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This is the top half of a modular craft table: a large MDF or A1 plywood surface with a two-drawer housing built underneath, designed to rest on two bookcase bases so the whole thing knocks down for moving. It's the kind of piece that gives you a huge flat work zone plus supply storage without a permanent, heavy build.
The make-or-break skill here is square. The drawer housing (the 1x4 framework that carries the slides) must be built perfectly square and fastened to the top perfectly square, because the drawers ride on slides and slides are unforgiving — an out-of-square housing means drawers that bind and jam forever. The source is blunt about it, and it's right: predrill and countersink, take your time, check with a square at every joint.
The screws that fasten the housing to the top are driven from above, countersunk 2" deep so the heads bury into the 1x4s and nothing shows on the work surface. The drawer faces are measured to the actual opening (about 29-1/2", minus 1/4") rather than a nominal number. And notably, the top is NOT glued to the bookcases — screwed only — so you can lift it off and carry the pieces separately. Keep it that way.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 3/4" MDF or A1 plywood, 4x8 sheetTop and drawer bottoms. | 1 each |
| 1x4 board, 8 ftDrawer housing, backs, and sides. | 2 each |
| 15" drawer slides | 2 pair |
| Wood screws, 2" | 40 each |
| Wood glue | 4 oz |
| Drawer pullsOptional. | 2 each |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Top3/4" MDF or A1 plywood | 1 | 3/4" × 38" × 55" |
| Drawer housing sides1x4 | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 31 1/2" |
| Drawer housing center1x4 | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 28" |
| Drawer bottoms3/4" MDF or A1 plywood | 2 | 3/4" × 14 1/4" × 25 1/2" |
| Drawer backs1x4 | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 25 1/2" |
| Drawer sides1x4 | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 15" |
| Drawer faces1x4Measure the actual opening and subtract 1/4". | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 29 1/2" |
Buy 5 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
1 board
3 boards
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Mark out and cut the housing sides and center. Fasten the center to the sides with 2" screws and glue, predrilling and countersinking. This has to be built dead perfect — the drawers will not slide right if it's off. Check every joint with a square.
Position the housing on the underside of the top per your layout and fasten with 2" screws driven from above, countersunk 2" deep so the heads bury into the 1x4s and nothing shows on the work surface. Keep it square to the top's edges.
Fasten each drawer back and sides to the drawer bottom with 2" screws and glue, checking each box for square — a racked box binds on its slides. Cut the bottoms square too.
Install the drawer slides and slide the boxes in. Measure the opening outside-to-outside (about 29-1/2"), subtract 1/4", and cut each face from a 1x4 to that. Line the faces up on the drawers and attach, then add pulls if you like.
Fasten the finished top to your two bookcase bases with screws only — no glue — so the whole table comes apart for moving. Sand and finish the surface for craft use.
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