furniture in the now fashionable high-tech style, you first need to choose the right glue. If you use the standard mirror adhesive, it will show through the glass when it dries. Accordingly, this option does not suit us. Yes, and this type of glue dries for a very long time, which is unacceptable in our case, when there are no other types of fasteners.

That's why you should go looking for special glue. It is of two types: "glass-metal" and "glass-glass". Both domestic and foreign manufacturers produce such glue, Polish and German glass glue is especially appreciated. Please note that glass glue dries only under the influence of a special building UV lamp (a regular medical UV lamp will not work). Such a lamp can be rented at a hardware store. Working with her is extremely easy. The glue completely polymerizes under the action of rays in 30 seconds.

Glass table with wrought iron legs

The combination of glass and exquisite forged metal can give any interior a touch of elegant home comfort. The fact is that the openwork weaving of powerful metal is perfectly combined with the subtle elegance of glass. In this case, it is better to abandon matte countertops and choose the option with transparent glass, because the beautiful wrought iron legs should remain visible. In addition, so that a table with wrought iron legs does not get lost in the design, it must be supplemented with chairs in the same style. Of course, the chairs do not have to be completely made of forging. It is enough to have a couple of forged parts.

In addition to beauty, such a table also has practical advantages. It is very stable, and due to its rather large weight, no one will be able to accidentally budge it. And besides, forging opens up the widest scope for imagination. Find a good master blacksmith and he will recreate any intricate ideas from your sketches.

Glass looks stylish and elegant, it does not weigh down the interior, but rather, on the contrary, visually makes it lighter and more spacious.

Such a table is perfect if not for any, then for most styles of interior design, although it will be especially good in a modern interior. True, ready-made glass tables are not a cheap pleasure.

But there is a way out: why not make it yourself? In this article, we will talk about how you can independently make a high-tech glass table with metal legs. But, if desired, by changing the design of the tabletop and legs, according to the same instructions, you can make a glass table in any other style: both modern and historical.

Due to its transparency, glass furniture unloads the interior of the room, makes it less bulky, visually expands and fills with air and light.

Due to this feature, such furniture is especially often used in the design of interiors of small apartments, offices, meeting rooms.

It should be noted here that glass is a material self-sufficient A: It looks great on its own. However, it is rare to find entirely glass furniture, with the exception of shelving for storing collections of books or figurines. Much more often it is combined with some other material, such as wood or metal. At the same time, glass does not lose its aesthetic qualities. On the contrary, combined furniture allows him to literally transform and play with new, sometimes unexpected colors.

For example, when making a table, you can combine a glass surface with forged or carved wooden legs, which will give the furniture a more elegant look.

Advice. An excellent design solution is to place a round or oval glass top on a large and stable interior sculpture. Such an impromptu leg without special expenses and additional decor will make the table unique and give it a special flavor. For example, if a sculpture in the form of an elephant is used as a stand for the tabletop, then such a table will be especially good in ethnic African style. A leg in the form of a Greek statue will allow you to successfully use it in the design of a classic interior.

As mentioned above, glass furniture, including tables, is perfect for almost any interior, and, in addition, visually expands small rooms and makes them brighter. But she, in addition to aesthetic qualities, has many other advantages:

But, despite all these undeniable advantages, glass furniture also has limitations:

• stains may appear on its surface after insufficiently high-quality wiping;
• objects knock loudly when they are placed on a glass tabletop or shelf;
• fingerprints may remain on the glass;
• the smooth surface of ordinary glass is easily scratched, in addition, with careless handling of furniture, chips can even form on it;
• ordinary glass furniture can break;
• Purchased glass furniture is not cheap.

Important. To make a glass table, it is better to choose triplex or tempered glass as a material: this will give the finished product the necessary strength. If ordinary glass is taken, then it is desirable to strengthen it with a special protective film that protects the surface of the glass from mechanical damage, and in case of accidental breaking, from scattering into fragments.

Tools and fasteners

Before starting work, it is necessary to prepare the necessary tools and fasteners. So, to make a high-tech glass table with metal legs, you will need:

In addition to this, it will also be useful:

• acetone or gasoline;
• vegetable oil for wetting the glass cutter wheel;
• paste for polishing glass surfaces;
• a sheet of chipboard or plywood on which glass will be cut;
• protective gloves and goggles.

How to make a glass tabletop?

As a material for the manufacture of countertops, you should take durable glass not less than 6 and not more than 12 mm thick.

When cutting it, it is necessary to observe safety precautions, as well as be able to properly use a glass cutter and other tools.

Important. It should be remembered that cutting glass is a rather traumatic process and in order not to get hurt, it is necessary to work in a place specially equipped for this, after putting on goggles and gloves or mittens. It is also advisable to wear a respirator or at least cover your face with a medical mask to avoid getting glass dust into the respiratory tract.

As a rule, injuries when cutting glass occur due to excessive pressure on the glass cutter. In this case, it can slip on a smooth surface, which is fraught not only with serious cuts, but also with irreversible damage to the material.

In addition, by no means do not cut glass on a canopy or holding it on your knees.

A properly equipped cutting site should be a fairly large sheet of plywood or chipboard laid on a stable surface. Its size should be such that the cut line fits on it completely. In order to prevent dust particles or other small debris from being pressed against the surface of the workplace with a sheet of glass, it is advisable to cover the plywood with a thick cloth or cover it with a piece of old carpet.

Important. Immediately before marking the countertop, you should wash and dry all the tools and, of course, the glass itself. The wheel of the roller glass cutter must first be moistened with oil: this will not only facilitate its movement, but also make the cut line clearer and thinner.

Glass cutting rules:

• during operation, do not press on the roller glass cutter with all your might: the pressure must correspond to the thickness of the material;
• if the first time it was not possible to cut the glass, then you need to run the roller glass cutter several more times in the same place, while pressing the tool should not be strong;
• after the cut is made, it is necessary to knock on the front side of the material with a rubber mallet;
• if uneven trimmings remain on the cut part, then they can be removed using the same glass cutter;
• if the countertop has an uneven edge, then a full-size detail is drawn on paper and fixed on the glass, after which it is circled around the contour with a glass cutter;
• if a round tabletop is planned, then in the middle of a piece of glass it is necessary to attach a thread or a thin rope with a glass cutter tied to its edge, with which a circle is drawn on the surface of the material. In order to evenly remove the excess without damaging the finished part, straight lines are drawn from its edge to the edges of a piece of glass, like the sun's rays in children's drawings.

  After that, the excess trimming is carefully removed, one segment at a time. An oval tabletop is cut according to the same principle, with the only difference being that the thread or rope will need two different lengths, since it will be necessary to cut arcs of two different diameters with a glass cutter.

Important. When working with a diamond glass cutter, you need to remember that you can draw a line with it, unlike a roller glass cutter, only once, while acting with moderate force.

After the part is cut out, it must be polish.

To do this, put a nozzle on the drill with sandpaper glued to it with double-sided tape, and then at low speed (no more than 1700 revolutions) process the edges of the future tabletop from all sides.

Then, with the help of a felt circle lubricated with a special paste, put on the nozzle of a drill instead of sandpaper, the edges of the glass polished also from all sides and at the same speed as when grinding.

The basis for the tabletop is ready, now you can proceed directly to the assembly of the table.

Manufacturing and assembly

To assemble a finished table:

Important. The glue must be of high quality, specially designed for fastening glass parts. Cheap glue, when dried, leaves ugly stains that will be very clearly visible through the countertop.

How to decorate?

Despite the fact that the glass tabletop looks stylish and elegant even without the use of additional decor, it can be made even more interesting and attractive in appearance. There are many ways to decorate glass, and almost all of them are applicable when making a table by hand. The most common of them are:

Do you want to diversify the interior without extra costs? A DIY glass table is a great idea. A unique product will update the interior of the room. Of course, independent production of furniture cannot be called a simple matter, but the result is worth it. Yes, and such a product will cost much cheaper than purchased. Today's article is a detailed description of the process of making a table with a glass top.

Design features

The most popular are products with a monolithic countertop. But there are also transforming tables, with the possibility of extending the table top. The form may be different:

• Round.
• Oval.
• Rectangular.
• Square.

Glass can be ordinary, transparent, as well as frosted or tinted:

• The transparent design is the perfect solution for small spaces. It creates the impression of soaring, grace and lightness.
• The matte countertop often has a greenish tint. This is the natural color of the glass.

Important! Colored material attracts attention, first of all, with its unusualness and originality. For example, black glass is a great addition to a gothic or modern style. It will look great with chairs made of white metal or plastic.

For the manufacture of the underframe, most often, chrome-plated metal or wood is used. Wicker underframe, forged metal or durable high-quality plastic look good. If the tabletop is made with a frame, then the frame must be made of the same material as the underframe.

DIY glass table - advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of glass tables include:

• Beautiful appearance. Such a product looks stylish and favorably transforms the interior.

Important! Especially organic glass fits into the concept of modern styles - Hi-tech and Minimalism.

• Practicality. Thanks to modern technology, there are high-strength grades of glass. Furniture is also safe, where the glass is covered with a special film. Even if broken, the countertop does not crumble to smithereens. The fragments are firmly glued to the film.
• Persistence. The material is resistant to high humidity and significant temperature changes. It is chemically neutral with respect to aggressive substances. Glass does not absorb grease and dyes. This compares favorably with the usual countertops made of wood, MDF and chipboard.

However, there are also disadvantages:

• Fingerprints and traces of dirt are clearly visible on the surface.
• If you put dishes on it, then there is a rather loud noise.

Important! Compared to the advantages, these disadvantages are not critical at all:

• Fingerprints are invisible on the matte surface.
• The use of special caring compositions allows you to maintain products in perfect condition.
• The problem of noise is also quite solvable. It is enough to purchase special coasters for dishes.

DIY manufacturing technology

Consider how you can make a beautiful glass table yourself.

Training

First, decide where the new piece of furniture will stand, how you are going to use it. For example, as a coffee table or for eating. Take all the necessary measurements, draw the product to scale, indicating the location of the legs and the size of the tabletop.

To make a glass table with your own hands, you will need:

• Glass cutter - roller or diamond.
• Long metal ruler.
• Hammer with a rubber striker.
• Pliers equipped with rubber pads (for breaking glass).
• Bulgarian.
• File or emery bar.
• Turpentine or kerosene.
• Just glass. Which option to choose - transparent, textured, tinted or mirror, you decide.

Important! It is advisable to use high-strength hardened material for the manufacture of countertops, with a thickness of 0.6 to 1.2 cm.

The main thing is that the glass is dry and clean. It is best to dedust it with soft textiles and a soda solution. Such preparation will not be superfluous, because dirty glass can break away from the cut, and the tool quickly fails.

Cutting glass:

• Lay the prepared glass on a table or plywood sheet.

Important! Make sure that the material is adjacent to the surface with its entire plane.

• Place a thin rod (about 3 mm in diameter) under the cut line.
• Place a ruler on the glass so that it is 2-3 mm from the cut line.
• The optimal pressure force on the glass is 2 kg - this can be easily checked with conventional scales.

Cutting Features

It is best to cut glass using a thin metal ruler. Highly qualified craftsmen cut the material by eye, according to the markings previously made with a marker or along the edge of the table.

Important! If you do not have much experience in cutting glass, then it is better to practice on scraps beforehand. This is not so difficult and will take a little time, but the chance of cutting the material perfectly will increase significantly. Try to draw only one cutting line.

Glass is broken off by hands in protective gloves. At the same time, position the glass so that the cutting line and the edge of the cutting table coincide. Press on the glass with a sharp movement, and it will break off along the cut line.

Important! If sharp edges or glass residue remain, remove them with rubber-backed pliers. For greater efficiency, place paper folded in several layers under the jaws of the pliers.

If the glass is curved, mark the stencil and pass the glass cutter along the line. Do the same for the round cut. To make unnecessary glass easier to break off, make special “rays” and break off in parts.

Edge processing

Even if you worked with the utmost care, sharp “teeth” and protrusions remain along the edge of the edge, which must be removed. Of course, the best option for processing glass edges is a special machine. But manual processing is also quite effective:

• Work at the same time only in cotton mittens.
• Use a file or abrasive block to file the edges.
• Be sure to moisten the file with turpentine or kerosene.
• To make the edges even, evenly move the file or block along the edge.
• For grinding and polishing the edge, use a drill with nozzles or a grinder.
• Grinding speed should be low (1200-1700) rpm.
• Sandpaper grit varies from coarse to fine.
• Polishing is the final step. Perform it with a felt circle, using a grinder or drill.