How to build a drop down desk

This step by step diy woodworking project is about how to build a drop down desk. If you want to learn more about building a simple drop down desk made out of wooden boards, we recommend you to pay attention to the instructions described in the article. There are so many designs and plans to choose from when building a drop down desk, so make sure you take a look over the related woodworking projects that are featured on our site.

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 drop down 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.

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Drop down desk plans

Building a drop down desk

Materials

A – 2 pieces of 1×10 lumber – 36″ long, 2 pieces – 37 1/2″ long FRAME
B – 1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 36″ x 36″ long BACK
C – 3 pieces of 1×8 lumber – 36″ long SHELVES
D – 1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 37 1/2″ x 37 1/2″ long DESKTOP
E – 2 pieces of 1×3 lumber – 36″ long, 2 pieces – 31″ long LEGS

1 piece of 1×3 lumber – 12 ft
2 pieces of 1×10 lumber – 8 ft
1 piece of 1×8 lumber – 10 ft
1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 4’x8′
1 1/4″ screws
glue, stain
wood filler
piano hinge
latch

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 frame of the folding desk

First of all, we recommend you to build the frame for the drop down desk. In order to get a professional result, we recommend you to cut the components out of 1×10 lumber. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the horizontal components and insert 1 1/4″ screws into the vertical components, in order to create rigid joints.

Attaching the back

Next, you have to fit the 3/4″ plywood back to the structure. As you can easily notice in the diagram, we recommend you to cut the piece of plywood at the right dimensions and to drill pocket holes along the edges. Fit the components to the back of the frame and make sure the edges are perfectly aligned. Insert 1 1/4″ screws and add glue to the joints in order to make sure the structure is perfectly rigid.

Fitting the shelves

Next, fit the shelves to the interior of the frame. Adjust several 1×8 slats to 6 1/4″ and cut them at 36″. Afterwards, drill pocket holes at both ends of the slats and fit them to the frame, as described in the diagram. Make sure the corners are square and insert 1 1/4″ screws to create rigid joints.

Attach the desk top

Build the face of the drop down desk out of 3/4″ plywood. Smooth the cut edges and align the edges with great care before securing the component to the bottom of the frame using metal hinges. In addition, fit latches to both sides of the desk in order to lock the desktop into place tightly.

Attaching the legs

Build the legs for the desk using 1×3 slats. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the vertical components and secure them to the horizontal components. Afterwards, center the legs to the face of the desk and use hinges to lock the top edge into place.

How to build a drop down desk

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. Drill pilot holes through the back of the desk and insert long screws into the wall studs.

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