How to Build a Drafting Table

In this video I show how I built a traditional and elegant drafting table. I used my CNC Router Parts machine to cut templates for the intricate parts and then used those templates along with a flush trim bit to replicate the parts. The table is made of hard maple and it turned out great.
I have drawn an accurate "as-built" model in Sketchup and that will be available on my website. I will also make the templates available for purchase. If you would like to try this on your own then follow the links below.
Sketchup Model: Coming soon!
Templates: Coming soon!
Email me if you can't wait for me to get them on the website: [e-mail]
Friends of RedneckDIY:
CNC Router Parts: www.cncrouterparts.com
Track Tubes: tracktubes.com
Castle USA: www.castleusa.com
The Shocker Stick: www.redneckdiy.com/product/the...
Cunning Stunts Apparel: www.redneckdiy.com/product/cun...
Find me online here:
www.redneckdiy.com
/ redneckdiy
/ redneck_diy

[@c.jillallen-hood923]

That is just what I'm looking for! I'm a 'Woodworking Newbie' and I just love it when the people who are helping me to make my dreams come true take the time to explain every aspect of their build. Thanks so much!

[@robertoconnor1820]

I'm glad this popped up on my search. I'm thinking of building a drafting table for myself and your vid really helped me on the plans. I will definitely try this one. Thanks!

[@mr.apparatus9108]

That is so awesome! It looks so clean and sturdy! That would look quite elegant as walnut or cherry wood.

[@rehabmax]

Beautiful drafting table and with the old bench, perfect.

[@davidgood2598]

I want to thank you for sharing your video. I used a few ideas from your drafting table and absolutely love how mine turned out. I am going to have to get the tightening handles you uses as i only have wing nuts, which work fine but do not look as good as yours. Again thanks for helping me complete a project I've had in my head for a while

[@thehamlinwoodshop]

Absolutely love it. Great job Fred! Love seeing those awesome tools used by a true craftsman. Build videos and weekly vlogs...you can’t get much better. Thank you!!!

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Hamlin. Thanks for the nudge... :-)

[@MissionaryForMexico]

That is one very well designed drafting table! And you do have have some of the best wood working tools hands down!

[@Thom4123]

Like you said a drafting table from high school days came out so freakin sweet. I would have been racking my brain for all the angles and the sliding mechanism awesome job brother.

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Thom. Sketchup made working out the angles a lot easier!

[@billedis5482]

Wow I like it even more now that I saw how you built it. Excellent job. Thanks for sharing. Bill

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Bill. I appreciate your encouragement!

[@rocketglass1]

WOW very cool. Great use of the cnc. And that is how the factory's do it.

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Robert!

[@arniecoons8248]

You do such a nice job with your projects. Kudos to you!

[@GotItMade]

Really appreciate it Arnie. Thanks for the support!

[@stratmister009]

you're in a class all your own, man! way to sophisticated for me. Rock on.

[@lionelreddy15]

I am curious to see you adding a fix T-Square that move up and down to this drafting drawing. Fantastic job though!

[@GregsGarage]

Looks great Fred! If I never have to hunch over another drafting table, I will consider that a win.

[@GotItMade]

Hahaha. After the Apocalypse dudes like you who remember the old days will be in demand! :-)

[@kevinoverholt1216]

great video, I was searching for a puzzle table and think I can adapt this design to fit my needs.

[@GotItMade]

Yes!!!! Send me pics when you get it done!

[@alexandermartinez5335]

Very nice,I going to build it for my kids. I have just the same tape measure, I found it at Lowe's

[@JusPiddlinBBQ]

Beautiful......like a piece of art!

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Sandy!

[@whitelighter90]

That is amazing I love the work

[@ProspectorBill]

Way too cool Feddie. Hope you have years of enjoyment!

[@GotItMade]

Thanks for watching Bill!

[@miketabar2327]

Great video Feddie. Old school (table) meets new school (cnc templates). Thanks for the video.

[@GotItMade]

Hahaha. I love it Mike!

[@missygeorge1315]

Great video Feddie! I really like your DIY stuff.

[@GotItMade]

Missy!!!! So nice to hear from you girl!

[@MarioRodriguez-pn7yj]

Excelente herramienta me encanta la herramienta

[@tarzan2857]

satisfying and relaxing

[@marinaldocanela6974]

oficina dos sonhos,, show de peça parabéns meu Irmão..

[@GotItMade]

Obrigado!

[@Mikestermon2000]

Nice work!

[@justcruisin109]

Great workmanship. Cheers

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Cruisin!

[@danamorrow5352]

Sweet! Just makes you want to draw something!

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Dana!

[@1954BJohn]

Nice project - very neat work Feddie.

[@GotItMade]

Thanks John!

[@skwerlee]

that looks great Fred!!

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Jeremy!

[@jjt3146]

Beautiful work Fred! And looking like another business opportunity for selling templates 😉👍

[@GotItMade]

Thanks JJ! Yep, that's the plan!

[@robertweigandt9449]

Great build I wish I had room for one.

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Robert. Yeah, it has some size to it for sure!

[@iitsMeStorm]

Thanks ! Building a old school Disney animation desk with the disc,

[@Dave-xq2jb]

lookin-good!

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Dave!

[@lionelreddy15]

you have amazing machines.

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Lionel!

[@waynemorrison9905]

Great work as usual.

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Wayne!

[@stevelecain886]

an you got some nice shop and the gear to work with.but you still have to have boat loads of talent to use it and you sure have that., loved the video.

[@GotItMade]

Thank you Steve. I appreciate your kind words.

[@sthomas7263]

good video , good design

[@blackceazar1]

Very nice Feddie!

[@GotItMade]

Thans Edison!

[@Castor364]

Thing of beauty

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Steve!

[@flexxytainment]

Thanks sir, I find your video very useful But have a question: where would the stresses be on if a load is placed on the table?

[@taylormedia1000]

It's a great build, with one exception. You need a flush mount table top for a T-square. The frame around the top will be a problem.

[@johnnystell6277]

WOW! really traditional and elegant,,, i loved it. BTW, Have anyone here try the ▲DIY smartdesk kit ▲frame to DIY a sit stand desk?

[@hunterdale3186]

Thanks!

[@tailgateworkbench87]

Nice work brother!

[@GotItMade]

Appreciate it JD!

[@sivie746]

great design sir... can i get a measurements on this? thanks!

[@annmariecovington1963]

I noticed the placement of the bolts on the legs prevents height adjustment of more than a few inches downward. Because the upper bolt also attaches the tilting arm, no upward height adjustment is possible. I think the bolts should be closer together and the tilting arm should be attached to the outer leg only.

[@derpmonn]

Amazing work, but when you put pressure on it it rotates, how do you lock the rotation

[@LaidBackGolf]

did you end put some sort of grippy surface on the table itself after?

[@jajablonsky]

Great job Fred. I guess you can add these templates to sell like the stair jig.

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Jeff. Yep, gonna try to sell some of the residuals from this project. Always a hustle. :-)

[@edvigueslopesdesousa6019]

Poderia passar as medidas das peças da mesa por favor! Obrigado.Aqui do Brasil.

[@Rhino3Dtuts]

My friend.... amazing piece of design, amazing video!!! You should be patent your design and sell it to IKEA... absolutely I will be one of thousand buyer

[@GotItMade]

Paolo!!! Thanks for watching! I appreciate your kind words.

[@mequetrefenieto7618]

Excelente trabajo , donde puedo conseguir las dimensiones del proyecto ? Saludos desde México

[@FritsvanDoorn]

I think you saw this one from a youtuber some years ago. It looks pretty much the same. But you made some nice improvements. Thumbs up.

[@jcepri]

0:46 I'm sure I have one of those machines laying around my shop somewhere.

[@jeffmilroy9345]

If would size for an E size architectural drawing 36"x48" and include the same size drawing drawer - a little bigger would be perfect. Actually, I think I would go 48x72 and it would accommodate the largest plans.

[@AKI111]

A 3X4 cutting mat as the drawing surface???

[@BrynnCarrollARTIST]

I found you searching for "How to Build a Drafting Table" and I am always amazed by wood working skills like yours. The tools and shop you have are amazing! Do you need an apprentice? haha! I wish I had your skills! Thank you for a great video!

[@TheSeancassady]

Feddie! Do you have a way to be contacted not through comments here? I have a couple trim install questions

[@bobmireau9841]

Thought I would try here! Emailed you and got no response. Do you have the Sketchup available? wanting to put one together for my brother in law without having to figure all the sizes and angles out! Thanks for your time

[@arizonamedia8341]

Well having the RIGHT tools does make a difference lol but yes u did a super!!!!!!! nice job

[@GotItMade]

Thanks!

[@kortt]

That turned out sweet! Reminds me of drafting class in high school. Do they even teach drafting any more?

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Kortt. It was a fun build.

[@seagnatprepper9613]

very nicely done feddie …. but what else would we expect out of you

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Prepper!

[@Loenthall88]

Beautiful job. The frustrating part for me is, I don't have all those tools to make one. Great to watch, though.

[@GotItMade]

Start small. Build the things your tools will support. Then grow into the bigger projects! Hang in there!

[@jendubay3782]

People have been building stuff long before all these tools came about. You don't need them.

[@jasperbautista7337]

I want to buy one

[@sologamer6846]

Can u name all the materials that u use for that table. Don't know whats they name.

[@moehoward01]

Nice job. I'm curious, though: why plexiglass for the top insert instead of hardboard or MDF?

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Mike. I know some folks who use these tables for drawing like to be able to put something under the surface for tracing and reference. That's the reason I did it that way.

[@lionelreddy15]

fantastic idea

[@jeffforbes3772]

Nicer one Feddie...I like the personalized clamp down table too! Was that regular glass or plexiglass? (1/4 inch??) Thanks for sharing.

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Jeff. The track tubes are pretty sweet and they work great with my "Feddie-Stool" MFT worktop! :-)

[@chrismarkert7673]

Nice table!!!! Only thing missing is a pencil tray!!

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Chris!

[@SuperWingman69]

Excellent work. Did you design this table or use an existing design?

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Wingman. I really can't remember how I came up with everything. I drew it up about three years ago from pictures, seeing one in person, and just kind of guessing what the dimensions would likely be. I didn't have a drawing to go by but it was kind of easy to predict the size of the parts. It all kind of made sense when I put pen to paper.

[@darwinjaymanait4361]

My drawing is short 2 inches.. is there a trick to extend its length?

[@kayeceedelacruz7145]

What are the materials used in here

[@zerkssix]

Is it for sale? been looking for one

[@anthonydtobias]

Looks beautiful!!! But did I hear that damn fire alarm again?? Ha

[@GotItMade]

Hahahaha. Thanks for checking in Anthony!

[@alexanderbustamante7351]

Hello, I am reporting from Nicaragua, I am starting in the carpentry I would like to know the measurements of the pieces of the table since i don't speak english i can't understand your dialogue

[@rocky31186]

Looks great as always! Hey I sent over an email for some more work, let me know what you think when you get time!

[@GotItMade]

Rocky!!! So sorry man. I saw the note and then it fell off the radar. Lemme dust it off and get back with you. :-)

[@lizasoberanoo1235]

WHERE CAN I BUY THIS THING SUCH PERFECT TABLE

[@GotItMade]

Thank you Liza.

[@cwgumby]

Bruh, your home shop is lit. Do you have a metal lathe too?

[@GotItMade]

Thanks CW. I have a lathe at my Pop's house. No moon in my shop for it.

[@antkn33]

Why not just use the cnc to cut out the final pieces?

[@duramaxmak]

Everything looks great except one thing it the miter joint in your baseboard molding I just had to say it

[@GotItMade]

Hahaha. Low blow man... :-)

[@ifndontcare69]

why didn't u use the cnc router to make the big pieces and skip making the templeats?

[@GotItMade]

I discussed this in the video. Most people don't have a CNC. I wanted to demonstrate how to build it without one from a stencil.

[@richardshaw3094]

Are you selling it... If so how much?

[@JesseKlaus]

I don't know if you have any interest in going to this extent but have you considered designing stuff like this and having the components printed out on size C/D/E sheets. Maybe there's a market to sell the printed plans so others could cut out and use the templates, and kind of follow along with your build videos. In the video you could try to use common tools so the very day Joe would have the tools needed without having to go purchase any extremely expensive equipment.

[@GotItMade]

Great ideas Jessee. Or a downloadable CAD/PDF file that you could take to Kinkos and print.

[@craig721]

Good looking table, hoss. I need to give you a call next week.

[@GotItMade]

Thanks Craig. I'll be around all week!

[@timsering9964]

I wouldnt be sticking my hands in machinery like that

[@sergiosandoval7955]

As soon as I saw that cnc I checked out😅

[@miquelangellc2234]

Uffff... prefiero comprar una..

[@loopy7057]

Omg who the hell has all that machinery?

[@calvinkey8088]

No kidding!?! With only 250k in woodworking machines, I can build this table too

[@tagladyify]

If I had all of those expensive tools I would enjoy your video, but I don't and won't.

[@GotItMade]

Work toward it. I didn't always have them either.....

[@tagladyify]

Got It Made sorry to be so cynical, that was a very nice reply considering my sarcasm and level of frustration. To each their own is usually my view, but I find it frustrating that the system twisted diy into buying a bunch of expensive tools to make your own products. It's like moving the assembly line factory to your own home and parting with lots of money to save a bit each time on a project to me. I watched "This Old House" slowly commercialize diy into a shop pissing contest through the 90s. Any way you seem like a nice person enjoying a hobby, don't mind me.

[@stevengates8695]

9:53....that’s all I’ll say!

[@GotItMade]

Hahah. You like that huh.... :-)

[@stevengates8695]

blazingnailgun awesome!!!!

[@stevengates8695]

blazingnailgun top shelf sir!!!

[@JeremySmith-ve2ur]

As I do not have access to a cnc router I am not going to bother watching the rest of this video.

[@mathigraphics7596]

See woo rld

[@Cacophony314]

DIY how to make a drafting table. 1. Buy $60,000 worth of wood cutting machines. _Leaves the building._

[@jaromejacksan6934]

You can use woodprix, it has the best handbooks and ready instructions. You can learn much from them and make it yourself.

[@terrigelbaum8066]

Hi.........you're not married or gay or anything..........just asking. Great job on the build.

[@theothersideofthecoin.9890]

One of the problems ive seen in a lot of people is teaching how to build things with very profetional tools that people dont have , try to teach with less tools ,,,tools are expensive!!!!!.

[@mikekurtz627]

Wasn't that helpful to the do-it-your self person. Most people don't have access to that amount of tools but I guess you do and wanted to show everyone.

[@GotItMade]

+Mike Kurtz has nothing to do with wanting to show everyone my tools. If you want to build a piece like this you have to have the appropriate tools. Just listen to yourself....

[@waynecreech]

Nice work!

[@GotItMade]

Appreciate it Wayne!