Build a mobile island bench

Skill - 3/5

Time - 2 days

 

The ultimate entertainer, this island bench has a shelf plus castors so it can be moved when stacked with food and drinks.

 

Built from radiata pine, the frame and shelf are assembled using 10 x 50mm fl uted dowels. The top is cut from 1200 x 600 x 19mm

laminated pine, about $60 from Porta Mouldings (www.porta.com.au).

 

Before attaching the hardware use a brush to apply a combined primer and sealer, such as Dulux 1 Step prepcoat, about $37 a litre.

 

Finish the trolley with two coats of gloss acrylic enamel using a brush or paint sprayer for a sleek, modern finish.

 

TIP Dulux Aquanamel, about $39 a litre can be applied using a paintbrush or spraygun such as the Wagner Wallperfect W665.

 

On the end of the top and shelf rails use a marking gauge to mark the centre then pencil over the groove and mark the dowel holes

15mm from the edges.

TIP Set the marking gauge stock 9.5mm from the pin.

 

To prevent drilling too deep add a rubber grommet or wrap masking around a 10mm dowel bit 27mm from the tip to drill the dowel holes.

TIP A dowel bit has a point at the centre that prevents it from moving the mark when drilling.

Use a ruler to mark down the outside faces of the legs to position the rails 15mm from the edge.

TIP The top rails are flush with the top of the legs, and the top of the shelf rails are 460mm from the top of the legs.

 

On the rails, position 10mm dowel centres in the holes to mark matching holes on the legs, keeping them parallel with the 15mm inset. Assemble without adhesive to check the fit, labelling the joints for final assembly.