How to build a folding chalkboard easel

This step by step diy article is about how to build a folding chalkboard easel. Building a nice folding chalkboard easel with a classy design is a fun project, but we recommend you to pay attention to the instructions described in the article. Although there are many designs you could choose from, in this article we will show you all you have to know about making a simple easel out of common materials. If you have worked with lumber before, the carpentry techniques should be familiar to you.

Buy quality lumber, made for building lumber, if you want to get a durable folding easel. Nevertheless, you could save some money if you purchase lumber with knots, which could even enhance the look of project, giving it a rustic appearance. Select the slats with great attention, checking if they are in a good condition (the lumber has to be straight and without chips, dents or cracks).

Always aligned the components before locking them together with screws. In addition, we recommend you to pre-drill the lumber, otherwise the wood might easily split. Add glue to the joints, if you want to enhance their bond. Smooth the cut edges with fine grit sandpaper and remove the residues using a vacuum cleaner. Make sure you take a look over the related plans to get an idea about what you can build for your home. See all my Premium Plans in the Shop.

Made from this plan

Building the easel

Materials

A – 4 pieces of 1×2 lumber – 24” long LEGS
B – 4 pieces of 1×3 lumber – 18″ long FRAME
C – 2 pieces of 1/4″ plywood – 21″x22″ long PANELS
D – 2 piece of 1×2 lumber – 21″ long SHELF

2 pieces of 1×2 lumber – 8 ft
1 piece of 1×3 lumber – 8 ft
1 piece of 1/4″ plywood – 2’x4′
chalkboard paint
1 1/4″ screws
glue, stain
wood filler
piano hinge

Tools

Safety gloves, glasses
Miter saw, jigsaw
Chalk line, tape measure, spirit level, carpentry pencil
Drill machinery and drill bits

Tips

Pre-drill holes in the wooden components, before driving in the screws
Smooth the exposed edges, by using a router with a 1/4” bit

Time

One day

Building a chalkboard easel

Building the frames

The first step of the woodworking project is to build the frame for the folding easel. As you can notice in the diagram, you need to build the legs out of 1×2 lumber and the horizontal components out of 1×3 lumber. Cut the components at the right size and smooth the cut ends with fine-grit sandpaper. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the horizontal components and secure them to the legs with 1 1/4″ screws. Add glue to the joints and remove the excess with a damp cloth. Remove the excess with a damp cloth.

Attaching the panels

Continue the project by fitting the 1/4″ plywood panels to the frame, as in the diagram. Cut the plywood sheet at the right size and smooth the edges with fine-grit sandpaper. Attach the plywood to the back of the frame and secure it into place using finishing nails and waterproof glue. Apply a few coat of chalkboard plaint over the panel until you have covered the whole surface evenly.

Fitting the hinges

After building the two sides of the easel, you need to lock them together by fitting the hinges to the top. Make sure you align the sides with great care and you leave no gaps between them, when installing the hinges.

Attaching the shelf

In order to create a little storage space for the easel, we recommend you to fit 1×2 shelves to the bottom of the easel sides. As you can easily notice in the diagram, we recommend you to round the exposed edges with a jigsaw. Afterwards, smooth the cut edges with fine-grit sandpaper. Drill pocket holes along the long edge of the component and secure it to the frame with 1 1/4′ screws. Add glue to the joint and make sure the shelf id perfectly horizontal.

How to build a folding chalkboard easel

Last but not least, you need to take care of the final touches. Therefore, you need fill all the holes with a good filler and let the compound to dry out properly, before sanding the wooden surface with 120-grit sandpaper.

Thank you for reading our article about how to build a folding chalkboard easel and we recommend you to check out the rest of our home improvement projects. Don’t forget to LIKE and SHARE this projects to your friends, using the social media widgets, if you’ve found it useful.

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