How to Build a Wood Pedestal

If you want to display an item on its own with added height and importance, you may want to think about using a pedestal. A pedestal is a single column which an item is placed on top of in order to give it prominence. You are more than welcome to buy a pedestal if you would like, but if you are picky about the specifications, it may be easier just to build one your self.

4 33 inch long boards which are 1 inch by 1-1/2 inches

4 33 inch long boards which are 1 inch by 5/8 inches

8 3-5/8 inch long 1-by-3 boards

4 beaded board panels 4-1/2 inches wide by 28 inches tall

2 11-by-11 inch plywood 3/4 inch thick

2 1-by-2 which are mitered with 45 degree cuts at either end. The finished piece has a longer side of 9-3/8", the shorter side is 7-3/8" and it is 1 inch thick.

2 1-by-2 which are mitered with 45 degree cuts at either end. The finished piece has a longer side of 7-7/8", the shorter side is 5-7/8" and it is 1 inch thick.

3/4" plywood which is 8-1/4"-by-8-1/2".

Screws

biscuits

wood glue

nails

sandpaper

stain

hammer

paintbrush

mask

goggles

ear plugs

Take two of your 33 inch long by 1-1/2 inch wide pieces and two of your 3-by-3-5/8" and create a rectangle. The 33 inch pieces will be your stiles and the 3-5/8" pieces will be the rails. The longer pieces should be on the outside of the smaller pieces. Connect them using the biscuits. Repeat this process and build a second frame.

Take two of your 33 inch long by 5/8" inch wide pieces and two of your 3-by-3-5/8" and create a rectangle. The 33 inch pieces will be your stiles and the 3-5/8" pieces will be the rails. The longer pieces should be on the outside of the smaller pieces. Connect them using the biscuits. Repeat this process and build a fourth frame. You should now have four frames which will correspond to your sides.

Glue and nail the beaded paneling to the back of all four frames you just finished. You should now have four complete sides.

Glue and nail a thinner panel to a wider panel at an edge and at a 90 degree angle. Repeat this to glue and nail all four pieces of the column together. Wait until the glue dries.

Place the 11-by-11 inch 3/4 plywood on top of each other and screw them together to create a base which is 11-by-11-by-1-1/2 inches.

Screw one end of the column into the 11-by11 inch board. Make sure it is centered.

Use the mitered 1-by-2 to go around the column where it meets the base, and screw it into the column This will help stabilize it and give the appearance of added weight to the bottom

Take your last piece of plywood and glue and nail it to the top of the column

Sand the pedestal down and stain it.

This pedestal will only be about 36 inches tall. Feel free to make your stiles and rails bigger and longer if you want a bigger pedestal. The instructions for construction will be the same

Make sure you don't get your boards confused. Lay out each side before you begin assembly in order to make sure everything fits correctly.