Lego Table

May-December 2025

Duration: 7 months

Project Description:

What began as a summer project turned into a long journey with many learning opportunities. This table required a combination of skills, including fine woodworking, pattern making, and knowledge of epoxy resin. The final result highlights all of these areas of expertise as a stunning and functional coffee table.

Project Goals:

I had an ambitious vision heading into summer break for this table. My original goal was just to get rid of some of my old Legos that had been sitting around for so long. But once I got the project rolling, I was determined to make this a highlight of my portfolio.

Legos used: ~6,000

Epoxy poured: 3.5 gallons

Weight: 160 lbs

Wood species: White oak & cedar

IDEATION

Table Top

The frame was made using two primary forms: beams and arcs (to act as corners). Both would stack to create the depth of the table. This was the best way for me to create rounded corners, as opposed to bending wood.

CONSTRUCTION

Planed and sanded down each leg smooth

Same process for the corners, while holding the flat edge against the fence

Table Top Assembly

Joinery: screws and glue for the frame, screws and braces for the plywood

Sanded smooth with an orbital sander.

Embedding Legos

Sanded and glued to each leg

Addition of pocket screw holes before assembly

Used scroll saw to cut out Lego connectors

Early testing of finishes (I planned to stain only the legs and add a coat of warmly-tinted polyurethane to everything)

Due to limited amounts of specific colors, I had to cut larger pieces apart to create 1x1 bricks.

Placing the inlays in the frame

FINISHING

Process

The frame was composed of three layers of 1” pieces and a 2” layer that hangs over toward the inside of the table.

Sanding the arcs required a creative sanding jig with a handscrew clamp and a belt sander (above).

The final component was the plywood sheet, cut with a jigsaw.

Sanding the corner inlays caused holes in the strips due to the rounded surface. Those holes were filled with epoxy and held with tape until it dried.

PLAYING WITH LEGOS

FINALS

The tops of the Lego strips were cut off and filled with epoxy.

The golden oak stain removed the red hue from the cedar, and the legs were attached with large screws and glue.

Finished frame after two coats of a warmly-tinted oil-based polyurethane.

Drawing inspiration from Lego artists such as Katherine Duclos, natural wonders, movies, games, and various color schemes, I began experimenting with the table top design. My goal was to create a blend of chaos and harmony using as many of my old Legos as possible.

After sealing the inside and the outside of the table top with a silicone caulk, I poured deep-pour epoxy over the entire Lego surface.

Early rendering w/ placeholder surface design

Wood choices: white oak and cedar

Light color for the table top to avoid drawing attention away from the table top design (less contrast due to bright colors of Lego bricks). Cedar was my choice for the legs due to the availability of 4x4 posts. I used stain and finish to remove the vibrant red hue.