How to Build a PC Desk

Decide how big you want your desktop to be. Think about any printers, scanners, or other peripherals that you might want to place on the desk. Measure your available space to make sure the desk will fit. Think about the size of your keyboard shelf. This shelf will sit on runners under the desktop and slide out when needed, so it must be smaller than the width of the desk.

Cut a 1 1/2-thick wooden panel according to your desktop measurements. Cut the legs of your desk and the keyboard shelf from another 1 1/2-thick panel.

Use a power sander to sand down all of the cut pieces of wood. Start off with a medium- or coarse-grain sandpaper, depending on the roughness of the wood. Finish up with a fine-grain sandpaper so the wood surface is clean and smooth.

Use L-shaped metal brackets to attach the legs to the desktop. Lay the bracket against the wood and mark the bolt holes with a pencil. Use an electric drill to make the holes according to your markings. Secure the brackets with carriage bolts and tighten all the nuts. Turn the desk over to test the stability of the legs. Large desks will be wobbly and should be braced with additional cross pieces. Use wood screws to attach a long piece of wood diagonally across the back, running from the low end of one of the legs to the top of the desk on the other side.

Attach the tracks to the keyboard shelf with wood screws. You can cut an additional piece of wood for the back of the shelf so the keyboard and mouse will not slide off. Screw the tracks into the underside of the desktop.

Apply wood stain to the PC desk with a damp cloth. Use a circular motion when applying stain and go with the grain, not against it. Allow the wood stain to completely dry overnight, then use a paint brush to apply varnish. Let the varnish dry for 24 to 48 hours before using the desk.