Huacal Nightstand

The Huacal Nightstand is a modular storage solution made from wooden fruit crates and custom 3D-printed parts. Designed by NABA students in collaboration with FARO del Bienestar in Cancún, it responds to young people’s need for personal space, creativity, and connection to their environment.

FARO del Bienestar is a cultural initiative in Quintana Roo, Mexico that supports the Fábrica de Artes y Oficios (FARO) - a vibrant community arts and learning center that fosters creativity, expands access to culture, and revitalizes public spaces, especially in neighborhoods facing social challenges.

Using accessible materials like reclaimed huacales and locally 3D-printed components, the nightstand is simple to build, easy to customise, and rooted in sustainability. Its stackable crates create open compartments for storing or displaying personal items, while the printed legs and connectors make it stable, adaptable, and uniquely yours.

This project blends traditional materials with digital tools to empower young makers to create furniture that reflects who they are and the life they want to build.

Huacales (Woodwork)

Supplies

1. Pencil
2. Ruler or Measuring Tape
3. Band Saw (or suitable wood saw)
4. Sandpaper (P100 and P320)

Materials

1. Wood Glue (€9)
2. 2× Pine Panels 6x1200x600mm (€18.90 each)
3. 2× Corner Blocks 20×20×1000mm (€3.50 each)

3D Printing

Supplies

1. 3D Printer (PLA or PETG filament)
2. Drill
3. 4 mm Drill Bit
4. Screwdriver

Materials

1. 4× 3D Printed Legs (43.5 g filament each)
2. 4× 3D Printed Connecting Clips (8 parts total) (25 g filament per pair)
3. 16× M4 × 30 mm Bolts with Nuts (€2.15 a pack)

Step-By-Step Video:

For a better understanding and more visual representation of the process, watch this video, in addition to following the instructions below.

You can either repurpose existing huacales (often available at markets or after use) or build your own crates from scratch.

For this project, we chose to build our own using simple, affordable materials. To make them work as a nightstand, you’ll need to modify one long side on each crate:

1. On one crate, remove all slats of the long side
2. On the other, leave only the top slat of the long sideremove all slats

You’ll also need an additional panel to fully close the top of the nightstand. You can do this by:

1. Repurposing the surface of a third crate, or
2. Using a spare piece of wood cut to 300 × 450 mm

Using a measuring tape and pencil, mark your cuts on the wooden panels:

1. 12× Short Panels: 300 × 70 mm
2. 7× Long Panels: 450 × 70 mm
3. 3× Surface Panels (top, middle shelf, and bottom): 300 × 450 mm

On the corner blocks, measure and mark:

1. 8× Vertical Supports: 250 mm each

Carefully cut all pieces using a band saw (or hand saw), then sand the edges using coarse (P100) and fine (P320) sandpaper. Smooth edges make for easier assembly and a more finished look.

To build the short crate sides:

1. Lay two vertical supports flat, spaced about 300 mm apart.
2. Place one short panel horizontally across the supports, align the edges, and mark its position.
3. From that mark, measure 30 mm down and repeat the process for two more panels. These guide marks help keep everything aligned.

Now apply wood glue to the ends of the short panels and press them into place on the vertical supports according to your markings. Let dry under light pressure for about 15 minutes.

Repeat this process to make four crate sides, each with 3 short panels and 2 vertical supports.

Take three long panels and lay them side by side, forming one long face. Position the two crate sides at either end and glue them in place. This creates an open-sided crate frame.

Repeat the process to build a second frame, using three more long panels and the other crate sides.

Then, take your remaining long panel and glue it to the top edge of one crate.

This creates a finished edge for what will become the top section of the nightstand.

Glue a surface panel (300 × 450 mm) to the bottom of each crate.

Then, glue another surface panel on top of the crate with the extra top panel attached. This is the surface of the nightstand.

Stack the crates:

1. Place the crate with both a top and bottom surface on top.
2. The lower crate should have only the base, creating a shelf-like opening.

Your huacal nightstand structure is now complete and ready for the 3D-printed parts.

Download the STL files for:

1. 4 legs (1 per corner)
2. 4 connecting clips (2 per side, 8 parts total)

Print using PLA or PETG filament. Each part is small and quick to produce with standard settings. As a reference:

1. Each leg took approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes to print
2. Each pair of clips took approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes

To raise the nightstand and improve stability:

1. Flip the bottom crate upside down.
2. On each corner mark a 3×3 cm square.
3. Inside each square, mark and drill a 4 mm hole in the innermost corner (closest to the center of the crate).
4. Insert a bolt from the inside of the crate.
5. Place the 3D printed leg on to the bolt from the outside, and insert the nut into its slot.
6. Twist the leg onto the screw and tighten.
7. Repeat for all four corners.

To keep the two crates aligned and secure:

1. Stack the two crates in their final position.
2. On each side, use a ruler or tape measure to find the horizontal center point (around 15 cm). This ensures the connectors are placed symmetrically and aligned between the two crates.
3. You'll be using 4 connectors total (2 per side, made of 8 printed parts). Take one pair of connector halves and hold them in place so that:
4. The top half aligns with the bottom edge of the top crate
5. The bottom half aligns with the top edge of the bottom crate
6. Mark the drill points through the connector holes using a marker, then unstack the crates.
7. Drill all marked points with a 4 mm drill bit.
8. For each part, insert 2x 4 mm bolts to attach the connectors and secure it with a nut from the inside of the crate.
9. Stack the crates again, the connectors will slide and lock into each other, making the structure more stable while still detachable if unscrewed.

Once all parts are attached, your Huacal Nightstand is complete! A simple, personal piece of furniture that blends local materials, creativity, and digital making. You can customise it by changing the color of the wood, experimenting with different 3D print colors or finishes, or even designing your own legs and connectors to match your style and needs.