The Wobbly Carpenter — DIY Build Plans
Build the Collapsible Bar Yourself
These are the actual working plans our builder network builds from — full materials list, cut lists, and step-by-step instructions for the portable bar that folds flat. Instant PDF download.
Get the Plans
5-ft plans $14.99 · 6-ft plans $19.99 — no shipping, no waiting for a builder.
Best value — BOTH sizes together: the Bar Build Plans Bundle, $29.99 (save about $5 vs buying separately). Both sheet editions of each size included.
Get the Bundle — $29.99The same plans, the same measurements. Every bar our network of 23 local craftsmen sells is built from these plans. Buy the plans and you're building the real thing — not a lookalike.
Personal Use Plans — The License, Up Front
Every plan sold on this page is a Personal Use edition. That's not fine print — it's the deal, stated plainly before you buy:
✅ Build a bar for yourself — your own events, your own space. That's exactly what these plans are for.
🚫 Not for commercial builds, and not for building bars to sell.
🚫 The files are not for resale or sharing — please don't pass them along.
If you're a woodworker who wants to build these bars for customers, that's a different arrangement — our builder network works from separate Woodworker editions under a signed craftsman agreement. The Personal Use plans don't cover building for customers.
What's Inside the Plans
Everything you need to go from sheet goods to a finished, folding bar.
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Materials / Buy List
Every sheet, board, screw, and hinge — quantities included, so one trip to the store covers it.
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Full Cut Lists
Every piece dimensioned — the countertop, shelf, sides, and front — ready to mark and cut.
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Fastener Sizes
The exact screw and brad sizes for each joint, matched to the edition you're building.
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Step-by-Step Build
Assembly diagrams and instructions in build order, plus finishing steps and a quality-check checklist.
The front detail is in there too. The finished bar's front carries a raised picture-frame trim, inset 6 inches on all sides — the detail that makes it read as a real bar instead of a flat panel. It's fully dimensioned in the plans.
The collapsible part is the design. Lift-away hinges separate the bar into five flat pieces — countertop, shelf, front, and two sides — so it transports in an SUV and stores flat against a wall. No tools needed to set it up or break it down.
See the Bar You'll Build
This is the finished bar, built from these plans, coming apart: the countertop lifts off, the shelf slides out, and both side panels lift straight off their hinges — no tools needed. It packs flat for transport and storage, then sets back up at the next event.
Choose Your Size
Same design, two widths. Both are standard bar height — 41 inches tall.
Best value — both sizes
Bar Build Plans Bundle — 5-Foot & 6-Foot
Can't decide, or want both bars in the fleet? Get both sizes together for $29.99 — the two singles total $34.98 bought separately, so the bundle saves you about $5. Both sheet editions of each size are included.
Get the Bundle — $29.99Both Sheet Editions Included — Every Purchase
The 3/8-inch edition is the standard. The bar is designed around 3/8-inch MDF sheet — that's the sheet our builders use, and the standard edition of the plans is written for it.
The 1/2-inch edition covers the other case. Not every store stocks 3/8-inch sheet. If yours only carries 1/2-inch, the 1/2-inch edition covers the same bar with its own materials list, cut list, and fastener sizes adjusted for the thicker sheet.
Every purchase includes both editions at no extra cost. Pick the edition that matches the sheet you buy and follow that one start to finish — don't mix the two, because the fastener sizes differ between them.
More Than a Bar
Build it as a coffee cart. A bar counter is already built like a coffee cart — standard bar height for pulling shots and whisking matcha, room on top for a machine and grinder, and a shelf underneath for beans, cups, and syrups. Coffee, matcha, and tea sellers run their whole setup on this design, then fold it flat when the event ends.
Read how it works as a mobile coffee cart: The Coffee Cart That Folds Flat.
Straight Talk — What You're Buying
Digital plans only. You get PDF plan files — no finished bar and no materials are included. If you'd rather skip the build, the finished bar is available built-to-order on our portable bar page.
Personal use only. Build for yourself and your own events. The plans are not for commercial builds or for building bars to sell, and please don't share or redistribute the files.
No warranty on plans. Plans are sold as-is with no warranty — once you've bought them, they're yours. (The 30-day limited warranty you may see mentioned on this site covers finished bars built and delivered by our builder network — it doesn't attach to the plans or to anything built from them.)
Good to Know
How do I get the plans after I buy? Instantly — they're a PDF download, available right after purchase. No shipping and no waiting.
5 feet or 6 feet? The 5-foot is the most popular: it fits in most SUVs and hatchbacks and one person can run it solo. The 6-foot adds counter space for two people working side by side or bigger events. Both are 41 inches tall — standard bar height.
What materials do I need? Two 4×8 sheets of MDF, 2x4 framing lumber, screws and brad nails, four lift-away hinges, glue, and sandpaper — plus primer and paint if you want a painted finish. The full buy list with quantities is on each product page and inside the plans.
What tools do I need? A table saw or track saw, a miter saw, a drill/driver, an 18-gauge brad nailer, clamps, a square, and a sander. Skill level is intermediate — comfortable making accurate repeat cuts and pre-drilling; not ideal as a first-ever project.
My store doesn't stock 3/8-inch sheet. Now what? You're covered — every purchase includes the 1/2-inch edition too, with its materials list, cut list, and fastener sizes adjusted for the thicker sheet. Follow one edition start to finish and don't mix the two.
Can I build these bars to sell? No — the plans are licensed for personal use only: no commercial builds, no resale, no sharing the files. If you'd rather not build at all, our builder network sells the finished bar, built to order.
Is there a warranty on the plans? No. Plans are sold as-is with no warranty — once you've bought them, they're yours. The warranty on this site applies only to finished bars built and delivered by our builder network.
Start With the Plans
Both sizes, both sheet editions, one instant download. Build the same collapsible bar our craftsmen sell.
5-Foot Plans — $14.99 6-Foot Plans — $19.99