Do It Yourself: A-Frame Construction

A-Frame Plant Stand

• 1

  Measure and use a miter saw to cut four wooden legs 1-by-2, 47 1/2 inches long; eight rails 1-by-2, 11 1/2 inches long; four top-shelf beams 1-by-3, 17 1/4 inches long; four middle-shelf beams 1-by-3, 29 1/2 inches long; and four bottom-shelf beams 1-by-3, 41 1/2 inches long. Smooth the beams with a sander as desired.

• 2

  Miter, or angle, all four legs at 25 degrees from center or off center. Before fastening the rails in place, turn two of the legs around in the shape of an A-frame.

• 3

  Fasten the four horizontal rails to the two legs by using the Kreg Jig, set at 3/4 stock, and drill two holes using 1 1/4-inch pocket hole screws on each side of the rails into the legs. Each rail should be set 12 3/4 inches apart from each other. There should be 2 1/2 inches left at the very bottom of the frame below the last wooden rail. Do this for both sets of A-frame legs.

• 4

  Use a butt hinge to fasten both A-frame leg units together at a 45-degree angle by placing the butt hinge in between both legs, making the shape of the letter A. Secure the butt hinge to the inside of the top of each leg unit by using the Kreg Jig to drill one 1 1/4-inch pocket screws on each side.

• 5

  Secure the top shelf (four beams at 17 1/4 inches long) to the first set of rails at a 1/4 inch from the inside of the legs and a 1/4 inch apart by using the drill to secure 2-inch galvanized screws to the rails. Secure one screw onto the edge of each side of each shelf beam into the rails.

• 6

  Secure the middle shelf (four beams at 29 1/2 inches long) on the second set of rails (the same amount of inches apart as the top shelves) by using the drill to secure 2-inch galvanized screws into the edge of each shelf beam to connect it to the rails.

• 7

  Secure the bottom shelf (four beams at 41 1/2 inches long) on the third set of rails by placing them the same inches apart as the other shelf beams and securing them to the rails by drilling 2-inch screws to each beam.