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A simple square Parsons-style end table or nightstand built from two shelves and a 2x2 frame — the kind of build worth taking slowly for the finish, not the joinery.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelf boards | 4 | 3/4" × 9 1/4" × 18 1/2" | Pine | ☐ |
| Frame verticals | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 20" | Pine | ☐ |
| Frame horizontals Measure and cut to fit. | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 18 1/2" | Pine | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Pine, 2x2, 8 ft | 3 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 1x10, 8 ft Two 3/4" plywood or project panels, 18-1/2" x 18-1/2" each, work as a substitute. | 1 each | ☐ |
| Pocket hole screws, 1-1/4" | 1 box | ☐ |
| Pocket hole screws, 2-1/2" | 1 box | ☐ |
| Sandpaper, assorted grit | 2 sheet | ☐ |
Overall cost: $. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Bring your wood into the room the table will live in and let it acclimate overnight before cutting or building — this project needs a humidity-controlled interior space with no big swings, or joints can open a gap as the wood adjusts.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Pocket Hole Jig. Materials: Pine, 1x10, 8 ft
Build two shelves by joining boards together with 3/4" pocket holes and 1-1/4" pocket hole screws, three screws per joint. Keep the outside edges flush.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Miter Saw, Pocket Hole Jig. Materials: Pine, 2x2, 8 ft
Drill three 3/4" pocket holes per side around each shelf, for attaching to the frame later. Measure and cut the frame pieces and attach with 1-1/4" pocket hole screws so the top edges are flush. Drill a 1-1/2" pocket hole in one hole on each end, on the bottom, of the frame pieces.
Tools: Drill / Driver
Attach the side frames together with 1-1/2" pocket holes, 2-1/2" pocket hole screws, and glue — one screw per joint, hiding pocket holes on the undersides.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Random Orbit Sander. Materials: Sandpaper, assorted grit
Attach the two shelves to the side frames with pocket hole screws and glue, keeping all outside edges flush.
Sand every surface and finish.