Want to build a desk . . .

[XMan]

I got rid of the best desk I ever had a few years ago and have been regretting it ever since. The store-bought ones that replaced it never seemed the same . . .

So what I'd like to do is clone the design . . . the only problem is, the only "sheets" of wood I've ever seen are plywood, and I don't want to make a desk out of plywood. I'd rather use a nice wood, then take some time to stain it and make it look really sharp.

I can make panels by gluing and doweling boards together, but that just wouldn't be the same . . . any ideas? I know there are sheets of wood out there, I've seen them on Trading Spaces for pete's sake!

 

[nan0bug]

My suggestion is to just buy a new desk that is similar to the old one and save yourself a whole lot of time and money.

 

[Shockwave]

Look for a lumber store. Hell, home depot or lowes have lumber. MDF would be a decent substitute, although by no means the same as going quality with oak or something.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: nan0bug
My suggestion is to just buy a new desk that is similar to the old one and save yourself a whole lot of time and money.

True. But it's a great excuse to let yourself buy powertools that you didn't have before staring on this grand adventure!

Later this year my wife and I are going to have a "his & hers" DIY project. She picks out the wood, stain color and design for the sub, I pick out the driver and amp.

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: nan0bug
My suggestion is to just buy a new desk that is similar to the old one and save yourself a whole lot of time and money.

Good thing you weren't around in the pioneer days.

I didn't see anything other than plywood at Lowe's; I'll have to look again.

 

[Ornery]

Lord knows I'm all for buying tools, but I think nan0bug is right. I'd go one step further, and say to buy a high quality used desk, like this. That was only $600.00 from a local "high quality used furniture and antique complex".

I prefer an L shapped desk, so that my elbow can rest on the desk surface, instead of dangling. I went the plywood route to accomplish that. These "work stations" are optimized for mousing. I've GOT to have my elbow supported or I ain't happy!

• Den Layout
  12 Year Old's Desk
  17 Year Old's Desk
  Wife's Desk
  Mine minus current clutter

You still need tools to make them!

 

[Eli]

1 sheet of Plywood

cinder blocks as needed

= desk

 

[FoBoT]

there are many grades of plywood. furniture grade plywood is "nice wood"

 

[vi edit]

Heh. Hey Ornery, you're a 4 PC household

Do you have more PC's than TV's?

It will just be a matter of time before they start counting the number of computers in a home instead of TV's.

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Originally posted by: X-Man

I can make panels by gluing and doweling boards together, but that just wouldn't be the same . . . any ideas? I know there are sheets of wood out there, I've seen them on Trading Spaces for pete's sake!

You can only get a single board which is as fat as the diameter of the tree it's cut from. Everything else is joined panels.

I'm pretty sure all of those big wood sheets you see on Trading Spaces and the like are MDF.

 

[Ornery]

Pffffttt, there's more useable boxes on a shelf in the garage. I'm thinking I ought to turn them into Arcade style games or something. Our PCs are all dated, but since we don't game too much (just a little WarCraft), there's no need to upgrade.

Birch plywood is only about $40.00 a sheet. You can get awesome plywood, as FoBoT mentioned. I think Oak is about $60.00 per sheet. Cherry is available, but God knows what that would cost. No sense reinventing the wheel, when they're selling new furniture so cheap, and quality used stuff is available.

Cabinet Grade Plywood Prices
Home Depot has very limited selection. Only Birch and Oak, AFAIK.

 

[FoBoT]

you will normally have to find a good lumber yard for furniture grade plywood, retailers like HD or lowes are unlikely to have much, although they might be able to order it

 

[Brutuskend]

Just get plywood with veneer.

Even most new high end furniture uses veneer anymore.

Here's a link for ya!
And another

 

[StageLeft]

I want a new comp desk to replace my current one. Correction: Mrsskoorb wants a new comp desk to replace my current one. It was a cheapy for $70 I bought from officemax or something. I checked out plants of wood yesterday at home depot, but since the sheets of wood are only crap, to do it properly you need to buy the thinner planks of wood and connect them. This requires tools (plus knowing how to do it), and I figure that I need at least a $100 tablesaw to even think about getting started, which all of a sudden when combined with ~$50 in wood makes me think I should just go to a nicer furniture store. It's a shame that tools and wood cost so damn much.

 

[nodoubts2k]

We made our desk out of 1/4" (or was it 1/2"?) plywood. I feel it came out pretty well, we stained it and everything

Pics.

 

[Ornery]

"It's a shame that tools and wood cost so damn much."

Go ask your mechanic how much he has invested in tools and scanners for these wondrous new cars.

This stuff isn't getting any cheaper, either. There are no corners to cut where quality tools and materials are concerned.

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Lord knows I'm all for buying tools, but I think nan0bug is right. I'd go one step further, and say to buy a high quality used desk, like this. That was only $600.00 from a local "high quality used furniture and antique complex".

I prefer an L shapped desk, so that my elbow can rest on the desk surface, instead of dangling. I went the plywood route to accomplish that. These "work stations" are optimized for mousing. I've GOT to have my elbow supported or I ain't happy!

• Den Layout
  12 Year Old's Desk
  17 Year Old's Desk
  Wife's Desk
  Mine minus current clutter

You still need tools to make them!

The tools aren't an issue. What I don't have, my buddy has. What type of plywood did you go with, Ornery? That's a very good look and doesn't look like plywood at all. Maybe I've just seen too much of the crap stuff. Did you seal the edges in some way to cover up the layering?

 

[Ornery]

It's just 3/4" Birch plywood purchased from Home Depot at about $40.00 per sheet. They have rolls of edge veneer in the same isle. It's got a heat activated glue on the back, so you can just iron it on. A coat of sanding sealer, and polyurethane on mine. My son's has two coats of polyurethane, but that made it too glossy for my taste. The upper shelf is a custum countertop with natural maple laminate. Cabinets are also natural maple. I like it light in here! There are no legs to bump into, or to sweep around. It's connected to the wall like so.

 

[Nocturnal]

Ornery I can't get to your site

 

[Ornery]

It's been a bit sporadic, but it's working now. Think I should ask for a refund? It cost $20.00 for the year.