How to Make a Shadowbox Table With Pine Wood

Arrange four pine wood side box boards (1-by-12-by-24 inches) upright on their long, skinny ends in a perfect square. Predrill four evenly spaced holes through the side of each side box board into the end of the board that adjoins it. Join the boards together with 2-inch wood screws.

Invert the assembled frame so that the bottom of the frame is facing upward. Place a pine wood box bottom board (1-by-25-by-25 inches) on top of the assembled frame so that the edges of the bottom board line up with the outside edges of the side boards. Predrill evenly spaced holes down through the box bottom board and into the side boards every six inches around the perimeter. Secure the boards in place with 2-inch wood screws.

Position two pine wood leg boards (1-by-1-by-12 inches) upright on their small ends, parallel to one another. Set one of the pine wood leg support boards (1/2-by-3-by-20 inches) on top of the two boards and slide the leg boards out until their outer edges are flush with the end of the leg support boards. Predrill two holes down through the top of the leg support board and into each leg. Attach with 2-inch wood screws and repeat for the other pair of legs.

Set the leg assemblies on the bottom surface of the table assembly and space them evenly so that each leg is 2 inches from its closest edge. Predrill four holes in each leg support board and into the box bottom board, being careful not to break through into the box side of the bottom board. Attach the leg assemblies to the table assembly with 1-inch wood screws.

Rotate the table so it is standing on its legs. Arrange four pine wood border boards (1/4-by-1/2-by-24 inches) around the top of the table so the outside edges of the border boards are flush with the outside edges of the side boards, and the border boards are touching. Set a glass or Plexiglas sheet (1/8-by-24-by-24 inches) on top of the table to ensure that the border boards leave enough space. Rearrange the border boards if necessary.

Remove the glass sheet and glue the border boards to the table top with a thin layer of glue applied to one side of each border board. Press the boards down firmly and allow four hours for the glue to harden. Return the glass sheet to its position on the table top.