How to Build a Large Simple Plywood Desk

Glue a plank of 24-inch 1-by-2 lumber to one 24-inch side of a piece of 24-by-29-inch 3/4-inch plywood, flush with the edge. The lumber should be positioned with the 2-inch face flat against the plywood. Secure the lumber in place with four evenly spaced 1-inch wood screws through the plywood into the lumber. Repeat with a second lumber plank and 24-by-29-inch plywood piece

Stand the plywood sheets upright with the attached lumber planks downward, flat on the work surface, around 53 inches apart. These are the legs.

Abut a plank of 15-by-55 inch plywood (the desk brace) horizontally between the legs and adjust the leg positions so that the ends of the brace form corners with the edges of the legs. The bottom edge of the brace should be flush with the bottom edge of the legs, and there will be 14 inches of leg height above where the brace finishes. The joint formed between the ends of the brace and the legs should be right-angled. Glue the joints then secure with screws through the legs into the ends of the brace.

Turn the legs over so that the 1-by-2 lumber and the brace is now at the top. Center a sheet of 30-by-70 inch plywood over the top of the legs and brace. Glue the legs and brace to the underside of the desk top, then secure the desk top to the legs with screws through the 1-by-2 lumber into the underside of the desk top. Paint the desk to finish it.