Simple Speaker Stands // Woodworking How To

I made some really simple speaker stands using different tools!
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I wanted to cross off a simple project from my growing list of crazy ideas. I had to look no further than the audio monitors on my desk. In this project, I'm going to make a pair of hardwood speaker stands.

I have made a conscious effort to practice 3d modeling in Fusion 360 more. When I decided to make some simple speaker stands, I opened up Fusion and got to work creating a model. I didn't want a large footprint on my new desk, so I designed some tapered legs that would hold up the speaker platform. I added some decorative geometry and some simple chamfers to give the pieces some uniqueness.

Because this project is pretty straightforward: stick on template, cut, glue pieces; I wanted to show that a project like this can be made using any number of tools. Yes, I have a shop full of power tools and I love them. I am blessed enough to have amassed a substantial collection of machines and jigs that make woodworking EASIER, not possible. These speaker stands were designed with straight lines and angles so that someone with basic hand tools could make them.

I made the first set of legs using the miter saw to rough cut the walnut board, the jointer to flatten a side, and the table saw to cut out the parallel shapes. This traditional woodworking flow required me to adjust the templates a few times to make sure the paper lined up with the table saw fence. Using the table saw to cut the mitered legs left my fingers uncomfortably close to the blade the further I went along. After all that, had four identical legs that had crisp and clean straight lines.

To make the second stand, I started with the templates on the board and rough cut them out using the band saw and the jig saw. I stayed on the outside of the line so that I could sand the edges flat. I also wanted to show that hand saws could accomplish the same tasks, so I busted out my grandad's old saw to knock off the decorative corners. I glued up the two leg sets and used a dado stack to cut in a groove that would hold the platform (this could also be done with a router).

With both sets of legs complete, I cut the maple platforms on the table saw. I added the simple chamfer to the front edge by tilting the blade 30 degrees. This could also be done with a chamfering bit on a router if you had a bit that matched the desired angle. I glued the legs onto the platforms and added a few coats of Formby's tung oil to finish them up.

Not everyone will need stools for their audio monitors, but these simple stands can be made for anything, not just speakers, and as you've seen they can be made with really basic tools. I hope this project showed that you don't have to own the fanciest tools or a full array of woodworking machines to make something great. Expensive tools and large-capacity items just make the process faster, not necessarily better.

As you progress in any skill, you'll find that your abilities or your workflow may outperform your current tools, if so, then it may be time to upgrade. My shop is a mixture of entry-level and commercial-grade tools because I've needed to level-up certain areas to match my workflow. Be smart about your tool purchases and remember that the tools don't make the project, you do!