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  3. How to build trestle legs

How to build trestle legs

A set of folding trestles are extremely handy to have around. You can use them to make a table, a desk, or shelves, and they’re very easy to pack up and store away. You could pay a lot for something like this – but you don’t need to, because you can make them yourself for a whole lot less.

Instructions

  • Cut 8 pieces of 75 x 20 at 740mm (legs) and 8 at 560mm (cross members).
     
  • Measure up 200mm (this will be to the top of the rail) on one end of all the leg pieces and square a pencil line across.
     
  • Take the cross member and using a 3.5mm drill bit, pre-drill 2 holes in each end. Apply PVA to the ends of the cross member and lay on top of two of the legs on the pencil marks. Screw in the 35mm screws in the pre-drilled ends and using your square, ensure the cross member is perpendicular to the legs. Now lay another cross member down and fix at the top of the legs. Repeat this process for the opposite side of the trestle.
     
  • Now that you have made the legs, lay them down so they are end on end with the cross members facing up. Open up the hinge and lay it down over the cross members, flush with the ends. Fix in the screws so the legs are now connected. Drill an 8mm hole in the centre of the lower cross members, then stand the legs up and spread the feet apart so the distance is 440mm to the outside of the legs at the point where the rails are fixed.
     
  • Now measure the distance between the inside of the legs for the bottom shelf, (this should be approx. 430mm). Cut the shorter laminated bench top to 428mm wide then 2 at 440mm long. Tie a knot in one end of the rope and feed through the 8mm holes, then ensuring the legs are 440mm apart, tie another knot on the other end.
     
  • Give the shelves a good sand up and place in-between the legs on the cross members. Stain, paint or varnish to suit.