How to Build a Glass Table for Taxidermy

A taxidermy table is both a practical table and a display case for a taxidermy collection. They are often crafted from decorative hardwood, which holds the glass sheets as side-walls. These tables can be very expensive to buy, but you can save money if you take the time to build one yourself. The construction of this style of table is fairly involved, and it will take time to build one that will adequately showcase your taxidermy collection. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Lay your plywood flat. Measure out and draw a 2-by-2-inch square in each corner. The corner of each square should share the corner of the plywood. Use your handsaw to cut out each square. This will provide a spot for each 2-by-2-inch support for your taxidermy table.

2

Position a 2-by-2-by-21-inch board along one of the 21-inch edges of the plywood, between the squares. It should be flush with the edge of the plywood. Pre-drill four 3/32-inch holes through the plywood and into the board. This is to prevent the screws from breaking. Space them 4-inches apart, so they are along the 1-inch center of the board, and so the outside holes are 2 inches away from the ends of the board. Drill a -inch deep counter-sink hole in each of the holes on the plywood. Screw the plywood to the boards. Pre-drill holes, and drill countersink holes for every screwing application in this project. Repeat this process on the opposite side of the plywood.

3

Position the 40-inch board between the squares that were removed in the same manner as you did with the boards in the previous step. Screw the board in the same manner, but space the screws 9 inches apart, so the outside holes are 2 inches away from the ends of the board. Repeat this process on the opposite side of the plywood. All of the boards should be on the same side of the plywood.

4

Position the fence on the table saw 15/16 inch away from the the blade. Position the blade -inch above the table. Use the fence as a guide and run each 20-inch board across the blade so you have a 20-inch long groove. Run each board across again in the same manner, but this time so the first groove on each board is perpendicular to the blade. You should end up with two 1/8-inch-wide-by-1/2-inch-deep grooves that are 20-inches long on each board. They should make a right angle when looking at the ends of the boards. They will secure the glass sides on your table.

5

Lay two 20-inch boards parallel, with their outside edges 25 inches apart. One pair of the grooves should be facing each other, and the other facing the floor. Place a 25-inch board perpendicularly on top of them, so the ends of the board are flush with the sides of the 20-inch boards, and so the top edge of the 25-inch board is flush with the ends of the 20-inch boards. Screw the 25-inch board to the 20-inch boards. Use 4 screws positioned 1 inch apart vertically, and inch away from the ends of the 25-inch board. Repeat this process with the other two 20-inch boards, and the other 25-inch board.

6

Position 20-inch boards upright, with the 25-inch boards on top, parallel, 38 inches apart, and on the outside of the 20-inch boards. Screw the 42-inch boards to the 20-inch boards just as you did with the 25-inch boards, however instead of screwing inch away from the ends, screw 1 inch away from the ends. The ends of the 42-inch boards should be flush with the 25-inch boards. This is the frame to hold your glass sides.

7

Lay your plywood flat, with the boards on the floor. Position the frame over the top of it so the legs are positioned inside the removed squares. Screw through the 20-inch boards and into the boards that are underneath the plywood. Use 2 screws for each corner, with the screws in each corner perpendicular to each other. Each board underneath the table should have one screw in each end.

8

Place your wood putty inside all of the holes surrounding the screw heads, and let dry. Sand the entire project down using your medium-grade and fine-grade sand paper, and wipe it all down with a tack cloth. Apply your wood stain and let dry.

9

Slide the 22-inch glass sheets inside the grooves that make up short sides of the table. Slide the 37-inch glass sheets inside the grooves that make up long sides of the table. Place your taxidermy inside the table and set the -inch glass on top of the table.