How to Build a Custom Computer Desk

Sand all faces of each piece of lumber. One side of the largest plywood sheet should be very smooth. The other faces need only be rendered free of splinters.

Set the four beams in a rectangle with the shorter beams inside the longer beams. All four beams should lie on their narrowest side.

Connect the rectangle with two wood screws at each joint. Screw through the face of the longer beams and into the end of the shorter beams.

Lay the 1/2 x 60 x 42 sheet of plywood, smoothest side up, on top of the rectangle. Secure it in place with one screw at each corner and one screw in the center of each side. Drive the screws in deep enough that the heads are flush with the surface of the desk.

Set a post in the corner of the frame. Secure it in place with three screws drilled through the plywood and into the end of the post. Reinforce with one screw drilled through the face of each beam and into the side of the post. Set the other three posts using the same process

Connect two posts by laying the 1/2 x 60 x 24 sheet of plywood along the back side of the desk. Secure it in place with three wood screws per post, drilled through the plywood and into the posts. This adds stability to the finished desk.

Drill two 1 1/2-inch holes in the top of the desk using an auger bit. Position one hole in the right back corner, two inches from each edge of the table. Position the other hole at the corresponding point of the left back corner. These holes will accommodate cords when you install the computer components.