EASY STEPS TO YOUR PULL AROUND WORK ISLAND

2021-12-09 -

Transform your messy home office into an ideal multi-purpose space for working, making and reading. Apply a soothing coat of paint, then get practical to build a desk big enough for two (or more) and a pull-around island, which adds flexibility. Upcycle pieces such as bookshelves, carve out spaces for seating, storage and display and voila – the ultimate creative hub! Fab and functional.

Build a workbench table on wheels to give you flexibility about where you work.

Gather your supplies

•2200 x 600 x 26mm laminated beech panel

•42 x 19mm x 2.4m dressed pine (3)

•70 x 70mm x 1.8m dressed pine (2)

•31 x 15mm x 2.4m clear pine panel mould (2)

•30mm swivel plate castors (2)

You’ll also need Circular saw; PVA glue; drill; countersinking drill bit; 50 and 60mm screws; combination square; pencil; 3mm drill bit; trimmer fitted with chamfer bit; 30mm nails; hammer; nail punch; wood putty; fine sandpaper; gap filler; soft lint-free cloth; painting gear; undercoat; water-based enamel paint

Here’s how

STEP 1 Lay beech tabletop on bench and sit side rails and cross rails on top. Spread glue on end of outside cross rails and butt into side rails flush with the ends. Predrill through side rails into these cross rails using a countersinking drill bit and screw together using 50mm screws.

STEP 2 Glue, predrill and screw remaining cross rails between side rails so there is a 70mm gap from the cross rails already installed.

STEP 3 At corners of tabletop use a combination square to mark 2 lines 15mm from the edges that meet in a corner.

STEP 4 Align corners of frame assembly with drawn lines. Predrill pilot holes through frame into tabletop, using 3mm drill bit. Make holes near corners, with 2 more evenly spaced along each of side rails. Also drill holes in inner cross rails.

STEP 5 Turn frame over and spread a bead of glue along top edges of frame. Turn back over and realign the frame with the marks in the tabletop corners.

STEP 6 Using 60mm screws, screw through pilot holes in frame into the tabletop to join the two together.

STEP 7 Use combination square to mark a line around both ends of the legs 70mm from the ends.

STEP 8 Use trimmer to create a chamfer on each corner of the legs. Stop the trimmer at the lines drawn around the legs.

STEP 9 Cut 38mm off the ends of 2 of the legs. This allows for the height of the castors, which will make the bench mobile.

STEP 10 Spread a generous amount of glue in the corner of the frames in the gaps between the cross rails. Insert legs into this gap, predrill and screw through frame into legs, using 60mm screws. Ensure each leg is perpendicular to the frame. Make sure the 2 longer legs are at one end of the bench with the 2 shorter legs at the other.

STEP 11 Cut side and cross rail mouldings with a 45° angle on the ends to form mitred joins at the corners. Spread glue on the back of the moulding and position on the underside of the table against the frame. Nail

in place using 30mm nails. Use nail punch to punch head of nails below timber.

STEP 12 Fill all nail and screw holes using wood putty. Let dry and sand smooth. Also fill any gaps between components with gap filler. Wipe with a damp cloth to smooth out.

STEP 13 Apply undercoat to entire table and allow to dry. Sand lightly, then remove dust.

STEP 14 Apply 2 coats of enamel paint to table. Allow to dry and sand lightly after the first coat.

STEP 15 Screw castors to the end of the shorter legs using the supplied screws.