A DIY Parsons Desk

The Cuts

• 1

  Make the leg pieces. Measure and cut 12 pieces of MDF 30-by-2¼ inches. Mark these pieces “A.” Measure and cut eight pieces of MDF 27-by-2¼ inches. Mark these pieces “B.” Use a circular saw to cut the wood.

• 2

  Make the top pieces. Measure and cut two pieces of MDF 48-by-2¼ inches. Mark these pieces “C.” Measure and cut two pieces of MDF 34-by-2¼ inches. Mark these pieces “D.” Measure and cut an 34-by-48-inch piece of MDF. Mark this piece “E.” Cut the pieces with a circular saw.

• 3

  Measure and cut the veneer covering pieces. Use the measurements for pieces “B” through “E” to cut the veneer with a veneer saw.

The Legs

• 4

  Align three “A” pieces with the sides and ends flush. Apply a bead of wood glue in an “S” pattern on one side of two of the pieces. Sandwich the three pieces together with the glue between them. Make sure the sides and ends are flush. Nail a 1¼-inch nail through the top and bottom face to help secure the pieces. These become the middle of your legs.

• 5

  Line up one of the “B” pieces against the wide face of the “A” pieces. Apply wood glue in an “S” pattern to the side of the pieces that will touch. Make the sides and one end of the “B” piece flush with the “A” pieces. The “B” piece will be three inches shorter on one end. Nail a 1¼-inch nail through the piece to attach it into place.

• 6

  Line up one of the “B” pieces against the narrow faces of the “A” pieces. Position the sides and edge as you did with the other “B” piece. Attach this piece with glue and nail as you did with the other “B” piece. You should have a leg with a three-inch lip on two adjacent sides.

• 7

  Clamp the leg with “C” clamps to hold it together while the glue dries.

• 8

  Repeat the entire process to build the other three desk legs.

The Top

• 9

  Lay two of the legs parallel to each other horizontally a distance of 48 inches apart. Set the corners with the three-inch lip facing away from each other and upward.

• 10

  Mount one “C” piece over the legs so the edges fit into the lips on the legs. Apply wood glue to the exposed “A” pieces forming the leg core. Make the edges of the “C” piece flush with the leg edges. Drive a 1¼-inch nail through the “C” piece into each leg. Clamp the pieces together until the glue dries. Repeat this step for the other two legs and remaining “C” piece. These become the long sides of the desk frame.

• 11

  Turn one of the frame halves on end so the top rests on the ground. Apply wood glue to an exposed lip of one leg. Set a “D” piece against the glued lip making the edges flush. Drive a nail through the “D” piece into the leg. Clamp the piece to the leg until the glue dries. Repeat this step with the other “D” piece and long side of the frame forming a mirror image of the first pieces. This should make two “L” shape pieces.

• 12

  Fit the two “L” shapes together to form a rectangular frame. Apply wood glue to the exposed lip of the legs. Make the edges of the frames flush. Hammer a nail through the frame into the leg you are connecting it to. Clamp the frame together until the glue dries.

Finishing

• 13

  Turn the frame upright so it stands on the legs. Apply a bead of glue along the perimeter of the frame top. Mount piece “E” onto the frame with the sides matching. Make the edges flush. This is the desk top. Drive nails through the top into each leg and at equidistant intervals along the sides.

• 14

  Fill over nail heads and holes with wood putty using a putty knife. Sand down the entire surface with a medium-grit sandpaper. Repeat the sanding with a fine-grit sandpaper.

• 15

  Coat all visible surfaces with glue. Line up the veneer pieces with the corresponding frame sections. Make the ends flush. Rub down the length of each veneer piece, pushing against it so it adheres to the frame. This also pushes out any air bubbles or creases.