How to Make Pulpit Furniture

Whether it is called a lectern or a pulpit, the quintessential speakers stand is made much the same the world over and can be found in churches, classrooms and lecture halls of all types. When building pulpit furniture it is best to create it with an average person's height in mind to make it usable by as many as possible. The over all height of the average lectern is 50 inches. The top should be wide enough to allow a large book, such as a Bible or text book, to be opened on it, with room for notes.

3/4-inch thick plywood
Table saw
Tape measure
Pin nail gun
Wood glue
Carpenter square

Instructions

- 1
  Cut your pieces from 3/4-inch thick cabinet grade plywood. Cut one face 20-by-48 and 1/2-inches, two sides 12-by-48-inches, one top 24-by-16-inches and one shelf 18 and 1/2-by-12-inches. Make the cuts on a table saw.
- 2
  Mark the two sides 2 inches from the top along one long edge. Draw a diagonal line from this mark to the opposite top corner to create the angle for the pulpit top. Cut along this line with a circular saw. Set the circular saw blade to a 22 1/2-degree angle and trim the top edge of the pulpit front with the bevel going to the inside.
- 3
  Stand one side panel up on its flat 12-inch end with the taller part of the angle facing to the left. Align the pulpit front with one long edge against the left edge of this piece, with the bevel on the front piece at its top and angled back toward the pulpit side panel. Glue and nail the front to the side, with its right edge flush with the outside face of the side panel. Use a pin nail gun and one 1 1/2-nail every 8-to-10-inches. Glue and nail the remaining side panel to the opposite long edge of the pulpit front.
- 4
  Apply glue to the top edge of the side and front panels and center the top on them. Drive nails down through the top into the top edges of the front and side panels, three nails into each side and five in the front. Cut a piece of 1-by-2 lumber 24-inches long and glue and nail it to the bottom edge of the pulpit top as a book stop. Glue it on the face of the top, with one long edge flush with the bottom edge of the top.
- 5
  Lay the pulpit down on its face and use a square to draw lines across the inside faces of the side panels, 24-inches from the bottom end. Apply glue to three edges of the shelf and install it between the side panels, with its bottom face flush with the lines you drew. Nail through the side panels into the edges of the shelf, four nails on each side.
- 6
  Fill nail holes and seams with solvent based wood filler. Sand the entire pulpit with 150-grit sandpaper. Apply two coats of stain and finish all-in-one in your choice of colors. Use a fine bristle brush to apply the finish in long straight strokes, with the grain. Spread the finish as evenly as possible to prevent runs and drips. Allow the label recommended drying time between coats for best results.

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