How to turn a kitchen table into a Kitchen island?

I have bought a butcher block table (seats 6 )at a garage sale for dirt cheap ($20) and I want to use it as an island, but I dont want to buy expensive table legs to make it taller. Or at least what I have found is expensive.. like 40 a leg.. Any other money saving ideas for the legs?How to turn a kitchen table into a Kitchen island?
Here's what I did:



If it is an island, I assume you want to use it as a work surface as opposed to a dining table (although one could certainly eat there, too).



Go to Lowes or Home Depot and inspect the ready-to-finish cabinets. You're looking for cabs that are dirty or defective in some way. Snap 'em up for $10 a piece or so. Other sources: Goodwill and similar places -yard sales, etc. These will become your base both to hold the table top (remove the legs) AND provide handy storage. Arrange the cabs so you have a lip of 6'; or more, if possible, so folks can sit up to it.



If this makes the top high enough, then affix the bottom of the cabs either to a section of 1/2'; plywood or a frame of 1X6 sections of wood laid flat. Under that, attach large furniture sliders (smooth plastic things) so you can move your island around -use it as a buffet, for example. If NOT high enough, make a frame of 2X4's sitting on the edge to raise it up about 3 1/2';. You can cover that with plywood if you wish.



You may not be able to find what you need right away, is just do some measuring to determine how high you need to lift the table top and how much length and width you're working with underneath. Keep those measurements handy, and when you see something that will do the job, snatch it up. Meanwhile, just use the table ';as is.';



I actually made a complete rolling bar this way. In one place, it is a room divider; in another, a buffet line. Give me an email address, and I'll send you the pix. Total cost? Maybe $50 for EVERYTHING.How to turn a kitchen table into a Kitchen island?
You'll need some sort of legs, so people can actually sit comfortably without knocking knees against a solid support.



Try looking at a local antique furniture store. Sometimes you can find some 60's style funky legs for cheaper than 40.
If you just want legs you can you stair posts instead. I watched an episode of take home handyman on TLC and they did that. They cut the part of the post that they wanted to the height they needed and bolted it to the inside corners the same way the old legs were attached. I think the stairway posts are cheaper then trying to order table posts from a furniture manufacturer.



Also you can check local furniture stores and they may have tables that are broken beyond repair that you may be able to buythe legs off of for cheap. That would be more hit or miss but you may get lucky.