Desk Build #02

Building another computer desk, learning from the previous one. Again the wood is reclaimed and sourced from old pallets and crates.

Here are the raw materials, I am using the same wood for the legs as the previous table but have gone with much thicker wood for the table top.

As with the last build I ripped the edges off of the boards so they would fit together nicely and glued them overnight with dowels, keeping them clamped.

The rest of the wood for the frame was cut to rough length and set in place. I changed the design in this build to remove the apron, which was awkward for computer chairs with armrests.

I built a quick cross-cutting sled to help get everything to a precise size. It also made cutting the rabbet for the rear support into the legs a lot easier and safer.

Here I glued the frame together using dowels. The frame ended up very sturdy. Even without any support at the front, it was much stronger than the previous build.

The supports at the top (bottom of the legs) are just there, held by friction, to keep the frame square and are not part of the design.

I cut the back legs shorter, about 30cm from the ground. This is so they can optionally rest on another piece of furniture. The rest of the leg can be attached and removed with aluminum dowels when the desk is on the floor.

The tabletop was then sanded from 60 to 220 grit and varnished with three coats, sanding and cleaning between each one. Again, the frame was much stronger than the first, but still not a very practical design.

Finally, the table in place. You can see the shortened legs resting on top of a built-in drawer unit. This lets the desk sit further into the corner while still allowing the drawers to open. The drawers are strong enough to support the desk.