Square Parsons Coffee Table — board plan

What to buy, and which parts come off which board.

Buy 9 boards at 8 ft.

3 1/2" × 3 1/2" — 4x4

1 board · 6.3 board feet (includes 15% for knots and defects) · 68% of the boards you buy used

Board 1 · 30 1/2" left over
16"16"16"16"
1. Legs — 16"
2. Legs — 16"
3. Legs — 16"
4. Legs — 16"

1 1/2" × 3 1/2" — 2x4, 8 ft (optional supports)

2 boards · 5.9 board feet (includes 15% for knots and defects) · 74% of the boards you buy used

Board 1 · 16 1/4" left over
39 1/4"39 1/4"
1. Optional stretchers, long — 39 1/4"
2. Optional stretchers, long — 39 1/4"
Board 2 · 33 1/4" left over
30 3/4"30 3/4"
1. Optional stretchers, short — 30 3/4"
2. Optional stretchers, short — 30 3/4"

3/4" × 11 1/4" — 1x12, 10 ft (or 3/4" plywood half sheet)

2 boards · 6.8 board feet (includes 15% for knots and defects) · 54% of the boards you buy used

Board 1 · 27 1/4" left over
33 3/4"33 3/4"
1. Center panel — 33 3/4"
2. Center panel — 33 3/4"
Board 2 · 61 1/8" left over
33 3/4"
1. Center panel — 33 3/4"

3/4" × 3 1/2" — 1x4

4 boards · 5.7 board feet (includes 15% for knots and defects) · 72% of the boards you buy used

Board 1 · 27 1/4" left over
33 3/4"33 3/4"
1. Breadboard frame sides — 33 3/4"
2. Breadboard frame sides — 33 3/4"
Board 2 · 27 1/4" left over
33 3/4"33 3/4"
1. Breadboard frame sides — 33 3/4"
2. Breadboard frame sides — 33 3/4"
Board 3 · 27 1/4" left over
33 3/4"33 3/4"
1. Breadboard frame sides — 33 3/4"
2. Breadboard frame sides — 33 3/4"
Board 4 · 27 1/4" left over

Cuts are listed longest-first, which is how they should be made: the awkward pieces get placed while there is still board to place them on. The layout assumes one end of each board is squared off (1") and that every cut costs 1/8" of kerf — the reason six 16″ parts do not fit on a 96″ board.

3 1/2" × 3 1/2" — 4x4

Board 1 · 30 1/2" left over

1 1/2" × 3 1/2" — 2x4, 8 ft (optional supports)

Board 1 · 16 1/4" left over

Board 2 · 33 1/4" left over

3/4" × 11 1/4" — 1x12, 10 ft (or 3/4" plywood half sheet)

Board 1 · 27 1/4" left over

Board 2 · 61 1/8" left over

3/4" × 3 1/2" — 1x4

Board 1 · 27 1/4" left over

Board 2 · 27 1/4" left over

Board 3 · 27 1/4" left over

Board 4 · 27 1/4" left over