Desk building plans

This step by step diy woodworking project is about desk building plans. If you want to learn more about building a desk, we recommend you to pay attention to the instructions described in the article. There are so many desk plans and designs to choose from, so make sure you take a close look over the rest of the related woodworking projects that are featured on our website. More desk plans HERE.

Before starting the actual construction project, we recommend you to plan everything, as to save money and to keep the costs under control. Adjust the size and the design of the desk to suit your needs. In addition, we recommend you to invest in high-quality materials, such as pine, redwood or cedar, as they have a nice finish and are highly durable, especially in a humid environment.

If you don’t have a rich expertise in woodworking field, you should ask a friend to give you a hand with the project. There are many things that you could go wrong, so make sure you plan everything and invest in quality materials. Select the lumber with attention, making sure the components are perfectly straight and in a very good condition. Use a carpentry square to check if the corners are right-angled. See all my Premium Plans in the Shop.

Made from this plan

Building a desk

Materials

A – 4 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 28 1/2″ long LEGS
B – 4 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 14″ long SUPPORTS
C – 3 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 57″ long APRONS
D – 6 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 60″ long TOP

6 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 10 ft
2 1/2″ screws
1 1/4″ screws
glue, stain
wood filler

Tools

Safety gloves, glasses, Miter saw, jigsaw
Chalk line, tape measure, spirit level, carpentry pencil
Drill machinery and drill bits

Tips

Apply several coats of wood stain to the wooden components
Fill the holes with wood filler and smooth the surface

Time

One Day

Building a desk

Building the sides of the desk

The first step of the woodworking project is build the sides of the desk. In order to get a professional result, we recommend you to cut the components out of 2×4 lumber, after taking a look over the diagram. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the horizontal components and secure them to the legs by using 1 1/4″ screws. Make sure the corners are right-angled before inserting the galvanized screws.

Building the frame of the desk

Build the aprons out of 2×4 slats and drill pocket holes at both ends. Fit the aprons between the sides of the desk and secure them into place by inserting 2 1/2″ screws. Add glue to the joints and make sure the sides are perfectly plumb. Check if the corners are right angled and leave no gaps between the components.

Attaching the top

Attach the 2×4 slats to the top of the desk, as described in the plans. Drill pocket holes through the aprons and insert galvanized screws into the slats. Leave no gaps between the slats and add glue to the joints, in order to create a rigid structure. Smooth the edges with sandpaper and remove the residues.

Desk building plans

Last but not least, we recommend you to take care of the finishing touches. Fill the holes with wood filler and let it to dry out for several hours. Afterwards, smooth the wooden surface with fine-grit sandpaper and vacuum the residues.

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