How to Make a Simple Buffet Table

Legs

• 1

  Cut four 35-inch legs from the two 4-inch-by-4-inch posts. Cut eight 1-3/4-inch spacers from one of the 1-inch-by-3-inch pine boards.

• 2

  Measure and mark the center at 1 3/4 inches on one side of each post. Identify the upper spacer placement by marking 1 1/2 inches from the top end on each of the four leg posts. Mark the lower spacer placement by measuring 4 1/2 inches from the bottom end on each of the four legs.

• 3

  Align spacers on two of the leg posts, one to the right of center below the 1 1/2-inch marks and one above the 4 1/2-inch marks, ensuring the spacer and post edges are flush. Align the remaining spacers to the left of center and flush with edges on the other two posts.

• 4

  Pre-drill and countersink screw placement prior to securing spacers to leg posts with 3-inch screws and wood glue. Check for square. Stand posts on bottom ends and place at diagonal opposites with the spacers to the inside forming a rectangle. Ensuring that the side posts have spacers facing each other.

Frame

• 5

  Cut four 17-inch pieces from the 1-inch-by-3-inch pine boards for framing the interior sides. Cut two 56 1/2-inch pieces from the remaining 1-inch-by-3-inch boards to frame the back.

• 6

  Build two separate 3-sided frames using 2-inch screws and wood glue; secure one 17-inch piece to each end of a 56 1/2-inch strip.

• 7

  Align the upper and lower frame placement to the inside of the post legs using the spacers as a guide. Leave a 3/4-inch space to the front and backside of the legs where the frame will be. Pre-drill and countersink screw placement and attach one frame with 3-inch screws and wood glue to the lower portion and one frame to the upper portion of the legs. Check for square.

Interior

• 8

  Cut one 17 3/4-inch-by-58-inch piece from the plywood for the base of the buffet. Cut one 16 3/4-inch-by-29-inch plywood center divider. Cut two 18 1/4-inch-by-24-inch plywood inner-side walls. Cut one 29-inch-by-58-inch plywood back panel. Cut two 17 1/4-inch-by-27 7/8-inch plywood shelves. Cut two 11 1/2-inch-by-30 1/2-inch plywood side panels.

• 9

  Align the plywood base flush to the back of the back legs leaving a 3/4 inch space at the front between the base and the front legs. Secure the plywood base, using 2-inch screws and wood glue, to the pre-drilled and countersunk screw placement to the outside of the lower frame.

• 10

  Measure 29 5/8 inches from the inside of the leg post to the middle of the base to mark the placement of the center divider. Drill countersink screw placements in the upper and lower back frames and the buffet base. Secure the center divider using 2 inch screws and wood glue.

• 11

  Place the inner side walls to the inside of the side framing. Countersink screw placements into the legs. Secure inner walls using 3-inch screws and wood glue.

• 12

  Align the back panel with the outside of the frame. Ensure that the top of the back panel is flush with the top of the upper frame. Countersink and attach back panel to the frames using 1 1/4-inch screws and wood glue.

• 13

  Use a pocket hole jig to drill three pocket holes on three sides of the two shelves. Measure and mark the center shelf placement on the back and inner side walls at 14 7/8 inches between the top of the frame to the bottom of the buffet base board. Align the shelves with the pocket holes facing down and drive 1 1/4 inch pocket screws through the pocket holes from underneath the shelves into the back and side walls.

• 14

  Set the side panels for the outside of the buffet against the spacers and align ensuring that the top of the panels and the top of the spacers are flush. Glue and countersink 2-inch screws from the side panels into the spacers.

Top and Trim

• 15

  Cut two 65-inch pieces for the top of the buffet table from the 2-inch-by-10-inch boards. Measure and cut a 3 1/2-inch-square to notch out the ends in two of the end corners on the same side of each top board. Cut a 58-inch front-trim piece from a 1-inch-by-2-inch pine-board strip. Cut two 11 1/2-inch side-trim pieces from the 1-inch-by-2-inch pine-board strip. Cut the end of the 3/4-inch-by-1/2-inch-by-6-foot trim-board down to 27 7/8 inches for the shelf trim.

• 16

  Inset one top board to the rear of the buffet and one to the front along the top frame and the inside of the leg posts to enclose the top. Glue and drive 3-inch screws into the side panels, spacers, back and top of the frame.

• 17

  Align front and side trim pieces flush with the outside edges. Center the shelf trim. Attach trim boards to the buffet with wood glue and 1 1/4 inch finish nails with a hammer.

Doors

• 18

  Cut two 10-inch door supports from the 1-inch-by-2-inch pine-board strip. Cut eight 29-inch cabinet doors from the 1-inch-by-8-inch pine boards.

• 19

  Use a pocket hole jig to drill three pocket holes on one length of four door boards. Place one board with pocket holes facing the middle and one board without pocket holes side by side together. Glue and attach a door support to the top and bottom to keep the boards aligned together. Secure with 1 1/4 inch pocket hole screws. Repeat for the remaining three doors.

• 20

  Miter cut at a 45 degree angle on the inside edge along the length of each of the four doors. Create a more rounded hand grip with a router

• 21

  Attach the concealed cabinet hinges to the inside of the cabinet base at the legs and center support and at the doors. Confirm simple buffet table measurements as 35 inches high by 65 inches long by 19 inches wide.