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Wood recommendation for a desk?

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I think you screwballs are telling him to put $200.00 worth of hardwood, on a two bit shop project that will probably be tossed by this time next year!
 
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Teak, nicest wood ever.
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Honduran mahogany is pretty nice, too. Never seen a teak desk though.
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Me neither but my dad used teak for the interior of the boat we used to have. Aaah it was great looking. It's heavy, hard as hell and probably $$$$$$ too.
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Teak is often used in boats. Especially the swim platforms/steps.
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Yup.
 
Originally posted by: Ornery
I think you screwballs are telling him to put $200.00 worth of hardwood, on a two bit shop project that will probably be tossed by this time next year!
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Pretty much. 😛

Honestly I would go with pine for the structure and something harder for the top. Maybe even a flat black color. It looks nice with stained wood.
 
It makes me sad to see good wood wasted. Kind of happy to see so much vinyl clad particle board "furniture" become so common. That means good wood isn't wasted on junk "furniture". Hmmm, this gave me an idea. How about using a laminate flooring material for the top? Cheap, indestructible, and no need to finish it!
 
Originally posted by: jemcam
Personally, if I was going to build a desk, I would want the top surface to have a very tight grain (something oak doesn't have) and would definitely want it to be some type of hard wood.
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Seconded. Mine has an oak top, and it doesn't wear as well as I'd like.
 
Originally posted by: MustISO
Use MDF and then a really nice wood veneer. 6' is a good size.
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Already got a cheapy mdf 2x4 desk.

The top will be hardwood with a 2x4 frame. The cabinets underneath will be plywood with either an edge fanning or face framing. So the only actual hardwood is going to be the top and the edges of the shelving.

I just want something that is going to last, looks pretty good, portable and will be under $125
 
K, bout ready to go pick out the lumber, but having some trouble reading the numbers..

link

I can pretty much figure out the Red Oak part:
$2.79 lft 1x6 (S4S) = $2.79 a foot for 1"x6" surfaced on all four sides

but to use my reasoning on the maple, I'm pretty much 😕

They don't sell any 1"x6" maple planks?

The only other 1x6 is poplar?

They closed at 5 so I can't ask them
 
For your first time building a desk, go with oak plywood. It's the cheapest hardwood plywood and looks excellent as long as you pick good stains. I have two 8-ft bookscases I built with oak and stained fruitwood, and I get nothing but compliments. If your're worried that you are using sub-par materials, look at most desks and they do not even use plywood for the construction. Even expensive desks. Most use medium-density particle board(cr*p) and slap veneer on the outside. If you do get good at it, get cherry or walnut plywood (if you have money to blow). A walnut desk will be my next project once I complete my masters and get a real job.

PS: Do not get teak, its expensive and has gaps in the grain like mahogany and if you don't know how to fill it your project will suck. The only reason you would need teak is if you had a desk on the beach.
 
Another tip.
If you go with maple, look at the grain as you build. The crosscut grain of maple refracts light (i guess?) when it is stained and coated. So check your grain pattern, especially if you are laminating and make sure you are consistently using that grain for the surface. It looks gorgeous if you do it right.
 
I'd say oak, desks usually require a hard wood. (I agree with the Mogul for the other reasons for oak)

don't forget to seal it to help prevent scratches.
 
birch & birch plywood are inexpensive as well.

My desk:


1
2
3

edit: Oak isn't bad, I'm just tired of it. I think 3/4 of my parents house is oak.
 
thanks.

it's entirely custom. I drew the top shape in autocad and then drew a light grid to transfer it over to the wood. Of course, had I my wits about me when I built it, I'd have CNC'ed it down here at school. At the time I thought personal projects weren't allowed 🙁

and steam bending 1/8" birch without the proper tools is a real PITA. but I learned alot about the process.
 
Oak. It's a good hard wood (hehehe, I said hard wood) will last a long time and it's durable.

Pine is the worst of your choices but probably the cheapest.
 
Originally posted by: Brutuskend
I'm partial to black walnut, though it's not cheap.
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eh, just wait 20-30 years. people have been panting that stuff like crazy ever since the price went sky high.
 
Originally posted by: Brutuskend
It has ALWAYS been expensive.

(Well maybe not ALWAYS)

When I was in High School in the early 60's it was $10-$12 a board foot.
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yeah, I think it's been since the 50s or so. I'm not sure though.

and by cheap, I meant cheaper, not pine cheap.
 
Originally posted by: UbiSunt
For your first time building a desk, go with oak plywood. It's the cheapest hardwood plywood and looks excellent as long as you pick good stains. I have two 8-ft bookscases I built with oak and stained fruitwood, and I get nothing but compliments. If your're worried that you are using sub-par materials, look at most desks and they do not even use plywood for the construction. Even expensive desks. Most use medium-density particle board(cr*p) and slap veneer on the outside. If you do get good at it, get cherry or walnut plywood (if you have money to blow). A walnut desk will be my next project once I complete my masters and get a real job.

PS: Do not get teak, its expensive and has gaps in the grain like mahogany and if you don't know how to fill it your project will suck. The only reason you would need teak is if you had a desk on the beach.
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My only hesitation with plywood would be hiding the edges. I was thinking of possible doing a hardwood plywood desk and then veneering the edges with actual hardwood, but I wasn't too sure how it would look and how it would hold up.

The birch desk looks great, Dubb! What did you stain it with?

Also, was thinking about also constructing the top out of 5 1x6 6' segments, but the place that I will be getting the lumber from only appears to have this size in poplar and red oak...or am I reading it wrong?

link
 
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