How to Make a Plywood Desk

Sand all the components of the plywood desk, which include: the desk top of 1 sheet ¾-inch 24-by-60-inch plywood; the side legs of 2 sheets ¾-inch 19-by-29-inch plywood; and the front support leg of 1 sheet ¾-inch, 29-by-40-inch plywood. Paint or varnish the pieces; it is easier to sand and finish the plywood pieces flat, rather than when it is assembled.

Stand the front support leg upright on a 40-inch side and abut the two side legs on the inside edge of the front leg piece. Check that the side legs are at right angles to the front leg, using a carpenter's square.

Insert a corner bracket in each corner between the side and front legs, 2 inches from the top and 2 inches from the bottom, and secure with ½-inch screws driven through the screw holes in the corner brackets. There will be four corner brackets installed.

Place the desk top upside down on the work surface, and place the leg unit upside down on top of it. Adjust the legs so that there is a 2-inch gap between the front support leg and the edge of the desk top, and 10 inches on either side of the side legs and the desk top sides. There will be a 4-inch gap between the end of the side legs and the front edge of the desk top.

Insert two corner brackets in the joint between the top of the side legs and the desk top, and four corner brackets along the joint between the desk top and the top of the front support leg, evenly spaced. Eight corner brackets in total will be installed between the top of the legs and the underside of the desk top to attach the legs to the desk top.

Secure the desk top to the legs by driving ½-inch screws through the screw holes of the corner brackets. Invert the desk so that it is standing on the legs, with the desk top on top.