Build a Pet Food Station

A DIY Pet Food Table

Why should pets be left out of the furniture loop? Build a super-cool pet food station to elevate your favorite furry friend’s dishes! The height for this plan is based on our dog, Pokey, a sweet Beagle. He is medium sized and at this height, he can reach his food and water easily. (The only thing he doesn’t like is that it is located near the a/c vent!)

To determine the height of the table for your friend, measure the distance from the tip of the nose when the head is facing down (as if looking at the floor) to the floor. The depth of the top will depend on the size of the dishes. The station can be built using scrap lumber and be finished in a day!

For the top, I used reclaimed boards from a house remodel we are working on. The board was painted with many layers of paint. I stripped off the layers, then sanded the piece smooth. I used Valspar paint in Pantone Peacock Blue to paint the base. Looks good doesn’t it?

Materials:

• 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws OR 1″ angle brackets
• Two pet food dishes (if your friend gets a new table, he or she should get new dishes, too!)
• Finishing supplies

Lumber:

• Scraps of 1×3  or a 1×3 at 4′
• Scraps of 2×2 or a 2×2 at 4′
• Scrap piece of 1×12 at 18″ (can be ripped on the table saw to the desired width)

Cut List:

• 4 – 2×2 at 10-1/4″ – Legs
• 2 – 1×3 at 7-1/4″ – End Aprons
• 2 – 1×3 at 15″ – Side Aprons
• 1 – 1×12 (or narrower) at 18″ – Top

Step One

Cut the pieces for the legs. The taper in the legs is completely optional… I thought for our dog’s station, it would add a nice touch! Use a jigsaw or a tapering jig on the table saw to cut the tapers.

Step Two

Cut the pieces for the aprons. If using pocket holes, drill them at each end of the aprons as well as along one long end of each board (this will allow the top to be attached to the frame). Secure to the legs using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws positioning the aprons 1/4″ away from the outside face of the legs.

If using angle brackets, fasten the aprons to the legs using glue and the angle brackets. Use two angle brackets per join for maximum stability!

Step Three

Cut the piece for the top. Mark the location of the dishes on the top then trace around the outside of the lip. Draw a circle just inside the circle drawn by tracing the dish. In other words, the diameter of my dog’s bowls measured 6-1/2″. The lip measured 3/8″ so I drew a circle inside the traced circle from the bowl to allow for the 3/8″ lip. The smaller circle will be the cut line. Drill a hole just inside the cut line large enough to insert the jigsaw blade, then cut the opening. Insert the bowls to check for fit…

Attach the top to the frame using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws from the underside. If using angle brackets, attach the top to the frame at the underside using the brackets inside of the frame. 1/2″ will overhang the longer sides, while the ends will be flush with the frame.

Finish as desired!

I think Pokey likes his DIY pet food table! Not only is it an awesome color and finish, but it puts his food at just the right height for him! The plans to build a pet food station can be completed in a day which makes this the perfect weekend project!

Originally posted 2013-09-05 08:00:53.