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This bench is a storage cabinet first and a work surface second — the whole plywood top is piano-hinged to the back so it lifts up like a lid, exposing shelves underneath, while the same top folds down as the actual work surface with a set of hinged 2x4 legs supporting the front edge. Build the cabinet box, dividers, and shelves first exactly like ordinary shop storage; the folding mechanism only comes into play at the very end.
The legs are the one part that needs on-site fitting rather than a fixed cut: cut one end of each leg at a 5° bevel to match the caster height, then hold the tabletop level, place the leg alongside with its beveled end on the ground, and trace where it actually meets the underside of the tabletop before cutting that line — this is a scribe-and-fit step, not a cut-list number, because caster height and floor variation both affect the real angle needed.
A magnetic catch holds each leg folded flat against the cabinet when not in use, mounted so the flat piece is on the underside of the tabletop and the magnetic side faces up toward it — and a hook-and-eye closure on the front keeps the whole lid shut during transport. The optional drawer is genuinely optional and can be skipped entirely; if building it, measure the actual opening at front, back, and middle to find the narrowest point, since a drawer cut to the widest measurement simply won't fit.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x12, 8 ft | 2 each |
| 1x12, 6 ftShelves. | 1 each |
| 2x4, 8 ftOne becomes the folding legs. | 2 each |
| 3/4" plywood, 4' x 2'The fold-up tabletop. | 1 each |
| Piano hinge, 48" | 1 each |
| Caster wheels, 4", with locks | 4 each |
| Wood screws, 3/4", for caster wheels | 16 each |
| Hinges, 3", with screws | 2 each |
| Magnetic clasps | 2 each |
| Hook and eye closure | 1 each |
| Self-tapping cabinet screws, 2" | 50 each |
| Self-tapping cabinet screws, 2-1/2" | 20 each |
| 1x3, 8 ft (optional drawer) | 1 each |
| 1/4" plywood, for drawer bottom (optional) | 1 each |
| Drawer slide, 12" full extension (optional) | 1 each |
| Brad nails, 3/4", and wood glue (optional drawer) | 20 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet top and bottom1x12, 8 ft | 2 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 48" |
| Cabinet dividers/sides1x12, 8 ft | 3 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 30 1/2" |
| Back frame2x4, 8 ft | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 48" |
| Long shelf1x12, 6 ft | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 31 3/4" |
| Short shelves1x12, 6 ft | 2 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 14" |
| Tabletop panel3/4" plywood, 4' x 2' | 1 | 3/4" × 36" × 48" |
| Folding legs2x4, 8 ftBottom end cut at 5° bevel to fit caster height — scribe and trim to fit on-site. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 30" |
| Drawer sides (optional)1x3, 8 ft (optional drawer) | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 12" |
| Drawer front/back (optional)1x3, 8 ft (optional drawer)Measure your actual narrowest opening; subtract for slide and side clearance. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 29" |
| Drawer bottom (optional)1/4" plywood, for drawer bottom (optional) | 1 | 1/4" × 12" × 30 1/2" |
Buy 8 boards at 8 ft.
2 boards
1 board
3 boards
1 board
1 board
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 →
Attach the top and bottom to the dividers and sides with 2" screws, three screws per joint.
Check the project for square by comparing opposite diagonals and adjusting as needed. Attach the 2x4 back frame to the top, bottom, sides, and dividers with 2-1/2" screws.
Attach the longer shelf first with 2" screws, three per joint, then add the shorter shelves. Shelf height is flexible and more shelves can be added.
Measure the inside opening at the front, back, and middle to find the narrowest point, and cut the drawer to fit that measurement, factoring in slide and side clearance. Build with 2" screws and attach the plywood bottom with 3/4" brad nails. Install on the slide below the back 2x4.
Screw the caster wheels to the base of the cabinet. Attach the plywood tabletop to the cabinet's back 2x4 with the piano hinge, fully exposed when the top is hinged down.
Cut one end of each leg at a 5° bevel. Hold the tabletop level, place a leg beside it with the beveled end on the ground, and trace where it meets the underside of the tabletop; cut that line at a matching 5° bevel. Install each leg with a 3" hinge, then add a magnetic clasp (flat piece on the tabletop underside, magnet facing up toward it) and a hook-and-eye closure to hold the assembly closed for transport.
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