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Not every table needs mortise-and-tenon joinery to be worth building. This one is a box: a top, two sides, and a lower shelf, held together entirely with pocket screws and glue.
The 1x4 supports underneath aren't decorative bracing — on a shelf this size, without them, the bottom shelf sags under weight and the whole table racks side to side when you bump it. They're doing real structural work for the cost of three cheap boards.
Built in pine, it takes stain evenly and costs almost nothing. Built in oak or poplar, it's a table nice enough for an entryway.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Pine, 1x12, 8 ftLine total for both boards. | 2 each |
| Pine, 1x4, 5 ftLine total for all three boards. | 3 each |
| Pocket hole screws, 1-1/4" | 40 each |
| Wood glue | 3 oz |
| Wood filler | 2 oz |
| Wood stain or paint | 8 oz |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| TopPine 1x12 | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 54" |
| SidesPine 1x12 | 2 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 29 1/4" |
| Bottom shelfPine 1x12 | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 52 1/2" |
| Support cleatsPine 1x4Two under the shelf, one at the back — this is what keeps the table from racking. | 3 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 52 1/2" |
Buy 5 boards at 8 ft.
2 boards
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 →
Cut one top, two sides, and one bottom shelf from the 1x12 stock per the cut list. Cut the longest pieces first — the top and shelf are both over 4 feet, so plan your board so you're not left half an inch short after a bad first cut.
Drill pocket holes in the ends of the side panels where they'll meet the top and bottom shelf. Glue and screw the frame together — top, two sides, bottom shelf — checking for square as you go, not after.
Clamp each joint before driving the screw. Pocket screws pull a joint together at an angle, and an unclamped board will skate sideways half a screw's width before it seats.
Cut the three 1x4 cleats to length and attach them under the bottom shelf — two spanning front to back, one across the back edge. Glue and screw them in.
These cleats are the only thing standing between this table and a shelf that sags the first time someone sets a stack of books on it. Don't treat them as optional trim.
Fill any visible screw holes and gaps with wood filler, then sand the whole piece, working up to at least 180 grit before finishing.
Stain or paint to match the room it's going in — pine takes stain a little unevenly, so a pre-stain conditioner helps if you're going dark.
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