Introduction: Multipurpose Knock Down Display Stand
Here’s a quick woodworking project that makes for a fun DIY gift. It’s a knock down, multipurpose display stand. This is perfect as a food serving board - put some bread and other appetizers on it in the center of your table. It looks great on a kitchen counter to hold cups or spices. It even works brilliantly sitting on a desk in an office. It’s truly multipurpose!
Supplies
You don’t need a lot of materials for this one. Here are some things that help:
- One 3/4” thick board for the top. Shoot for about 6” wide and as long as you want.
- One 3/4” thick board for the legs. Ideally have it 4.5” wide and about 15” long.
- A scroll saw, band saw, or jig saw to cut shapes.
- Chisels are helpful but not required.
- Sandpaper
- Your preferred wood finish.
I have downloadable templates on my website if you want to give this project a shot. But feel free to just make it all up if you want!
Step 1: Prepare Your Materials
Start with boards that are 3/4” thick. If you don’t already have those, you may have to sand or plane your boards down to this thickness. Most big box hardware stores sell 3/4” boards.
Cut a board to 6” wide and slightly longer than 17” long. This is your top board. You can adjust this if you want to increase the size.
Take another board and cut it to 4.5” wide and 7” long. You need two of these because they are the legs.
Step 2: Create the Top Board
Use the templates on my website or simply drawer your own shape on the top board. I rounded over the ends of my board with a scroll saw and then sanded the edges smooth. I found some oak that had a cool natural live edge that I wanted to incorporate into the design.
The top needs two rectangles cut out of it for the legs to slide through. Mine are about 4” long and slightly over 3/4” wide. Cut out these rectangles any way that works best for you. I used a scroll saw. You could also drill multiple holes to remove the bulk of the waste material and then clean up the edges with a chisel. You could try using a jig saw make the rectangles. The whole point is to make sure the legs fit into them but aren’t too loose.
Step 3: Make the Legs
The legs are about 4.5” wide at the base and 4” wide at the top. They are approximately 6.75” tall.
There are multiple ways to make the legs. I printed out a template and stuck it on a piece of 1/4” MDF using spray adhesive. I cut out the template for the leg, giving me a 1/4” pattern that I used to make the real legs. Doing it this way meant I didn’t have a lot of sanding to do since the material is so thin. I traced the pattern onto the leg material and rough cut the legs out. Then I stuck the pattern to the legs using double sided tape. Using a pattern bit in a router, I was able to quickly clean up the legs.
Another way to do this is to make one leg, and then use that as your pattern to make the second one. A third way is to stick both leg boards together and then cut and sand them at once. Six in one hand, half a dozen in the other. Pick the method that works best for you.
Regardless of how you make them, ensure your legs slide easily into the rectangles in the top board. I used a scroll saw to cut out the inside handle and a square in the center of the leg.
Step 4: Cut Wooden Wedges
The legs should be able to fit into the top so your stand…well, stands up! To lock everything in place, you need wedges. I took some simple off cut pieces from my boards to make mine. They simply need to fit snuggly into the squares in the legs. It helps to use a hand plane or some sandpaper to taper the boards into a wedge shape. This lets you easily slide them in but they tighten the more you push. Make these wedges whatever length you want.
Step 5: Finish It Up!
Apply your favorite finish. I went with a hard wax finish that is food safe just in case I want to put bread or other foods on it. You could also use a poly or shellac if you want to use it to display items like coffee cups.
Make sure you plan ahead but these are great gifts and you may be asked to make several once people see them!