Creating a wooden end table with a tambour door is a rewarding woodworking project that combines both functionality and a touch of elegance. Tambour doors are unique because they roll up or slide open rather than swinging out, offering a sleek, space-saving design. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you craft this beautiful piece of furniture.
Materials and Tools You’ll Need:
- Wood: Choose hardwood like oak, maple, or walnut for durability and aesthetic appeal. You’ll need enough for the tabletop, sides, bottom, and tambour door.
- Tambour Door Material: You can purchase pre-made tambour strips or make them yourself from thin slats of wood or plywood.
- Wood glue
- Screws: For assembling the table frame.
- Wood finish: Stain, varnish, or paint as desired.
- Tools:
- Table saw or circular saw
- Jigsaw
- Router (for edges and tambour groove)
- Drill
- Clamps
- Sandpaper or sander
- Measuring tape and square
Step 1: Plan and Design
Before cutting any wood, make sure you have a clear design for your table. You can sketch out the dimensions and layout for the table, ensuring you have the right space for the tambour door. The typical end table is around 24” high, with a width and depth of about 20” to 30”.
The tambour door will typically cover the front of the table, but you’ll need to create a groove or track system for it to slide. The door should be a bit smaller than the opening to ensure smooth operation.
Step 2: Cut the Wood Pieces
Start by cutting all the necessary pieces for the table frame. These should include:
- Top: The top surface of the table.
- Sides and Back: The four sides and the back panel (optional, depending on your design).
- Bottom: The bottom panel, which can be a solid piece or a shelf depending on your design.
- Door Frame: A frame for the tambour door, which will need grooves for the tambour to slide in.
Use a table saw or circular saw for straight cuts, ensuring all pieces are square. Double-check the measurements as you go along.
Step 3: Assemble the Table Frame
Start assembling the frame of the end table by joining the sides to the bottom and the back (if applicable). For a simple frame, you can use wood glue and screws, ensuring each corner is square.
If you want extra durability, you can reinforce the joints with dowels or pocket screws. Make sure the frame is stable before moving on.
Step 4: Create the Tambour Door Track
Now, focus on the tambour door mechanism. The tambour door needs to slide open and closed smoothly. To do this, you will need to create a groove or track for the door to roll along.
- Use a router or table saw to cut a groove along the top and bottom of the opening where the tambour will slide. This groove should be just wide enough to hold the tambour strips but not so wide that it wobbles.
- Make sure to test the fit of the tambour door by sliding it through the groove before proceeding. You may need to adjust the width of the groove slightly to allow for smooth motion.
Step 5: Prepare the Tambour Door
Now, it’s time to build the tambour door itself. If you’re not using pre-made tambour strips, you can make your own by cutting thin strips of wood or plywood. These strips are typically around 1/4” wide, but you can adjust depending on your preference. The length of the tambour door should be just slightly taller than the height of the opening, so it can cover the entire space.
You will need to join the strips together, creating a flexible “fabric” of wood that can roll up or slide. You can achieve this by gluing each strip onto a backing material (like thin plywood), ensuring each strip overlaps slightly with the next. Once the glue dries, you’ll have a functioning tambour door.
If you want the tambour to be more flexible, you can also use a piece of fabric or leather between each slat, but wood is the most traditional approach.
Step 6: Attach the Tambour Door
Once the tambour door is ready, it’s time to attach it to the table. Use small rollers or a simple pivot system to allow the tambour door to slide smoothly in the track you created earlier. You can use small metal or plastic rollers that fit into the grooves or simply allow the tambour to slide directly in the grooves if it’s a tight fit.
If you’re using a pivot system, you may need to create small dowels or pins to keep the door in place at the top and bottom of the track. Test the movement to ensure it opens and closes with ease.
Step 7: Install the Table Top
After the tambour door is in place, you can attach the tabletop. Apply wood glue along the edges where the top meets the frame, and clamp it in place. Add screws for extra stability if desired.
Make sure everything is aligned properly, and once the glue has dried, you can remove the clamps.
Step 8: Sand and Finish
Now it’s time to sand the entire table smooth. Start with a coarser grit sandpaper (around 80 grit) and work your way up to finer grits (220 grit) for a smooth finish.
After sanding, you can stain or paint the table as desired. Make sure to apply a protective finish like polyurethane to keep the wood durable and resistant to scratches.
Step 9: Final Assembly and Touch-Ups
Once the table is stained and the finish is dry, you can do a final assembly. Attach any additional parts (like drawer handles or legs), and make sure the tambour door works smoothly.
Check for any rough edges or imperfections and do any necessary touch-ups.
Step 10: Enjoy Your New End Table!
Once everything is dry and assembled, your wooden end table with a tambour door is ready to be used. Whether it’s placed next to a sofa or chair, this piece is both functional and stylish, offering hidden storage behind a beautifully designed sliding door.
If you enjoyed making this wooden end table, consider expanding your woodworking skills further by exploring more advanced techniques and designs.
For more woodworking plans and tutorials, be sure to check out Teds Woodworking Course: Teds Woodworking Course