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Post edited 1:00 am – September 12, 2011 by Mike Magee

Today I installed a small swiveling table in front of my E14RB sofa.  Other than trips to the hardware store, I found that the project can be completed in about 20 minutes. 

It can be any height one might wish, but I chose 2' high (just enough to clear my lap) because that way I didn't have to cut the support post.  Supplies: 1 galvanized steel pipe 2' long with threaded ends, 2 anchor brackets, 4 screws (about #10 x 3/4″) to secure the brackets, 1 floor flange to screw onto the top of the pipe, 4 more screws #12 x 3/4″ to attach the 'table top' to the flange, and for my table top I chose a 3/4″ thick bamboo cutting board.

As you can see, the table (pipe and all) will pivot 360 degrees.  It can swing over the cushion between 2 people, or it can swing to either side for 1 person to use, or it even can go out into the aisle.  Below is a picture of the bottom side, showing the floor flange screwed to the board.

The table will not support much weight with those 4 short screws, but will easily accomodate my tableware at dinnertime.

All of the components came from the local Ace Hardware store (except some screws I already had sitting around).  They had the pipes in either galvanized or black (painted I think) as well as in PVC, but the PVC proved too flexible and allowed the table to droop & wiggle rather dramatically.  The pipes were available in several lengths, including 2', 3', and 4' (for you tall people ).  The biggest downside IMO is that the pipe squishes the cushion back an inch or two, which looks sorta odd there.

I am trying to decide whether to put a coat or two of polyurethane on the 'table' to keep it from staining and marring.  Also I am pondering whether to put something on the floor under the pipe to protect the flooring if the pipe jiggles or bounces during travel, but not sure if that is necessary.

BTW, it's very easy to remove if desired; the flange unscrews off the pipe, and the pipe will pull up out of the brackets.

Thanks for reminding me, the cutting board came not from Ace but from a Tuesday Morning store ($20), which happens to be next door to our Ace Hardware.  But cutting boards are sold all over, so it's easy to find a large variety of them.