Build a wooden lazy susan for your dining table to easily share food, condiments, and decor. This beginner-friendly guide provides simple steps and material lists to create this functional and attractive dining upgrade.
Tired of reaching across the table, trying to snag that last bread roll or pass the salt? We’ve all been there! A wobbly, homemade concoction might seem tricky to build, but it’s actually a fantastic project for any DIYer. In just a few hours, you can create a smooth-swiveling centerpiece that brings convenience and a touch of handcrafted charm to your mealtimes. Get ready to impress your guests and simplify your life!
We’re going to walk through building a sturdy, reliable wooden lazy susan from start to finish. No complex joinery, no fancy tools needed – just straightforward steps to get you spinning in no time.
Table of Contents
Why Build a Wooden Lazy Susan? An Essential Dining Upgrade
A lazy susan isn’t just a kitchen gadget; it’s a game-changer for any dining table. Think about it: you can effortlessly rotate dishes, appetizers, drinks, or even decorative items without having to get up or disturb everyone else. It’s perfect for those large family dinners, intimate gatherings, or even just your everyday meals. Plus, building one yourself adds a personal touch that store-bought versions just can’t match.
Benefits of a DIY Wooden Lazy Susan
Beyond the obvious convenience, building your own lazy susan offers several advantages:
- Customization: You get to choose the size, wood type, and finish to perfectly match your decor.
- Cost-Effective: Often, building it yourself is cheaper than buying a quality, pre-made one.
- Durability: A well-built wooden lazy susan can last for years, unlike some of the flimsier plastic models.
- Sense of Accomplishment: There’s a real satisfaction in creating something useful with your own hands.
- Gift Potential: A handmade lazy susan makes a thoughtful and practical gift.
Choosing Your Wood: Material Matters
The type of wood you select will impact the look, durability, and cost of your lazy susan. For a beginner-friendly project, hardwoods are a great choice because they are strong and hold up well. Softwoods can work, but they may dent or scratch more easily.
Popular Wood Options for Lazy Susans
Here are a few excellent options:
- Pine: An affordable and easy-to-work-with softwood. It’s readily available and takes finishes well, but can be prone to dents.
- Oak: A beautiful, strong hardwood known for its distinct grain pattern. It’s durable and looks fantastic with a clear or stained finish.
- Maple: Another excellent and durable hardwood. It has a fine, even grain that’s great for a smooth finish and holds up very well to use.
- Walnut: For a touch of
luxury, walnut offers a rich, dark color and beautiful grain. It’s a bit pricier but truly stunning.
For this guide, we’ll assume you’re using standard 3/4-inch thick lumber. You’ll need two pieces, cut to your desired diameter. A common size for a dining table is 16 to 18 inches in diameter for the top piece, and a slightly smaller base, perhaps 10 to 12 inches.
Tools and Materials You’ll Need
Don’t worry if you don’t have a professional workshop! Most of these tools are common in a DIYer’s toolkit, and you might even be able to borrow some from friends or rent them if needed. Safety first, always!
Essential Tools
- Tape Measure: For accurate measurements.
- Pencil: To mark your wood.
- Circular Saw or Jigsaw: To cut your wood circles. A jigsaw is often easier for making perfect circles.
- Sander (Orbital or Belt) & Sandpaper: Grit options like 120, 180, and 220 will be perfect for smoothing.
- Drill/Driver: For pre-drilling holes and driving screws.
- Clamps: To hold pieces together while assembling. You’ll want at least two.
- Safety Glasses: Absolutely mandatory when cutting or sanding!
- Hearing Protection: Recommended when using power tools for extended periods.
- Dust Mask: To avoid inhaling sawdust.
Materials List
- Wood: Two pieces of 3/4-inch thick lumber cut to your desired diameters (e.g., 18-inch and 12-inch circles for the main lazy susan).
- Lazy Susan Hardware: A metal bearing that allows for smooth 360-degree rotation. Look for one with at least a 4-inch diameter for stability. You can find these at most hardware stores or online.
- Wood Screws: Size appropriate for your wood thickness and bearing (usually #6 or #8, 1-inch to 1.5-inch long).
- Wood Glue: For extra strength in your joints.
- Finishing Supplies: Wood stain, poly
urethane, wax, or oil (e.g., mineral oil for food-safe finishes).
Step-by-Step: Building Your Wooden Lazy Susan
Step 1: Cut Your Wood Circles
This is where you’ll create the top and bottom pieces of your lazy susan. If you’re using a jigsaw, you can create a pivot point to cut a perfect circle. For a circular saw, you might need a circle-cutting jig, or you can have your lumber yard or a local saw shop cut them for you – often for a small fee. This is a great option if you’re new to using saws on circular cuts.
Pro Tip: If you want to ensure perfect circles and don’t have a jig, many home improvement stores offer cutting services for a nominal fee. It’s worth asking!
Step 2: Sand Everything Smooth
Once your circles are cut, it’s time to make them feel good. Start with a coarser grit sandpaper (like 120) to remove any rough edges or saw marks. Then, move to a finer grit (180, then 220) to get a silky-smooth surface. Don’t forget the edges; you want them to feel pleasant to the touch.
A good sanding job makes a huge difference in the final look and feel of your project. Make sure to wear your dust mask and safety glasses during this stage!
Step 3: Prepare for the Bearing
Take your bottom piece of wood. Find the exact center. You can do this by drawing diagonal lines from edge to edge; where they intersect is the center. Mark the screw holes of your lazy susan bearing onto this center point.
Now, it’s time to attach the bearing to the bottom circle. Most bearings have pre-drilled holes. Carefully place the bearing on the center of the bottom wood circle and mark these holes. You’ll want to pre-drill pilot holes for your screws. This prevents the wood from splitting and makes driving the screws much easier.
Important Note on Bearings: There are two common types of lazy susan bearings: the flat rotating plate type and the ball-bearing ring type. For this project, we’re assuming a standard ball-bearing ring, which typically mounts flush. Check the instructions that come with your specific bearing.
Step 4: Attach the Lazy Susan Bearing to the Base
Using your drill/driver, screws, and a bit of wood glue for extra security, carefully attach the lazy susan bearing to the bottom wood circle. Make sure the bearing is perfectly centered. Drive the screws in firmly but don’t overtighten, which could strip the wood.
One piece of your lazy susan is now almost complete!
Step 5: Mark and Attach the Top Piece
Place your top wood circle on a flat surface, finished side up. Apply a generous amount of wood glue to the top surface of the lazy susan bearing that is now attached to the bottom circle. You want good coverage for a strong bond.
Carefully center the top wood circle over the bearing and press it down firmly. You can use clamps to hold it in place while the glue dries. For added security, you can pre-drill pilot holes through the edges of the top circle and into the bottom circle, and drive in a few screws from the top. Be sure these screws are not too long, or they will go all the way through the top piece!
Tip for Centering: Before applying glue, you can place the top piece on the bearing and gently eyeball the centering or even use a ruler to measure the distance from the edge of the top piece to the edge of the bearing all the way around. Once you’re happy with the placement, then add the glue.
Step 6: Finishing Touches
Once the glue is fully dry (check the glue manufacturer’s instructions, usually 12-24 hours), you’ll want to apply your chosen finish. If you plan to use this for food, opt for food-safe finishes like mineral oil or a beeswax-based polish. For general use, you can use stains, polyurethane, or clear coats to protect the wood and enhance its beauty.
Apply your finish according to the product’s directions. This usually involves applying coats, letting them dry, and lightly sanding between coats with a very fine grit (220 or higher) for a super smooth finish. For food-safe finishes like mineral oil, just apply it liberally and wipe off any excess.
You can find excellent resources on wood finishing, including food-safe options, from organizations like the University of Minnesota Extension.
Optional: Adding Feet
For extra stability and to prevent the bottom of your lazy susan from scratching your table, you can add small rubber or felt feet. Simply attach them to the underside of the bottom wood circle using small screws or strong adhesive.
To attach them:
- Turn the assembled lazy susan upside down.
- Space 3-4 feet evenly around the edge of the bottom circle.
- Mark their positions.
- Attach the feet according to their specific instructions.
Customization Ideas for Your Lazy Susan
Once you’ve mastered the basic build, you can get creative! Here are a few ideas:
- Two-Tiered: Build a larger base unit and then mount a smaller lazy susan on top for extra storage or display.
- Riser: Attach small wooden blocks or furniture feet to the bottom of your lazy susan. This raises the serving surface for a more dramatic presentation and can help clear chair legs.
- Carving/Engraving: If you have a CNC machine or are skilled at wood carving, add unique designs or monograms.
- Color: Paint the top or bottom in a contrasting or complementary color to your dining room decor.
- Edge Profiles: Use a router to create decorative edges on your wood circles before assembly.
Understanding Lazy Susan Bearings: Types and Features
The bearing is the heart of your lazy susan, allowing it to spin. Choosing the right one will ensure a smooth, durable experience.
Common Bearing Types
| Bearing Type | Description | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ball Bearing Ring | The most common type, with balls running in a raceway between two metal rings. Mounts flush to the surface. | Smooth rotation, readily available, typically affordable. | Can accumulate dust; some cheaper models can be noisy. |
| Turntable Bearing (often telescoping mount) | Features a central pivot and often adjustable mounting plates. Can be mounted from the underside of a tabletop. | Very stable, can handle heavier loads, some are height-adjustable. | More expensive, can be bulkier, might require more precise installation. |
| Roller Bearing | Uses rollers instead of balls for rotation. | Can be very smooth and quiet, often rated for higher weight capacities. | Less common for DIY projects, can be more expensive. |
Key Bearing Features to Consider
- Size/Diameter: A larger bearing provides more stability and better weight distribution. For dining table lazy susans, 4-inch to 8-inch diameters are common.
- Weight Capacity: Check the manufacturer’s rating. Ensure it can handle the weight of your dishes, food, and the lazy susan itself.
- Material: Most are steel, which is durable. Some higher-end ones might use treated steel or aluminum.
- Mounting: Ensure the bearing’s mounting holes match the screws you plan to use and your wood thickness.
For most DIY dining table lazy susans, a 4-inch or 6-inch steel ball bearing ring is an excellent choice. You can typically find good quality ones from brands like:
- KIPP
- Heavy Duty Hardware
- Or generic brands found at hardware retailers like Home Depot or Lowe’s.
Always check reviews and specifications before purchasing.
Safety First: Woodworking Best Practices
As your friendly neighborhood Nailerguy, I can’t stress this enough: safety is paramount. Woodworking is incredibly rewarding, but it requires respect for the tools.
General Safety Rules
- Eye Protection: Always wear safety glasses. Wood chips, sawdust, and flying debris can cause serious eye injury.
- Hearing Protection: Prolonged exposure to loud tools can damage your hearing. Earplugs or earmuffs are a good idea.
- Dust Mask: Sawdust is not good to breathe in. A mask will protect your lungs.
- Secure Your Work: Use clamps to hold your wood steady while cutting or drilling. Never hold small pieces by hand when operating power tools.
- Know Your Tools: Read the manuals for your power tools. Understand how they work and their safety features before you use them.
- Sharp Blades: Dull blades are more dangerous than sharp ones because they require more force and can sometimes bind or kick back. Keep your saw blades sharp.
- Unplug When Not in Use: Always unplug tools when changing blades, bits, or performing maintenance.
- Clean Workspace: A tidy workspace reduces trip hazards and makes it easier to focus.
You can find more comprehensive safety guidelines from reputable sources like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which offers essential safety information for woodworking environments.
Maintenance and Care
Taking care of your new wooden lazy susan is simple. For finished pieces (varnished, polyurethaned), a simple wipe-down with a damp cloth is usually all that’s needed. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners.
If you used a food-safe finish like mineral oil, reapply it periodically (every few months, or when the wood looks dry) to keep the surface protected and looking its best. You can simply wipe on more oil and wipe off the excess.
Periodically check the screws holding the bearing to ensure they haven’t loosened. Tighten them gently if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best type of wood for a beginner to use for a lazy susan?
Pine is an excellent choice for beginners. It’s affordable, widely available, and easy to cut and sand. While it might dent more easily than hardwoods, it’s forgiving for first-time projects.
How do I cut a perfect circle in wood?
For beginners, a jigsaw with a circle-cutting jig or a template is the easiest method. You can also have your lumber supplier or a local saw shop cut the circles for you, which is often quite inexpensive and ensures accuracy.
What size lazy susan is best for a dining table?
A common and practical size for a dining table lazy susan is between 14 and 20 inches in diameter for the top surface. This is large enough to hold several dishes but small enough not to overwhelm the table.
How do I make sure my lazy susan spins smoothly?
Ensure you use a quality lazy susan bearing and that it is perfectly centered between the top and bottom wood pieces. Pre-drilling pilot holes and carefully driving the screws will also help maintain alignment for smooth rotation.