This project was built and designed by Mike from Oregon Makers. It’s a clean, modern record player stand with thoughtful joinery and rounded exposed plywood edges—designed for both style and portability.
Mike created the stand for a teenager just starting a vinyl collection, with the idea that it would be easy to break down and reassemble when it’s time to head off to college. The finished piece is lightweight, functional, and surprisingly refined for such a simple build.
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Sleek Design with Smart Joinery
The overall structure is crafted from plywood and features splayed sides set at a 20-degree bevel. This angle gives the piece a more contemporary look while helping distribute weight evenly across the base.
One of the standout details is the “pillowed” edge—rounded over using a router for both comfort and aesthetics. It’s a small touch that elevates the look of the plywood, creating soft curves instead of sharp corners.
Breaking Down the Plywood
The build starts with breaking down a sheet of plywood into manageable sections. Using a track saw, Mike cuts the large panels down before moving to the table saw for precise final dimensions.
Accuracy is critical at this stage. Each part must align perfectly during assembly, especially with the angled supports. Careful measuring and a dry fit early in the process help eliminate surprises later.
Cutting Angles and Shaping Components
The splayed supports require 20-degree bevel cuts, which are handled with precision using a table saw and a digital angle gauge. Mike walks through this carefully to ensure stability and a professional-looking stance.
Before moving into joinery, each piece is test-fitted for alignment. This trial run allows for adjustments and helps visualize how the base, sides, and top will come together before any glue or screws are used.
Joining with Half-Laps for Easy Assembly
To connect the angled sides to the base, Mike uses half-lap joints. These joints provide excellent strength while still allowing the stand to be disassembled easily—a perfect feature for a piece meant to travel.
A spacer block ensures uniform placement across both joints. Clean lines and tight tolerances give the finished piece a polished look without the need for metal fasteners on the outside.
Routering the Edges
Once the basic frame is assembled, Mike moves to routing the exposed edges. Using a round-over bit, he creates that pillowed effect that softens the look of the plywood and adds a custom feel to the build.
The edge treatment also improves comfort, especially if the stand is being moved or used regularly. It’s a subtle but important step that transforms a simple plywood box into a refined piece of furniture.
Sanding for a Smooth Finish
Sanding plays a big role in this project, especially with all the rounded edges. Mike uses a sanding jig to maintain consistency along the curves and remove any tooling marks.
The goal is a smooth, ready-to-finish surface. Fine-grit sanding helps prepare the plywood for a gloss polyurethane, which will bring out the wood grain while protecting it from everyday wear.
Applying the Finish
With the structure shaped and sanded, Mike applies a gloss polyurethane in multiple coats. This adds durability and highlights the grain patterns in the plywood’s face veneer.
After the final coat dries, he buffs on a wax finish using a cloth lightly dampened with denatured alcohol. This step enhances the sheen and adds another layer of protection against scratches and scuffs.
Final Assembly and Function
Assembly wraps up with the addition of the top panel, secured in place using 1-2-3 blocks to ensure everything sits square. Screws are added from underneath to keep the top flush and secure.
The stand is designed to break down into flat parts when needed, making it easy to transport or store. This portability is part of what makes it such a thoughtful build for a young record collector with future dorm moves in mind.
Practical, Stylish, and Portable
Mike’s design shows how plywood, when used creatively, can produce elegant furniture that’s both budget-friendly and highly functional. The splayed design, half-lap joints, and soft edges create a piece that fits in just as well in a teen’s bedroom as it would in a modern living room.
This is an ideal project for woodworkers interested in learning clean joinery, precise angle cutting, and finishing techniques—all in a compact and rewarding build.
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Matt’s Take
These are my personal thoughts and tips based on my own experience in the shop. This section is not written, reviewed, or endorsed by the original creator of this project.
Half-lap joints are one of my favorite ways to connect angled pieces like these splayed sides. They give you that clean look without visible fasteners while still being strong enough for furniture duty. The beauty is in their simplicity—once you dial in the fit with a few test cuts on scrap, they practically assemble themselves.
That 20-degree bevel really makes a difference in the overall aesthetic. It’s subtle enough not to scream “look at me” but gives the whole piece a more intentional, designed feel than straight vertical sides would. When working with beveled cuts like this, I always double-check my angles with a digital gauge before committing to the good wood—small errors compound quickly when everything has to mate up perfectly.
The pillowed edge treatment is a smart move, especially for a piece that’s going to get handled during moves. Sharp plywood edges are notorious for catching on things and can be uncomfortable to grab. A simple roundover bit transforms those edges from utilitarian to refined, and it’s one of those details that really elevates the finished piece without adding much time or complexity to the build.
Mike’s approach to making this knock-down friendly is really thoughtful. College-bound furniture needs to survive multiple moves, and designing for disassembly from the start is so much better than trying to retrofit portability later. The half-laps make this possible while keeping the joints strong enough for daily use.