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Designed to allow you to work on the laptop or read the weekend papers in bed, this tabletop is high enough to slide over the mattress, with the drawer slipping under the bed frame.
Before You Begin
Step 1: Lay Out Shelf Positions
Step 2: Attach the Shelf and Base
Step 3: Attach the Shelf Side
Step 4: Attach the Top
Step 5: Add a Bracket
Step 6: Add the Casters
Step 7: Construct the Drawer Frame
Step 8: Attach the Drawer Base
Written by Frank Gardner
Bed heights vary, so adjust the side length to suit, and note that the drawer isn't accommodated by an ensemble bed.
On the side, use the shelf side as a spacer to mark positions of the top, shelf and base. Drill four equally spaced 1/8-in.-diameter pilot holes between the lines using a countersink bit.
Spread interior wood glue between marked lines on the inside of the side and on the ends of the shelf and base, securing with #8 x 1 1/2-in. screws. Finish screw heads below the surface and cover with putty.
Drill four 1/8-in. pilot holes into the shelf side through the shelf and base, securing with wood glue and #8 x 1 1/2-in. screws.
On the top, draw a line 3/4-in. from the edge to drill and countersink five equally spaced 1/8-in.-diameter pilot holes. Apply wood glue to the side and top, securing with #8 x 1 1/2-in. screws.
Position the table sideways, using a combination square to check the top is perpendicular to the side, and attach an L bracket with 5/8-in. screws.
Position four casters under the base, 1 1/4-in. from the corners, securing with 5/8-in. screws. Use two 2 1/2-in. freewheeling swivel casters and two 2 1/2-in. locking swivel casters to prevent movement when not required.
Use a router and straight cutting bit to make a 1/8-in. deep x 3/8-in. wide rebate for the drawer base along the lower inside edge of the drawer front, back and sides. Assemble the frame, securing with wood glue and two #8 x 2-in. screws.
For ultra-smooth drawer operation, use 14-in. self-closing slides. The drawer must be 1-in. narrower than the opening to accommodate the slides. Subtract 7/8-in. from the drawer back length and drawer bottom width in the cutting list and use a 1/2-in. wide spacer block to position the sides on the drawer front.
Position the drawer base in the rebate and secure with glue and brad nails. Secure a handle to the center of the drawer front and cover the exposed screw heads with wood filler. When dry, sand smooth, prime and paint with two coats of acrylic.