Build this beautiful and functional DIY Folding Lap Desk out of a single board!
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MATERIALS:
- (1) 1 x 8 x 8 Ft. Board
- (4) Connecting Bolts
- (4) Connecting Caps
- 1 1/4-inch Pocket Screws
- Wood Glue
TOOLS:
- Tape Measure
- Carpenter’s Square
- Cordless Drill/Driver with Spade or Forstner Bit
- Table Saw
- Circular Saw or Chop Saw
- Jig Saw
- Pocket Hole Jig
- Biscuit Joiner (optional)
- Parallel Bar Clamps
- Safety Glasses
- Hearing Protection
- Dust Mask
CUT LIST:
- (2) @ 7 1/4 inches x 21 inches (top)
- (2) @ 1 1/2 inches x 21 inches (long aprons)
- (2) @ 1 1/2 inches x 13 inches (short aprons)
- (4) @ 1 1/2 inches x 8 1/4 inches (legs)
- (2) @ 1 1/2 inches x 11 1/2 inches (stretchers)
*If you’d like to use standard dimensional lumber instead of cutting the parts out of a single board, the cut list is as follows:
- (2) 1 x 8 @ 21 inches (top)
- (2) 1 x 2 @ 21 inches (long aprons)
- (2) 1 x 2 @ 13 inches (short aprons)
- (4) 1 x 2 @ 8 1/4 inches (legs)
- (2) 1 x 2 @ 11 1/2 inches (stretchers)
STEP 1 – BUILD THE TOP
Measure, mark, and cut the two top pieces out of the board, according to the cut layout. Edge-join the two boards together using wood glue. Clamp and let dry. Use biscuits for alignment, if desired.
STEP 2 – ADD THE APRONS
Measure, mark, and cut apron pieces according to the cut layout. Use a jigsaw to cut the curve for the handles on the short aprons. Drill 3/4-inch pocket holes into the aprons and attach them to the top board with 1 1/4-inch pocket screws and wood glue.
STEP 3 – CUT THE LEGS
Measure, mark, and cut the leg parts according to the cut layout. Notice that there is a slight 15º angle at the bottoms of the legs and the tops are rounded over. Drill a hole at the top for the connecting bolts in the next step. Drill 3/4-inch pocket holes into the stretchers and attach them to the legs with 1 1/4-inch pocket screws and wood glue. Place the stretchers 2 inches from the bottom.
STEP 4 – ATTACH THE LEGS
Using the spade or forstner bit, drill holes into the long aprons for the connecting caps. Attach the legs with the connecting bolts and caps, ensuring that the legs will swing open and closed freely. Do not overtighten so that the legs easily fold in.
Sand, stain and/or paint, and finish as desired.
Downloadable plans for this are missing.
I cannot download the plans
How long are the connecting bolts you used for folding lap desk.
what size are the connecting bolts and caps??
Again, what size are the bolt’s and caps that you used for this project? And approximately how far from the top of the legs did you make the hole for the bolt? The table is lovely. I am a new woodworker and am unable to figure stuff out on my own still.
I used a screen capture snipping tool to capture it in 9 pictures. Tedious, but it worked.
What size are connecting caps and bolts.
Did you figure this out Bryce?
What is the thickness of the board?
The cutting list reflects a 1 x 8 so that would be a nominal thickness of approximately 3/4″ thick.
What size are connecting caps and bolts.
On your pictures of the underside of the table it shows what look to be 1×1 spacers/stops for the legs against the end apron, I don’t see them on your drawings or cut list. Did you delete them or over look them on your final drawing?
how big of a bolt should i use