Portable Prep Center

Running water and a work surface for convenient outdoor cooking

Need a kitchen at the campsite or by your grill? This fold-up one even has running water!

Even when you’ve left behind the comforts of your kitchen, you still need to wash vegetables or season the steak before mealtime. This table makes those tasks a whole lot easier. The sink serves up running water, while the countertop gives you a convenient work surface. When you head for home, the whole thing folds up for easy transport. And when you get home, you just might find it perfect for the patio. 1 BUILD THE BOX Arrange the box parts with the best-looking sides facing outward, and join the corners with trim-head screws. Choose the top and the front of the box and label them to prevent confusion later. 2 DRILL THE LEGS A drill press is best for making the bolt holes in the legs. But if you don’t have one, a homemade drill guide will help you bore the holes straight. All you need are a couple blocks cut at 90 degrees.

3 DRILL THE BOLT HOLES

Assemble the leg sets. Lay the longer set in the box against a 3/4-in. spacer. Drill through the box, using the leg holes as a guide. Bolt the legs to the box. Then place the short legs on the long legs against a 1/2-in. spacer. Slip 1/16-in. spacers between the legs, then drill and bolt the legs into place.

4 INSTALL THE COUNTERTOP

Place each 1-1/2-in. mending plate at an angle on the top of the box, and screw it into place. Center the countertop and screw the plates to it. The plates will allow the top to move slightly as it shrinks and swells with changes in humidity.

5 CUT THE SINK HOLE

Place the sink upside down on the countertop and trace around it. Then mark your cutting lines 1/4 in. inside the traced lines. Drill a starter hole and cut along the inner lines. Install the sink according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Tip: Drive a screw into the cutout to provide support as you finish the cut.