Can I Make a Desk Out of Pine Plywood?

Choosing Proper Plywood

• Pine plywood come in various grades, which indicate the overall quality of the plywood sheet. Lower-quality pine plywood sheets have plenty of blemishes, knots and uneven surfaces which are not an ideal surface for a desk. When purchasing your pine plywood sheets for your desk, aim for A-grade or B-grade pine plywood. Higher-quality sheets have fewer blemishes, cracks and knots and are more pleasing to look at.

Desk Surface

• Create the desk surface using one of the pine plywood sheets by drawing it on the wood. The desk must measure the desired width by the desired depth to fit your chosen space. Cut the desk surface out using a table saw for straight cuts. Use the sandpaper to remove any cracks, residue or splinters that may result from the cutting.

Supportive Desk Units

• Desk units, such as shelving units, must support the desk surface. These units act as supportive towers, so you can place heavier items on the desk itself, such as computers, lamps, paper holders and part of your body weight during use. Build these pine plywood units by creating cabinet frames with two sides and a bottom panel. The desk surface serves as the top panel for both units placed at both ends of the desk. Add several shelves for papers or one shelf for a computer tower.

Applying Finishes

• Since pine plywood is a lighter shaded wood panel, add stain to get a darker wooden finish. The more stain you add, the darker the finish. Add paint to get a solid or opaque finish, such as bold white or dark brown. Use green, pink, red or blue paint for a bright splash of color.