From Old Cable Spool To New Library Table

Step One: To build this brilliant "bookmobile" - crafted by Halligan Norris Smith and featured in Grace Bonney's Design*Sponge at Home ($21.24; barnesandnoble.com) - search a commercial salvage yard or sites like eBay for a wooden cable spool (usually under $50). You'll also need about 12 three-quarter-inch-thickwooden dowels that measure at least as tall as the spool when it's lying flat on either wheel.

Step Two: Lay the spool on one of its wheels, then use a ruler to measure the distance from the top of the top wheel to the top of the bottom wheel. Use a handsaw to cut the dowels to this size, then sand the spool and dowels.

Step Three: Measure the distance from one wheel's outer edge to the spool's core. Divide that number in half.

Step Four: Beginning at the outer edge of the top of the top wheel, measure in the distance computed in Step Three. Mark with a pencil. Repeat around the spool's circumference, spacing marks an equal distance apart.

Step Five: At each mark, drill all the way through the top wheel, using a three-quarter-inch spade bit. Then, with a hammer, drive a dowel into each hole, until the dowel's bottom is secured against the bottom wheel. Paint spool and dowels, if desired; let dry.

Step Six: Evenly space three casters ($12 for five; ikea.com) in a triangle pattern atop the top wheel, placing each caster about an inch in from the edge, and drill into place. Flip the spool over and you're ready to roll.