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How do I make a dome top trunk into a table?

i have this antique trunk that I want to make into a coffee table. The thing is, it has a dome top lid, so i can’t just rest things on it. There’s a guy who does this: http://antiquetrunktables.com/
but i think that involves a lot of welding, which i can’t do. I have debated removing the lid and setting a piece of wood in it and staining it, but i would still like to be able to use it for storage. any ideas on how to make a flat lid that will still open for this thing?

To do what that” artist” did. I do not think he did any welding.
It looks he used metal flanges and rods ,screwed into the wood case.
Sounds you would like a very simple method that would not need special tools.
First to do the flat top, that would be very,very simple.
All you would need is 2 hinges and the flat wood top.
The wood top would over hang the trunk on all sides.
Then you would place the 2 hinges under the top and on one side of the trunk. The hinges just use wood screws to attach to underside of the top and into the trunk. Or you may need to use a small bolt and nut on the trunk side if the trunk is to thin to hold a wood screw.
Also you can buy premade furniture legs of various lenghts that are simple to mount” under ” the bottom of the trunk.not on the sides like his.
You can get all the above at home depot or lowes stores as well they sell unfinished cheap pine wood table tops the size you need.

Another way you could do it and keep the dome top is to do this.
I am going use a 3 foot wood ruler for an example to explain this.(Howerver A simple wooden ruler would be to thin and weak and break)
But you can any type of decorative wood trim (that is also sold in the stores above) as long as it is strong enough to be legs and support the top. Or just a flat piece of wood like the (ruler ) but thicker for strengh.or even round wood dowels like the one in your clothes closet.or round bamboo posts that they sell in the garden section to support plants.,,anything you would like to use for the uprights.
So imagine this.
You have four 3 foot wooden rulers. These are going to be the 4 posts that are legs and support for the top. Now on “each” end of the trunk near the corners you will attach 2 of the rulers to the trunk with screws or small bolts(1/8 inch diamiter). They will not be fastened to the front or back, because then you could not open the trunk.
So if you attach all 4 rulers to the sides of trunk at the 8 inch mark on the ruler, the trunk will be 8 inches off the floor.
Now the rulers are mounted vertically and extent up the sides of the trunk and beyond the dome lid. Now you can just sit a wooden or glass top on the 4 posts( rulers) . If you leave enough room between the table top and the trunk top( 12 inches) you will be able open the partially ( 12 inches) to get into it. Or lift the table top off of the supports and open the trunk fully.
If the trunk top rubs on the 4 uprights when you open it, then you will just put some small spacers betwen the 4 rulers (upright supports) and the trunk When you are attaching the uprights to the trunk.
So, all you need is the 4 up right vertical wood pieces 30 or 40 inches long. Some wood screws and a table top.
As i said you can use anything for the 4 uprights ,decorative or plain wood.
Have fun. and e mail me if you dont understand. ,,I dont want to have gone through all that for nothing.
Bandett.

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