Hi everyone! A friend has asked me to build a pedestal stand that measures 40 inches by 40 inches and is 8 inches high. She plans to use it for clothing alterations. I'm using three-quarter maple plywood for the construction. I'm a bit unsure about the joinery methods since I'm not an expert. Should I go with mitred corners using glue and Brad nails, or would butt joints with pocket holes be more suitable? Given that the stand needs to support weight, which corner joinery method is preferred?
2 Answers
If I were making it, I’d try to design the top and bottom to slightly overhang the sides and use dados to glue the sides in. I'd also add an internal frame for extra support, maybe three vertical 2x4s — you can use pocket hole screws since that's your strength! Just make sure you know if countersunk screw heads on top are okay, depending on whether you're gluing and screwing. If dados aren't your thing, I’d recommend butt joints with the top and bottom covering the sides rather than miter joints.
Honestly, 40" of 3/4" plywood probably won't hold up too well under an average adult's weight, especially for anyone heavier. You’ll want to build a sturdier framework inside, like vertical joists or a vertical grid to provide better support. If it helps, I would suggest limiting the span to about 12 inches to prevent sagging.