Although I built a wall mounted stand up desk to do all of my computer work, I still found myself hunched over on the floor while working on my diy projects.
It was time to build a work table. My aching back was begging for it.
Now, when I build the projects that I post on my YouTube channel, I try to shoot video with the best lighting I can, so my work table had to be moveable. It also had to be lightweight, so I could carry it upstairs by myself in needed, yet sturdy enough to do some real work on it.
So that’s why I decided to build the frame using 2×3’s (to shave a little weight off standard 2×4 construction) that I picked up really cheap at Menards, some reclaimed 1×6’s, and a piece of plywood which was leftover from our house renovation. (The 1×6’s were actually used as floor boards in the downstairs bedroom.)
I mounted the table frame on a set of smooth casters, so I could roll it around from room to room. I also added a distressed silver paint job to it to make it a little more interesting to look at rather than the plain ‘ol boring, wood tone.
I also designed the table top to be removable, so that I could easily take it off to roll the table frame through doorways, and to keep it light enough to carry everything upstairs or outside if needed. I also didn’t add any paint or clear coat to the table top, so that it would be easy to clean up spills, stains, gouges, etc by simply running my sander over it if needed.
Both the table frame and the table top were assembled with some wood glue and pocket hole screws using my little Kreg Jig, which made everything very sturdy.
So anyway, rather than just reading about it, how about actually seeing how I built it with these two videos below.
Enjoy!
Part 1:
Part 2:
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Here’s the Dimensions for My DIY Work Table:
I built the (25″W x 43″L x 37″H) frame for my work table using 2″x3″ boards cut down into these sizes:
- (2) Long Side Aprons – 38″
- (1) Stretcher Bar – 40″
- (4) Legs – 33″
- (2) Upper End Aprons – 22″
- (2) Lower End Aprons – 22″
- (2) Cross Top Supports – 22″
- (4) Caster Leg Supports – 3-1/2″
- (4) Locking, Swivel Casters – 3″
The (30″W x 48″L) removable table top was made from some reclaimed, solid pine 1″x6″s, an 8″ wide piece of 3/4″ plywood, and a few small pieces of scrap pine to make the blocks underneath.
- (1) 8″ Plywood Tabletop Center Board – 3/4″ x 8″ x 48″
- (4) 1″x6″ Solid Pine Tabletop Outer Boards – 3/4″ x 5-1/2″ x 48″
- (4) Tabletop Placement Blocks – 1″ x 1-1/2″ x 10″
And there you have it. Not too shabby, huh? That’s how I designed & built a simple little work table that should help my back feel better, and hopefully, make me a bit more productive.
Later!
-Kevin
