How to Build a Mission-style Utility Stand

Make the four legs (A) by ripping 3/4-inch-thick oak into eight 1-1/2-inch pieces. Crosscut the pieces to 27-1/4 inches long.

Glue and clamp two pieces to form a 1-1/2x1-1/2-inch leg. Repeat for the three remaining legs.

Lay out and mark 3/8x1-inch mortises centered on the inside surfaces at the top of the legs,1/4 inch from the top. Lay out and mark the locations for 3/8x1-1/2-inch bottom mortises, 3-3/4 inches from the bottom.

Chuck a 5/16-inch brad-point or Forstner bit in an electric drill and bore overlapping holes to 9/16-inch mortise depth within the layout lines.

Use a chisel to clean out and square the mortises. Drive the chisel with a dead-blow hammer; make sure the chisel is sharp.

When gluing two pieces of wood to form a single piece (laminating), first dry-fit the pieces. Arrange them so that the grain in each piece runs in opposite directions. When glued, the leg will be stronger and more resistant to any dimensional changes due to fluctuations in humidity that may actually split the wood.