Make or Buy a pair of Trestles
We recently made a pair of trestles for a client and they are easy enough to make your own or we can make a pair for you in any size and stain according to your preference.
29/03/2019
Making your own trestles can save you a fortune as opposed to buying ready-made trestles. The average price of a basic trestle is around R300. In this feature we show you how to make your own trestles, or you can buy trestles from us and customise the size and finish to suit your specifications.
All you need to make your own trestles is some PAR pine from your local Builders Warehouse, sash cord or rope and tools and accessories. You can use 22 x 69mm PAR pine or 22 x 94mm PAR pine. Builders didn't have stock of the 69mm, so these trestles are made using the 94mm pine.
HERE'S HOW:
1. Cut the legs to the required length, ours are 760mm long to give us a 740mm height for the client's required table height. Also cut the cross pieces to the required width, our are 450mm.
GOOD TO KNOW: The PAR pine was sanded and stained before assembly to make it easier.
2. Use wood glue to assemble the legs onto the cross pieces.
GOOD TO KNOW: Use a piece of scrap wood as a straightedge when gluing on the cross pieces at the top and bottom.
3. Drill pilot holes for the screws, making sure they are equally spaced where the cross pieces and legs join.
4. Countersink the pilot holes.
5. Drive in [4] 35mm or 40mm screws to each joint.
6. The two halves are joined together using a couple of butt hinges and 16mm screws.
6. You also need to drill a hole in the centre of both bottom cross pieces for the sash cord.
7. Wrap some tape around the end of the sash cord, thread through the holes and tie off. Apply a small amount of glue to the ends of the sash cord to prevent unravelling.
