How to Join Wood Boards for a Desk

Anybody can nail together some planks and two-by-fours and call it a desk. However, if you want a level desk with attractive joints, your task requires a bit more precision. Despite the extra care it takes, joining boards to build your desk requires no skills beyond that of even a beginning woodworker. The key is to give yourself enough time to double-check your measurements and do the job right on the first try.

Level
4 bench clamps
Wood glue
Nails and nailgun
Rag

Instructions

- 1
  Lay a level along all four edges of each board you want to use. Confirm that the edge is straight. Even a slight angle can result in a wobbly desk or uneven writing surface, so replace any boards that turn out not to be plumb.
- 2
  Clamp a board to your work bench so that it protrudes vertically into the air. Run a line of wood glue along the edge you plan to attach to the other board.
- 3
  Set the other board in place against the board you've clamped in position. Once you've got it set right, clamp it to your work bench to hold it in place.
- 4
  Reinforce your connection with a line of wood screws driven through the face of one board and into the edge of the other. One nail per 2 to 3 inches should be sufficient for most desks.
- 5
  Wipe any excess glue from the seams. In most cases, the nailing process will have squeezed some out.
- 6
  Wait for the glue to dry completely before moving on. If you need to join other boards, you can gently remove this set from your workbench and start on the next pair.

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