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This is a dining table with a secret compartment: instead of open legs, the base is a shaped storage box with a drawer, so the table doubles as a place to stash linens, games, or serving pieces. A large 50" x 36" top sits over it, and the whole thing gets its vintage character from the jigsaw-shaped plywood ends.
The base is built from 3/4" plywood ripped into three widths (19", 22", and 5-1/2") — a workflow the plan expects, so plan your rips before cutting. As with any drawer project, square matters: the plan warns you'll have only 1/4" of total play around the drawer, so build the drawer area carefully square and add the drawer guides while it's still true.
The shaped ends are the styling and the one place to slow down. You draw your own end pattern — it doesn't have to match the source, but the two ends must match each other, so cut one and use it as a template, then clamp the pair and sand until identical. The top is flexible: joined hardwood boards (pocket-holed on the underside) for the nicest result, or a half sheet of hardwood plywood cut to 47" x 33" and wrapped in a 1x2 edge frame. Round the 2x2 top supports and attach them to the underside, then drop the base under the top and screw up through the sides into the supports. The drawer is deliberately simple — a 1x4 box with a plywood bottom — and the source's tip is to rub the drawer bottom with candle wax for a smoother slide. Shim the drawer face to an even 1/8" gap and attach hardware to the face before mounting it so you're not drilling through two layers.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Plywood, 3/4 in, 4x8 sheetRipped into 19", 22", and 5-1/2" strips for the base. | 1 each |
| 1x2, 4 ftDrawer guides / edge frame. | 1 each |
| 2x2, 6 ftTop supports. | 1 each |
| 1x4, 6 ftDrawer box. | 1 each |
| 1x6 (base parts) | 1 board |
| Tabletop, 50 in x 36 inPlanked hardwood, or plywood trimmed/edge-banded. | 1 each |
| Plywood, 1/4 in (drawer bottom) | 1 each |
| Knobs or handles | 2 each |
| Wood screws, 2 in | 1 box |
| Pocket-hole screws, 1-1/4 in | 1 box |
| Finish nails, 1-1/4 in | 1 box |
| Wood glue | 1 bottle |
| Finish | 1 quart |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage box sides3/4 in plywood | 2 | 3/4" × 19" × 29 1/2" |
| Drawer guide blocks (1x6)1x6 | 4 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 5 3/4" |
| Drawer guides (1x2)1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 17 1/2" |
| Shaped ends3/4 in plywoodDraw your own pattern; template the pair to match. | 2 | 3/4" × 22" × 27" |
| Box top/bottom (1x6)1x6 | 2 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 36" |
| Top supports (2x2)2x2Round the edges. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 36" |
| TabletoptabletopPlanked hardwood or trimmed plywood. | 1 | 3/4" × 36" × 50" |
| Drawer front/back (1x4)1x4 | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 17 1/2" |
| Drawer sides (1x4)1x4 | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 16 3/4" |
| Drawer bottom1/4 in plywood | 1 | 1/4" × 17 1/2" × 18 1/4" |
| Drawer face1x6 | 1 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 18 1/4" |
Buy 9 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
1 board
1 board
1 board
Attach the box parts with 3/4" pocket holes and 1-1/4" pocket screws and glue, or 2" screws. Keep outside edges flush and square. Tip: if using pocket holes, mark all the locations across the whole plan and drill before any assembly.
Add the drawer guides, taking a second to ensure the drawer area is square — you'll have only 1/4" of total play around the drawer, so it must be true.
Attach the top of the storage box to the sides, keeping it square.
Draw your end patterns carefully. They don't have to match the source, but the two ends must match each other — cut one, use it as a template for the other, clamp the pair, and sand until identical. Attach them to the center storage area with screws and glue.
Make the top from joined hardwood boards (pocket-holed on the underside) for the best result, or from a half sheet of hardwood plywood cut to 47" x 33" and wrapped with an edge-to-edge 1x2 frame for a sturdy, decorative edge. Round the 2x2 top supports smooth and attach them to the underside per the diagram.
Set the base under the top so it fits right over it, and attach by screwing through the box sides into the 2x2 supports with 2" screws.
Keep the drawer simple — a 1x4 box with a plywood bottom. Check it fits the opening. Rub the drawer bottom with candle wax for a smoother slide.
Position the drawer face over the box, shimming for an even 1/8" gap all around, and attach with 1-1/4" finish nails, then reinforce from inside with 1-1/4" screws. Attach the hardware to the face first so you don't have to drill through a second layer of 1x to reach the hardware screw. Sand and finish.
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2 boards
1 board
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 →