Mobile Folding Craft Station

If you live in a small space like me, you'll know how important every little bit of storage can be! Finding space to store art supplies, and trying to find specific supplies when you need them can be a challenge. This project was initially conceived as a mobile food preparation station while I was completing a Diploma in Visual Arts (Product Design), but quickly got used as a craft station, as it is perfect for storing and accessing art and craft supplies in my apartment. It has a beautiful handmade yet modern look and warm colours and texture.

When building, care must be taken to make the frame square, so that the drawers will install easily. I had challenges installing the drawers as my frame was not glued perfectly square. Opening and closing the table top sides is a bit awkard due to the position of the wooden 'drop-leaf supports' - you may want to consider a re-design. Attaching the caster wheels is challenging, but worth doing for mobility. You may also want to consider another solution for attaching the caster wheels, or make the base fixed.

Supplies

Materials:

• Beech or similar wood for Table Top;
• Sawn timber sizes;
• 1 x 500mm L x 500mm W x 27mm T*
• 2 x 500mm W x 350mm W x 27mm T*
• *thickness can be up to 30mm
• Oak or similar hardwood for Legs & Rails;
• Sawn timber - Leg sizes: 4 x (790mm L x 35mm D)
• Sawn timber - Rail sizes;
• Top & Middle Rails: 8 x (415mm L x 40mm W x 18 T)
• Bottom Rails: 4 x (415mm L x 52mm W x 18 T)
• Sawn timber - Drop Leaf Support: 2 x (414mm x 33mm x12mm)
• Plywood or similar for Panels:
• Sawn timber sizes needed;
• Sides and Back: 3 x (393mm L x 415mm W x 12mm T)
• Base: 1 x 415mm W x 415 L x 12mm T)
• Wood Vaneer strips (if using) - see Step 7
• Locking Caster Wheels, bolts and nuts x4 (70mm D)
• Drawer slides x2 pairs - 400 L x 46 mm W
• Drawer Handles - stainless steel - 2 x 335mm L
• Tee Hinge - 2 pack - 150mm
• Screws
• Masking Tape (small amount)
• 200ml Woodworking glue - quality, fast-drying, for interior use
• 3 x Sanding sheets (for electric orbital sander) - 80 grit, 120 grit & 180 grit
• 4 x Sanding sheets - (for lathe and hand-sanding) - 80 grit, 120 grit, 180 grit, and 240 grit
• 1 x 400 grit Wet & Sandpaper - 1 sheet or small roll.
• 1 x Sanding block (this can be made by cutting a bit of spare wood into a rectangular block)
• 250ml tin of Finishing oil: Tung Nut oil or Hardwax oil - high quality, non toxic, colourless
• Scrap cardboard
• Rags (clean)

Woodworking Equipment:

• Woodworking Bench
• Table Saw
• Surface Planer (Jointer)
• Planer Thicknesser
• Domino Joiner
• Biscuit Joiner
• Wood Lathe
• Edge forming router bit
• Drill
• Nail gun (cordless framing nailer)
• Angled Nails for nailer - approximately 80 x 25mm
• Electric Orbital Sander

Safety Equipment:

• Eye protection (safety glasses)
• Hearing protection (ear muffs)
• Safety footwear (steel cap boots)
• Dust mask
• Fitted, high strength disposable gloves

Tools:

• Woodworking Clamps and Straps (for gluing)
• Retractable Ruler
• Computer
• Calculator
• Pencil and eraser
• Paper - A3 and notepad

Step 1: Cut Wood for Legs & Rails

• Plane the wood so that the wood is smooth and square. 
• Using a Tablesaw, cut 4 lengths of oak to make the legs;
• 4 x Legs: 790mm L x 35mm D.
• Using a Tablesaw, cut the oak to make the rails;
• 8 x Top & Middle Rails: 415mm L x 40mm W x 18mm T
• 4 x Bottom Rails: 415mm L x 52mm W x 18mm T.

Step 2: Prepare Rails

• Mark out where the Domino joints will be on the legs and rails, and use a Domino Joiner to prepare the joints.
• Sand out approximately 17.5 degree angles into the ends of the rails, so that they can be glued congruently to the legs.
• Cut 25mm L and 12 mm D holes into the center of the top side rails (x2) - see measurements pdf for details.
• Sand the rails with an electric sander (I sanded by hand which I don't recommend).

Step 3: Round Legs

• Use an Edge Forming Router Bit on a Router Table to cut the square legs and make them round. 
• Sand the legs on a lathe until smooth.

Step 4: Insert Caster Bolt Into Legs

• Create a jig to hold the legs in place.
• Screw in a caster wheel bolt into the center of each leg (x4), being careful not to split the wood. Once the frame structure is put together in later steps, you can screw in the caster wheels).

Step 5: Prepare Outer Panels and Base Shelf

• Measure and cut the 2 side and 1 back outer panels out of plywood.
• Sawn timber sizes needed;
• Side Panels and Back Panel: 3 x (393mm L x 415mm W x 12mm T)
• Base: 1 x 415mm W x 415 L x 12mm T)
• Prepare the biscuit joints - see 'legs and rail assembley pdf'.

Step 6: Construct Frame - 'Dry Run' (With Panels)

• Test rails, outer panels and legs together before gluing together.
• Masking tape and straps can be used for this step to hold the frame together while testing.
• Adjust the straps and clamps as needed as needed - it is important that the frame is square in order for the drawers to work correctly.
• Glue frame and panels.

Step 7: Cut Drawers

• Measure and cut front panels for large and small drawers - see pdfs attached.
• Round off the corners.
• Measure and cut side and back panels of large drawer.
• Measure and cut side and back panels of small drawer.
• Stick on the wood veener onto the plywood drawer edges if using it.

Step 8: Assemble Drawers

• Check that drawers fit together well, and refine if needed.
• Glue and staple gun together.

Step 9: Add Drawer Slides

• Attach drawer slides to the top and bottom drawers and inside of side panels.

Step 10: Cut and Glue Table Top

• Measure and cut the three sections that will make up the full Table-Top. 
• Sizes needed;
• 1 x 500mm L x 500mm W x 27mm T*
• 2 x 500mm W x 350mm W x 27mm T*
• *thickness can be up to 30mm
• Glue together sections if needed, using clamps.
• Round the edges of the outer 2 sections with a Router.

Step 11: Table-Top Folding Structure

• Measure, cut and attach the Drop Leaf Support structure - see pdf.
• Sawn timber - Drop Leaf Support: 2 x (414mm x 33mm x12mm)
• Attach the Tee Hinge joints - see photo.

Step 12: Attach Table-Top

• Align the Table-top, then attach to the frame using wooden corner wedges and screws (see photo).
• Screw in the caster wheels.

Step 13: Attach Handles

• Attach the drawer handles. 

Step 14: Sand and Polish

• Sand all surfaces.
• Apply 3 coats of suitable wood finish - I used Organoil (mostly made of Tung Nut Oil). You could also use Hardwax Oil. Make sure each coat dries completely, then give a very light sand with wet and dry between coats.

Step 15: Enjoy Your Mobile Craft Station

Enjoy your super handy and beautiful mobile folding craft station.