How to Build a Lazy Susan

There never seems to be enough counter space, or cabinet space. One way to get more space without a lot of trouble or expense is to build a lazy Susan. Ron shows us how in this next workshop segment.

Click Here For a list of what you will need in order to complete this project.

1. Cut circles:

• Ron began the project with two ¾ inch birch plywood squares.

• Ron would use the plywood (cut into circles) and a simple bearing assembly to create a turntable.

• Ron used a jigsaw to cut the plywood squares into circles. To create a very clean circle, Ron created a circle-cutting jig that, when used along with the jig saw, would make a perfect circle every time.

• Ron created the jig out of ¼ inch tempered hardboard roughly 12" X 4". The size of the jig, of course, depends on the size of the circle desired. He began by clamping this piece to the workbench.

• Using a carpenter's square and pencil, Ron drew a line across one end of the hardboard.

• With the jigsaw, Ron cut down the line to the mark he had drawn about an inch from the edge of the hardboard.

• To temporarily attach the circle-cutting template to the bottom of the jigsaw, Ron used a piece of double-stick carpet tape.

• Ron placed the blade of the jigsaw in place in the groove he had cut earlier, and then stuck it right onto the hardboard with the tape.

• Next, Ron set the assembly on the piece of birch plywood with the jigsaw blade touching the edge.

• He drove a small nail through the hardboard and plywood as a pivot point and was ready to cut.

• All he needed to do now was move the saw in a circle.

• Ron stacked three pieces of scrap plywood and bound them together and to the workbench with double-stick tape. This created the platform he used for cutting the circles.

• The result was a clean, accurate disk.

• Ron repeated the process to cut a smaller circle out of the other birch square for the base of the lazy Susan.

2. Edge banding:

• Ron attached his first circle to the vice to show us how to use a material called wood edge banding to turn plywood into something that looked just like solid wood.