Secretary Desk Plans

This step by step diy woodworking project is about secretary desk plans. If you want to learn more about building a secretary desk, we recommend you to pay attention to the instructions described in the article. There are many plans to choose form when building a nice storage desk, so you need to check out the rest of the woodworking projects that are featured on our website.

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 armoire 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 secretary desk

Building the secretary desk

Materials

A – 4 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 4″ long, 2 pieces – 45″ long, 4 pieces – 15″ long BASE
B – 2 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 18″x45″ long, 2 pieces – 18″x48″ long, 1 piece – 17 1/4″x45 long FRAME
C – 1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 45″x46 1/2″ long BACK
D – 4 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 16 1/2″x22 7/8″ long SHELVES
E – 3 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 17 1/4″x22 7/8″ long PARTITIONS
F – 1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 44 3/4″x22 5/8″ long, 1 piece – 19 3/4″x22 1/2″ long DOORS
G – 2 pieces of 1×6 lumber – 15 1/2″ long, 1 piece – 21 7/8″ long, 1 piece of 1×8 lumber – 22 5/8″ long, 1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 15 1/2″x20 3/8″ long 2xDRAWERS

2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 8 ft
3 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 4’x8′
2 pieces of 1×6 lumber – 8 ft
1 piece of 1×8 lumber – 8 ft
hinges
pulls
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

Corner Desk Plans

Building the base of the desk

The first step of the project is to build the base of the desk. Therefore, cut the 2×2 lumber at the right size and lock them together tightly. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the components and secure them with 2 1/2″ screws to the legs. Add waterproof glue to the joints and make sure the corners are square.

Attaching the sides

Drill pocket holes at both ends of the side components and secure them to the base with 1 1/4″ screws. Make sure the corners are right-angled and add glue to the joints.

Fitting the back wall

Cut a piece of 3/4″ plywood at the dimensions described in the diagram and drill pocket holes along the edges. Fit the piece between the side components and insert the screws to create rigid joints. Add waterproof glue to the joints in order to create a durable structure.

Fitting the partition

Fitting the partition into place is the next step of the woodworking project. In order to get the job done in a professional manner, we recommend you to drill pocket holes at both ends and to secure it into place with screws. Plumb the partition with a spirit level and check if the corners are right-angled.

Fitting the top

Attach the top components to the secretary desk and secure it into place with galvanized screws (through the top of the side components).

Fitting the partitions

Continue the project by attaching the partitions to the right side of the secretary desk. Drill pocket holes along the sides of the partitions and lock them to the frame with galvanized screws. Check if the corners are right-angled before inserting the galvanized screws.

Fitting the shelves

Fit the shelves to the left side of the desk, as shown in the diagram. Drill pocket holes along the sides of the shelves and secure them to the frame with galvanized screws. Place the shelves equally-spaced, if you want to get a professional result.

Fitting the doors

Cut the doors out of 3/4″ plywood and attach them to the frame with appropriate hinges. Make sure there is a 1/8″ gap along the edges of the door, otherwise they won’t open easily.

Building the drawers

Build the drawers out of 1×6 and 1×8 lumber, by using the information described in the diagram. Check if the corners are square and lock the components together with galvanized screws. Leave about 3/8″ on both sides of the drawer, in order to fit the metal slides.

Fit the drawers

Fit the drawers into place and make sure there is an even gap of 1/8″ around the drawers. Fit the handles to the drawers and to the doors, making sure you select the most appropriate design for your needs.

Secretary desk 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. If you want to secure the armoire to a wall, we recommend you to drill pilot holes through the back and to secure it to a studs with several 2 1/2″ screws.

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