First Project

Comment

Comment by Michael Lester on August 24, 2013 at 7:22am

Russ, thank you for the comments and the suggestions! I like the frame suggestion and will add that some time soon, if the Wife lets me close to "Her" desk. LoL! Don't know why I left the holes exposed, guess I was having too much fun with a new tool!

Please keep the suggestions coming, that is one of the ways I learn and a good reason I am on this site!

Thanks Mate!

Comment by Russ Haynes on August 23, 2013 at 11:44am

That's a great first swing, Michael!  Well done.  I think the colors/finish work great with the floor color.  It's a sturdy design that your wife should get a lot of use out of for a long time.

I have two suggestions for you.  First, the trick on the next one will be assembling the project so that the pockets aren't visible.  Here, you could reverse the stiles so the pockets are facing the wall rather than the front, and flip the stretcher boards on the floor over so the pockets are facing the floor.  It's always nice to keep people guessing about how you put it together.  When the pockets aren't visible, it's nearly impossible to tell what method of joinery you employed. 

Second idea is to hide the edge of the countertop.  The edge banding for those countertops can be hard to find and expensive.  Unless you know the manufacturer and the color code, matching it is tough.  But, I can't pass up free either, it's my favorite price.  I think what I would do is rip 3/4" thick strips of the same pine you used for the frame, maybe 1/8" wider than the thickness of the countertop, round over the edges, mitre the corners, and finish it to match the frame you built.  You could then run a band of construction adhesive around the sides and the back of the countertop, make a few pocket holes on the bottom of the countertop stick the "frame" to the edges, then grab it with a few pocket screws to suck the strips in tight to the edges while the adhesive sets.  Bingo, 3-sided edge frame hides the unlaminated edge and really marries the two colors (frame and countertop) together.  It will also keep pens, etc. from sliding off the sides of the desk.

Comment by Michael Lester on August 19, 2013 at 6:12am

This was a very basic and simple design.  My Wife wanted a desk and quick.  The only thing she was picky about was the finish and that it should not have drawers.  Every thing I used except for the finish and glue I was able to get free.  A friend gave us the top and the wood came from a home construction site (with permission from the site foreman). 

Construction is Rail and Stile (3/4" x 3" boards milled from 2"x8"s and 2"x10"s).  One box for each end, a Rail and Stile for the back and one cross board just back from the front of the top.

The import part is the Wife is happy! :)