Simple Furniture Designs Blog

#63 KD shelving system

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:55:03 -0700

This is a really simple system and very easy to make using a chop/cutoff saw. I used a 1x10 for the shelf, but you could also use a 1x8 or anything you have -- metric or not -- since the design is flexible. There are three parts to each stacking unit: the shelf and the two identical L shaped shelf supports. The shelf is secured to the shelf supports by blocks under the shelf. That seems to work for most cases but you can add screws/pins through the back lip of the shelf for a more robust attachment -- or make one of the alternative designs where the shelf better captures the shelf support. I made this at 30” wide and found it very strong. So going to 36” or 42” or maybe even 48” should work if you are using 3/4” pine. Test your stock first. You can also add a support board midway along -- as shown in one of the alternatives designs -- if you need to beef it up a bit (you can do that for any sagging book case shelf).

#62 Round stacking table

Tue, 5 Jun 2012 13:38:50 -0700

This is a 16” high four legged stacking table. I think you could go 18” high using this design if you were to use a stiffer hardwood rather than the stock softwood that I used. People also have a tendency to sit on round things 16” to 18” high so I used 1/2” MDF for the top to imply the thinness of a table rather than the sturdiness of a stool.

#61 Round stacking tables

Fri, 11 May 2012 15:06:52 -0700

This is a 16” high stacking table. I’ve made a couple versions of this and think this is probably the best to make. I’m not so sure about going 18” high using this design. Perhaps if you were to use a stiffer hardwood rather than a stock 2x2 softwood that might work. Going to four legs would also help. People also have a tendency to sit on round things 18” high so I used 1/2” MDF (or ply) for the top to imply the thinness of a table rather than the sturdiness of a stool.

#60 Square stacking tables/stools

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:24:02 -0700

Here are a number of square stacking tables. (I’ll do round ones in the next blog entry.) The smaller ones would also work as low stools. I’m only detailing one at 14” high but you can see there are many variations on this theme. The ones that have legs outboard of the top will tend to stack much higher . . . maybe to infinity if you want to make that many -- however many infinity is. The one I’ve detailed will only stack four high. It is relatively simple to make but does require a dowel hole drilling jig. The space between the legs is too small to use a pocket hole drilling jig. Toe nailing might work. I’ve also used a 1/8” reveal between the top and the legs. This will help in concealing any misalignments. That’s easy to do so keeping everything square is important.

#59 Bedside table

Sun, 8 Apr 2012 11:02:12 -0700

I left this somewhat rustic bedside table in its natural pine finish, but I can see giving it a color wash would also work. The outer case is relatively easy to construct. The draw, because I made it without standard hardware, is a little fussy. I wanted to see if it could be done. It can, but I recommend that you use modern slides and a box assembly found on most standard draws. You can also use a found draw and hardware. Just change the draw front to match. You can also change the case size, since it is infinitely adjustable, to match a draw you have.