How to Make a Desk Made of Recycled Materials

Make the Top

• 1

  Decide how big your desk top will be.

• 2

  Using your measuring tape, carpenter's square and pencil, lay out measurements for the desk top. Locate the lines so the desk top will be symmetrical. Use the carpenter's square to make sure the lines are square at the corners.

• 3

  Cut the door to the size of the desired desk top using the circular saw.

• 4

  Sand the desk top with 120-grit sandpaper. Round the edges slightly while sanding.

Make Desk Base Parts

• 5

  Cut four 28-inch legs from the 2-by-4-inch boards using the circular saw.

• 6

  Cut two 74-inch-long skirts from the 2-by-4-inch boards, using the circular saw.

• 7

  Cut two short skirts, each 26 1/2-inch in length, from the 2-by-4-inch boards using the circular saw.

• 8

  Cut two side braces, each 26-inch in length, from the 1-by-4-inch boards using the circular saw.

• 9

  Cut the 8-foot-long 1-by-1-inch board into eight 1-foot-long pieces of cleat stock.

Assemble the Desk Base

• 10

  Assemble two legs, one side brace and one short skirt into a rectangular side frame. Apply glue to each joint and secure with the hammer and finishing nails (two to a joint). Set aside to dry.

• 11

  Repeat step one to make the other side frame.

• 12

  Drill a pilot hole for two No. 8 screws in the joint where the legs meet the braces. Secure the screws in the joints using the screwdriver.

• 13

  Drill holes for two 3-inch carriage bolts in each short skirt-to-leg joint. Insert the bolts. Place the washers and nuts onto the bolts and tighten.

• 14

  Instruct your helper to hold the two side frames upright.

• 15

  Attach the long skirts temporarily by hammering finish nails in partway.

• 16

  Plumb the legs and level the long skirt.

• 17

  Remove one nail. Drill a hole for the long carriage bolt. Put the bolt in place with washer and nut and tighten. Repeat for the other corners, one at a time.

Make the Desk Top Brackets

• 18

  Place the desk top on top of the desk base.

• 19

  Jockey the desk top into position so it is even on all sides in relation to the base.

• 20

  Crawl under the desk with a pencil and one piece of cleat stock. Hold the cleat stock next to the inside edge of the long skirt at its mid point. Trace a line around the cleat stock onto the underside of the desk top. Do the same on the outside edge of the long skirt. Repeat this for the other three skirts to mark the position of all eight pieces of cleat stock. (The desk top is not attached with fasteners, but is held in place with cleat stock, two pieces to each skirt.)

• 21

  Turn the desk top upside-down.

• 22

  Use glue and No. 8 screws (two to a board) to attach the eight pieces of cleat stock.

• 23

  Turn the desktop upright.

• 24

  Jiggle the desk top around until it falls into place with the cleat stock on the sides of the skirts.

• 25

  Fill holes with glue and sawdust. Sand the base. Paint, stain or varnish as desired.