Ammunition Crate Table

I’m joining my Power Tool Challenge Team gals for another fun challenge.  This month our theme is modify and I turned a cold war era ammunition crate into a side table.

 

A Cold War era ammunition crate is repurposed into a table. Get the details at virginiasweetpea.com.

 

Why did I choose this project?  Well, there happened to be a stack of these ammunition crates in our basement and I thought it would be fun to come up with a creative use for one of them.

ammunition crates

 

This crate was used to ship ammunition for a collectible WWII gun, a Mauser 98K.

Mauser 8mm Ammunition Crate

 

The interior looks like this.  A wire hooked to a ring is pulled to open the “sardine can.”Ammunition Crate Interior

 

I’m still trying to think of a use for the “sardine can” because it’s too cool to get rid of.

Interior of an Ammunition Crate

 

We love history and I think that this table will be a real conversation starter when guests see it.

A Cold War era ammunition crate is repurposed into a table. Get the details at virginiasweetpea.com.

 

I love the army green color and the cool Yugoslavian writing on the sides.  The latch is also interesting.

ammunition-crate-table-4

 

This crate is very sturdy and will be great for extra storage.

A Cold War era ammunition crate is repurposed into a table. Get the details at virginiasweetpea.com.

 

I really like how the look of the hairpin legs.

A Cold War era ammunition crate is repurposed into a table. Get the details at virginiasweetpea.com.

 

I’m not sure where we’ll use this table.  For now it is in our family room beside Mr. SP’s chair.  He encouraged me to fill it with snacks for football game watching.

A Cold War era ammunition crate is repurposed into a table. Get the details at virginiasweetpea.com.

 

Now let me explain how I made my ammunition crate table.

 

The hairpin legs were ordered from Rockler and were the most expensive part of this project.  With shipping, they cost $47.98.

HairPin Legs from Rockler

 

The ammunition crates were purchased here but are currently out of stock.  The price for just a crate is around $20.

The first step in making the ammunition table was to use a crow bar to remove the wood pieces that supported the “sardine can”.

How to Make a Table from an Ammunition Crate - Step-by-Step Tutorial

 

My hope was that I could screw the hairpin legs to the bottom of the crate and be finished but two pieces of wood on the bottom of the crate were in the way.

How to Make a Table from an Ammunition Crate - Step-by-Step Tutorial

 

They were removed but the metal strap was still in the way.  Time for Plan B!

How to Make a Table from an Ammunition Crate - Step-by-Step Tutorial

 

Plan B was to add a new bottom to the crate.  The oak ply board that I had in the shop wasn’t big enough, so I cut two pieces to fit the bottom of the box and glued them together.  Pipe clamps kept the pieces flat and square until the glue dried.

How to Make a Table from an Ammunition Crate - Step-by-Step Tutorial

 

I used Deco Art Chalky Finish Paint in Enchanting on the new bottom piece after the glue dried and I’d sanded the piece thoroughly.

How to Make a Table from an Ammunition Crate - Step-by-Step Tutorial

 

The paint didn’t match the crate perfectly but after I gave it a coat of Voodoo Gel Stain in Tobacco Road by Dixie Belle Paint, it was a close match.

How to Make a Table from an Ammunition Crate - Step-by-Step Tutorial

 

The new bottom and legs were then attached to the bottom of the crate.

How to Make a Table from an Ammunition Crate - Step-by-Step Tutorial

 

I used an 1 1/2” wood screw in each corner to make sure that the new base was attached to the crate and the screws that came with the hairpin legs in the other holes.

How to Make a Table from an Ammunition Crate - Step-by-Step Tutorial

 

 

 

Clamps were essential to make sure that the new base stayed in place as the screws were added.

How to Make a Table from an Ammunition Crate - Step-by-Step Tutorial

 

This project isn’t for just anyone but I’ll bet if you show it to the men in your life that they’ll think that it’s pretty awesome.

 

A Cold War era ammunition crate is repurposed into a table. Get the details at virginiasweetpea.com.

 

This isn’t my first miliary crate project.  A Russian Rifle Crate was repurposed into a workbench that we now use at the lake.  This workbench is so handy and it’s always a conversation piece when our guests see it.

Russian Rifle Storage Crate Repurposed Into a DIY Work Bench. What a great upcycle! virginiasweetpea.com

 

Now it’s time to visit the other projects shared for this month’s Power Tool Team Challenge.  Click on the links below to visit each project.

Modified Leaning Ladder Storage By Designed Decor

How To Resize A Wood Picture Frame By Her Tool Belt

Ikea Moppe Hack Apothecary Cabinet by Interior Frugalista

Portable Craft Table By Create and Babble

Grown Up Jewelry Box By Kim Six

Modified Dresser By My Repurposed Life

Bed Spindle Candle Holders By H2OBungalow

Ammunition Crate Table by Virginia Sweet Pea

Ikea Wardrobe Update By Domestically Speaking

How to Piece Scraps to Make a Sign by My Love to Create

Nine Power Tool Project Ideas

32 Comments

  1. The hairpin legs are perfect for this little box. Loving the extra storage and even more the history. I’m sure this will be a big conversation piece when friends come over…btw- I’d have to find a good use for the sardine can insert too! Pinned!

  2. Paula,

    We’re all loving those hairpin legs! 🙂 You have a lot of those crates left for more great projects, lucky you!

    Perfect project for this month’s modify theme. Very clever and functional.

    gail

    1. Thanks, Gail! Those crates are too cool to just let them sit in a pile in the basement. I need to work on the rest of the pile!

    1. Thanks, Christy! I need to go to the store for football watching snacks. Mr. SP would be so happy if I actually did fill it with snacks. I’d also have to add some for Sherman.

  3. Your crate table is such a cool project! And you’re right, my husband loves it too. Now to watch for an ammo crate for the man cave 🙂

    1. Thanks, Amy. My husband informed me this morning that he wants to use one of the other crates to make a second table but this time he wants to add a drawer. We’ll see what happens!

  4. Paula, I would on never noticed the add-on of the bottom had you not mentioned it. What a great blending you did. It is perfect the way you left it and those legs are great!

  5. I absolutely love it! I love anything “army”. Thank you for the hairpin legs resource! Very, very cool. I love it!

  6. Pingback: Snickerdodle Create~Bake~ Make Link Party #152 | The Blue Willow House
  7. You are right – I did show it to my history buff husband and he loved it! Such a wonderful conversation piece. And I love those legs. Pinned!

    1. Thanks, Jeanie. So far since making this any guest who has come into our home has been attracted to it. We are working on a second one now with a drawer.

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