How to Make Desk Easels

A desk easel is a desk accessory that provides an angular, elevated work surface. It can be utilized to hold a book, its most prevalent application, sheet music, photos, guides and plans or even an in-process manuscript. Desk easels date from English manor houses of the 14th Century. From exotic hardwoods to painted pine, the desk easel is an invaluable home furniture accessory. Painted with floral or landscape decoration, a desk easel can provide decades of ergonomic value.

1/2-inch pine wood sheeting
Tape measure
T-square
Pencil
Table saw
Power drill
3/16-by-1-inch flat head wood screws
Wood putty
1-inch brads
Primer/paint or stain/varnish

Instructions

- 1
  Measure and mark cut lines on 1/2-inch pinewood for the primary panels of the easel. Make the back a 12-by-16-inch rectangle. Make the front a 12-by-3-inch rectangle. Make the sides identical trapezoids, with one vertical side 3 inches, the other vertical side 12 inches, the width (bottom) 12 inches, and the angular side 14 inches.
- 2
  Use a table saw to cut the side panels of the easel. Make these as 90-degree cuts.
- 3
  Cut the bottom edge and both side edges of the front panel and the back panel at a 90-degree angle. Make the top edge cut of both these pieces at 45 degrees. When standing and facing the viewer, the top edge of both the front panel and back panel should slant up and away.
- 4
  Measure and cut the top of the easel at 16-by-18 inches. Make all four cuts at 90 degrees.
- 5
  Use a T-square to measure and mark drill holes for the assembly screws. Mark three holes along the 12-inch high edge of both side panels. They should be at 3, 6 and 9 inches from the top and 1/4-inch in from the edge. Mark a vertical row of three drill holes near the right edge of the easel top. They should be at 4, 8, and 12 inches from the top edge of the piece and all of them should be 1 1/4-inch in from the edge. Repeat this set of drill holes on the left side edge of the easel top. Mark two holes on the front vertical edge of the side panels, at 1 and 3 inches below the top.
- 6
  Use a power drill and wood bit to drill 1/8-inch holes at all the assembly marks.
- 7
  Drive 3/16-by-1-inch headless furniture screws into the drilled holes to connect the panels. Drive all screw heads 1/8-inch below the panel surface. Screw the side panels to the back panel first by driving screws through the three vertical holes on the trapezoidal pieces and into the center of the side edges of the back piece. Screw the front panel to the 3-sided assembly next. Do this by driving screws through the two holes on the front edge of the side panels and into the edges of the front panel. Screw the easel top on last. Drive screws down through the three holes on both the left and right side of the top panel and into the center of the upper, slanted edges of the side panels. The assembled easel should have a top surface that overhangs all four vertical panels by 1 inch.
- 8
  Measure and cut a 3/4-by-16-inch piece of 1/2-inch pine for the pencil ledge. Cut the piece and tack it 1 inch up from the bottom of the top panel using 1-inch brads.
- 9
  Fill the countersunk holes with wood putty. Prime and paint or stain and varnish all the surfaces.

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