One of the earliest and greatest household inventions is the Lazy Susan, or at least in our opinion. The lazy susan origin dates to the 1720s and credits Thomas Jefferson or Thomas Edison as possible inventors. While no one is quite sure who was the first to invent the turning serving platter it gained popularity in 1917 with its first debut in an advertisement by vanity fair coining the rotating table as a “Lazy Susan”.
Fast forward to the current day, there are sites dedicated to just this simple invention, such as LazySusans.com . Perfect for get togethers or even outdoor dining the lazy susan is a must have for entertaining and reducing the need for multiple serving plates.
So maybe it was or wasn’t a lazy woman named Susan who invented the rotating serving tray, but to us that fact isn’t important. We here at DIYG find this rotating platter a must have for our events and household use.
So, rather than searching for the perfect lazy susan to fit your home décor, why not make one yourself! These turntable style platters can be made from a variety of materials and finished in a variety of ways and colors. All you need to personalize your lazy susan is a little imagination!
In this step-by-step tutorial we will show you how you can build and customize your own wooden lazy susan.
Let’s get started!
Here is what you will need:
Materials
- Wood Turn-table Disc to the size you prefer
- Wood Stain
- Clear Polyurethane Finish
- Clean, Staining Rag
- 4 Wood Screws
- Turn-table Swivel Plate
- Grip Tape
Tools
- Sandpaper
- Phillips Screwdriver
Watch the video below to for step-by-step tutorial for your new Lazy Susan
Or, follow the detailed instructions below to build your Lazy Susan
Step 1:
- Thoroughly sand all sides of your wood disc
- Dust off wood disc
- Grab your staining rag & dip it into the wood stain Rub the wood stain evenly on the wood disc with the rag. You can choose how deep the color will be by applying additional coats of stain
Step 2:
- Once your wood stain is completely dry, this is the step where you can add customization/design if you would like to
- If you add paint customization, wait for the paint to dry completely before proceeding with the next step
- Apply wood Polyurethane finish to your entire wood disc. We recommend a Satin finish and applying at least two coats. Lightly sand in-between coats
Step 3:
- Once your finish is dry, flip your wood disc over where the back side is exposed
- Place your swivel plate in the middle of your wood disc Align the screws with the 4 holes in the swivel plate and fasten them in tightly
Step 4:
- Take your grip tape and cut it into 4 square pieces (if not already fit to size) Stick your grip tape on each corner of the swivel plate to avoid scratching
Your lazy susan is complete! Enjoy!
Listed below are the material we used to build our lazy susan.
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