A Drafting Table for Shop or Home
Torsion-box top and simple joinery make a light and sturdy table

Synopsis: Cameron Russell knockdown drafting table makes a good beginner’s project. The table is comfortable to use, and has accessory trays that attach to the legs for easy access. The construction process is simple, and the hardware is readily available. The torsion-box top is rigid and dead flat, yet light and portable. Multiple drawings help show the construction details.
The drafting room at the college where I teach furniture making had long been a sore spot with me. The tables we used were industrial-type library tables, not designed for drawing. The students who used them were far from comfortable. For hours at a time, they hunched over a flat surface that was at the wrong height. It made drafting a pain.
To solve that problem, I designed and built the prototype shown in the top photo on the facing page. After working out the bugs in the design, I…
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