Craft: transforming traditional crafts

Supplies

One 4'x8' sheet of Melamine/particle board
Four 1x6's - 6'
Four 1x6's - 8'
One 4'x4' sheet of plywood (3/8 thick +/-)
Two 4"x4" pine posts (avoid treated. use cedar only if you have lots of cash to burn)
2" general purpose screws (I used the gold ones at THD)
21' of molding (optional)
Paint (optional)
Casters (optional)

Steps

1) Figure out the size of your table and adjust the supplies as necessary. We went with a 4'x6' table top with a 4'x4' shelf underneath. This gave us a 2' overhang so you can sit under one side

2) Cut pieces for top of the table using two 6' 1x6s for the ends, 2 6' 1x6s cut down to 70.5" (removing the width of 2 boards = 1.5") and split one 8' 1x6 into two 46.5" pieces.

3) Assemble the top using the longest pieces for the edges. Sandwich the smallest pieces on the top and bottom and place the 70.5" pieces in the middle (equally spaced, roughly 16" apart) to make a frame. Pre-drill with a 1/8" drill bit and connect each joint with 2 screws. If you have a T-square or speed square, I recommend checking the squareness as you go.

4) Cut your legs to height. Standard desk height is 30" and standard workbench height is 36." Customize if you are taller or shorter. If you want to add casters don't forget to account for them. My casters were 4.5" tall so I cut mine legs 25.5 and almost got all the legs out of one post.

5) Add casters to the post with necessary hardware. We had an un-level floor so used the threaded kind with T-nuts.

6) Place one leg in each corner on one short end of the table just below the height of the 1x6s. Affix with 4 screws (2 on each side). Clamps and a level or T-square help with this a lot.

7) Affix the remaining two legs 44.5" away from each leg you just affixed using the same method but only with two screws.

8) You have a faux table that is a bit wobbly at this point. Now to make the base.

9) Cut one 8' 1x6 to make two 48" pieces. They may be a bit shy depending on the length of the board you bought. Cut another two 8' 1x6 to make four 46.5." These will make up the lower shelf.

10) Pick a height for your shelf. I used the height of the speed square which was about 12." Draw a line at this level on the left sides of the left legs and the right sides of the right legs. Affix a 48" board on each side at this height. Then place the two of the 46.5" boards perpendicular to those but on the inside of the legs. To finish place the remaining two 46.5" boards in the middle as you did on the table top level.

11) The table is now much more stable. You are ready to paint this part of the table.

12) Cut the 4'x4' plywood to 48" (no cut) by 46.5". Using an edge clamp and a circular saw makes this a quick process. Just make sure you check your measurements twice. It's easy to screw up with the edge clamp. That just sets on the bottom and is ready to paint, too.

13) Cut the melamine to 4'x6' (may require two cuts, mine did) and place on top free floating. This is really heavy and shouldn't move. If it does, add some cleats from the bottom.

14) I took it one more step and added corner molding to finish the particleboard edge. I cut the melamine a bit over sized so with the molding the table stop snapped right on. I used construction adhesive and pneumatic brads to hold the molding in place. Then puttied & sanded the holes before painting. My corners weren't perfect so I puttied those, too.

15) Stain or paint the molding.

16) Enjoy bonus points from significant other for at least two weeks.

Thanks, Nick! Big bonus points here! I've stored my heavier crafty machines on the bottom shelf as well as items I access frequently, such as my scrap stash, favorite books, and paper cutter. With the two chairs I put at the end of the table, we're ready for craft night in the Mitten! Who wants to join me?!

Who else has a great custom workspace? I'd love to see.