Any ideas for topping this train (Lego) table?

[sidmand]

Okay, people here have awesome ideas and I need help.

We had/have this exact same set up: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ed=0CFcQ9QEwBg (sorry link is so long, I can't figure out how to make it inbody link!

We took it down as a train table last year. On the top we just had cardboard underneath and a scene rug from IKEA that fit over it and then had our GeoTrax set up and it worked because no one could really reach the middle so there wasn't that much on it (there's a hole in the middle where the tables meet we had a piece of cardboard covering it under the rug so you couldn't see it and it held up the rug too). I'm thinking I'd like to put it back together to use for Legos but I really need a top for it. DH and I are NOT handy at all because I know we could cut a piece of wood to size to put on top. Any other good ideas that don't involve that? I can be pretty handy with duct tape and was thinking maybe I could do something with cardboard and duct tape? But I'm not sure that's the best solution!!

[LBW]

I love any excuse to make something with duct tape, but I'd probably want something sturdier -- at least in my house. My kids would demolish a cardboard table top in about 2 minutes!

You should be able to have the plywood cut to size at a lumber yard/Home Depot. Then, you could use a few pieces of rough sandpaper to smooth the edges a bit and paint. Shouldn't be too hard.

[sidmand]

I love any excuse to make something with duct tape, but I'd probably want something sturdier -- at least in my house. My kids would demolish a cardboard table top in about 2 minutes!

You should be able to have the plywood cut to size at a lumber yard/Home Depot. Then, you could use a few pieces of rough sandpaper to smooth the edges a bit and paint. Shouldn't be too hard.

We're just so not handy but DH has been tasked with ordering the plywood at Home Depot. I'm thinking I still need something to top it with but maybe even colored contact paper might work. I'm trying to figure out what they used in the picture--I don't think the rug we had will work because it needs to be flat for legos to get built on it. The other thing I was thinking was getting those Lego flat panels for all over but I don't love that idea either.

Thanks. I think I knew I had to get a piece of wood for it--but things like that make me anxious for some reason!

[LBW]

Ah! Sorry, I didn't realize you were asking about covering the wood. Maybe contact paper if you don't want to paint? Or mod podge? If one of those doesn't work you can always add lego mats or something else.

Here's someone who used mod podge to glue a map to the surface of her train table.
http://indiehomeec.blogspot.com/2012...ain-table.html

I haven't used mod podge in 20 years, but I remember it being fairly easy and creating a really durable surface.

Good luck - your table is wonderful, and I'm sure whatever you do will be great.

[sidmand]

Oh no, you were right. I was looking to avoid getting the plywood and seeing if there was something else to do. But then I realized I probably needed to do something else to the plywood other than just put it on top!

It looked really nice with the rug. We still have it. This one: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ed=0CCkQ9QEwAw

I just don't think the legos will stand up very well on it.

[jgenie]

You could try 1/2" thick melamine from Home Depot. I don't know what dimensions it comes in but that's what we used for our Nilo train table top. They will cut it down to size and there is no sanding required. Not sure how you would attach it to your set up - maybe just a few screws around the perimeter edges?