How do I Build a Side-by-Side Secretary Desk?

Measure in 4 inches from each end of the 56 inch long 4-by-4. Apply wood glue to the section of the 4-by-4 between the two marks.

Place the 48 inches wide by 68 inches long section of plywood on a flat surface. Line the marks of the 4-by-4 with the 48 inch edge of the plywood and press the 4-by-4 along the edge.

Measure in 2 inches from each end of the 56 inch 4-by-4 on the side facing upward. Apply wood glue to the top of two 23¾ inch, 4-by-4s and line one inside each 2 inch mark. Place a straight metal bracket on the side of the 4-by-4 that is facing toward the opposite 48 inch edge of the plywood and attach the brackets to both sections of 4-by-4 with 3 inch screws. This creates a U-shaped leg structure which is referred to as the front of the plywood in the directions.

Measure back 20 inches from the back edge of the 4-by-4 along both 56 inch edges of the plywood. Measure in 2 inches toward the center of the plywood on each side and draw a mark with a pencil.

Measure the center width of the two 4-by-4s that are 27 3/4 inches long. Apply wood glue to half the width of each 4-by-4 and press the glued half onto the plywood, creating a 2 inch glue-free overhang. Allow glue to dry before moving.

Place two filing cabinets that measure 27 3/4 inches high, 44 1/2 inches wide by 22 inches deep back to back on a flat surface. Place the filing cabinets in the room where the desk will be to, because moving it after all the sections are together is difficult. Remove the drawers out of one set and drive a one-half inch screw through all four corners inside the cabinet to join it permanently with the filing cabinet behind it. Apply heavy duty construction adhesive to the top of both filing cabinets using a foam brush.

Flip over the 48 inch by 56 inch section of plywood. Line up the back 48 inch edge of the plywood to the back edge of the filing cabinets when placed lengthwise. This creates a table structure that is supported by four legs in the front and two filing cabinets in the back.

Drive two 3 inch screws through the top of the plywood to join each 27¾ inch leg to the plywood permanently. Drive one screw every 12 inches across the front edge length to join the 4-by-4 to the plywood in the front Drive one 1 inch screw through the top of each corner of the filing cabinets in the back of the plywood to join the filing cabinets to the wood permanently.

Apply wood glue to the 4 inch exposure of the 56 inch 4-by-4 and the 2 inch exposure of the 27 ¾ inch 4-by-4 along one edge. Line a section of plywood that measures 50 inches wide by 24 inches deep with the side edge of the plywood so that it sticks out to the side 50 inches. Drive two screws through each 4-by-4 underneath.

Place one filing cabinet that measures 27 3/4 inches high, 17 3/4 inches wide and 22 inches deep at the opposite end of the 50 inch plywood, lining up the back edge and side edge of the filing cabinet to the top edges of the plywood. Drive one 1 inch screw through each top corner of the filing cabinet from inside to join the filing cabinet to the plywood permanently.

Apply construction adhesive to the back side of the 27¾ inch by 17¾ inch by 22 inch filing cabinet. Apply wood glue to the front exposed edges of the 4-by-4s and press one section of plywood that measures 74 inches long by 27 3/4 inches high onto the front, lining up the edges with the top surface edge and the outer edge of the filing cabinet.

Join these sections permanently by driving one 1 inch screw through the outer edge of the plywood every 12 inches into the filing cabinet. Drive one 3 inch screw through the plywood front every 12 inches along the perimeter of the 4-by-4s in which it is attached to.

Repeat steps nine and twelve with the opposite side of the 48-by-68 inch section of plywood to create a T-shaped desk structure.

Paint desk for a finished appearance. Use a paint color that matches the color of the filing cabinets for a more unified look.