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A clean plywood pedestal base for a round or square dining top — four L-shaped legs that give a big table one central, leg-free footing.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leg pieces (wide) | 4 | 3/4" × 16" × 28 1/2" | 3/4" plywood | ☐ |
| Leg pieces (narrow) 3/4" narrower so the L-legs wrap flush; rip one 16" strip down to make the fourth. | 4 | 3/4" × 15 1/4" × 28 1/2" | 3/4" plywood | ☐ |
| End ties | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 28 1/2" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Reinforcement scraps 2"-wide plywood scraps to gusset the inside joints; cut to suit. | 8 | 3/4" × 2" × 6" | 3/4" plywood | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| 3/4" plywood, matching veneer The whole base plus reinforcement scraps come from one sheet. | 1 sheet | ☐ |
| 1x4, square edge, matching species Ties the four leg sets together at the ends. | 10 linear ft | ☐ |
| Pocket hole screws, 1-1/4" | 1 box | ☐ |
| Brad nails, 1-1/4" | 1 box | ☐ |
| Wood glue | 6 oz | ☐ |
| Mending plates For a 1-1/2" thick top. For a 3/4" top, use 3/4" plywood cleats instead. | 4 each | ☐ |
| Finish | 1 kit | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Miter Saw, Table Saw, Tape Measure. Materials: 3/4" plywood, matching veneer
Rip the plywood into two strips 16" wide and one strip 15-1/4" wide, then crosscut into eight pieces all 28-1/2" long. You need four 15-1/4" pieces, so rip one of the 16" pieces down to 15-1/4". Accurate rips here are what make the finished base look like a solid column.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Pocket Hole Jig, Speed Square. Materials: 3/4" plywood, matching veneer, Pocket hole screws, 1-1/4"
Drill 3/4" pocket holes along one edge of each 15-1/4" wide piece. Join each narrow piece to a 16" wide piece at a right angle to form an L — build four identical leg sets. Keep the outside faces flush; that's what hides the seam.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Speed Square. Materials: 1x4, square edge, matching species, Brad nails, 1-1/4", Wood glue
Stand the four L-legs around the center so they wrap into a column, and tie them together at the ends with the 1x4s using 1-1/4" brad nails and glue. Check the column is square and sits flat before the glue sets.
Tools: Brad Nailer. Materials: 3/4" plywood, matching veneer, Brad nails, 1-1/4", Wood glue
Gusset the inside joints with the 2"-wide plywood scraps, glued and pinned with 1-1/4" brad nails. This is a big table's whole footing — the reinforcement is cheap insurance against racking.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Random Orbit Sander. Materials: Mending plates, Finish
Fasten mending plates across the top of the column to receive the tabletop. If your top is only 3/4" thick at the attachment points, use scrap 3/4" plywood cleats instead of plates so a screw can't blow through.
Sand and finish to match your top. The round or square top is a separate build; attach it so a wide solid top can still move seasonally without cracking.