copyright 2005
Sometimes you just need a nice large table to work on. Here is a sturdy table you can make in a few hours for about $95.
It is not as rugged as the Wood Worker's Bench (also a Freebie) but it is an excellent work area.
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There are three sketches for this table. Your can get them with this little freebie form.
At the start of this note is a drawing of the Work Table. It shows the front and the underside of the door top.
This sketch shows the side view.
Here are the pieces of wood that make up the base. Most of them are made for 2-by-3 pine lumber and the Top Blocks are 2-by-2.
You can build this desk with the following inexpensive materials:
The secret to keeping the price down is using scrap wood for the base.
You can build this desk with the following simple tools. Power tools are not necessary but do speed the work.
Determine how much floor space you have for this table. You need to make this decision before buying the materials. It is easiest to leave the door just as it comes from the factory at 80 inches but that is a very big work table. Cutting it to 66 inches still lets you work big pieces while not eating up all your shop room.
You need a solid core door. The cheaper hollow core doors are not solid enough for this table.
The outside of the door may be hardwood veneer or masonite. The Masonite is less expensive and wears better around the edges but does not look as nice. Sealed with shellac, I think it has a nice leathery look.
If you need a desk shorter than the full length of door, you can have it cut off at the lumber yard. You might pay a small price for this, but it makes it easer to get home.
If you cut the door yourself, you will need a saw blade with a large number of teeth. Clamp the 1-by-4 to the door for a straight edge and run the saw against it.
The cut edge of a solid core door may have small voids that will need to be filled. Also the cut end will not finish as nicely as the factory end.
The legs are build from pieces of 2-by-3 with lengths shown in Sketch #3. Put a good bevel on all four sides of the lower end of each leg.
Cut away 1/2 the material on the Top Blocks and the Lower Brace so that they can overlap the legs. Glue and nail these pieces to the legs being sure the assembly is square.
The stringers are show made from 2-by-4 but you can make them from scrap material. Scrap plywood, six inches or wider, and doubled up works well.
Two stringers are four inches shorter than the table top and the third is 5.5 inches shorter. All have 1.5 inch half notches in both ends.
Attach the stringers to the leg assemblies with screws only. These joints are not glued so that the base can be taken apart for moving. A Screwmate drill is really a must to drill the holes for these screws.
Place newspapers or magazines on the floor for protection and put the door on them. Place the best side down. Position the base assembly on the door make sure that it is even front-to-back and side-to-side. Check the square.
Mark one lag bolt hole. Move the frame aside and drill this hole. Be very careful that you do not drill through the table top. Placing a masking tape flag around the bit at the right depth helps.
Slide the base back in place and loosely install the first lag bolt and washer. Recheck the base location and square. Mark all the rest of the lag bolt holes and drill them the same way.
You can finish your table any way you like. I like to simply seal it with thinned shellac. Be sure to seal the bottom ends of the legs very well to prevent moisture from entering the end grain.
Congratulations, you have complete a good, solid work table.
Also check out our Wood Workers Bench.
Thanks again for visiting our Web site.
Woodware Designs, Woodware@woodwaredesigns.com