So I wanna build a computer desk....

[paperfist]

I have a friend of mine who has alot of nice wood working tools. Even then Lowe's will cut wood to dimensions for you. The fixture they use is pretty much idiot proof, anybody with 2 brain cells can make a nice square cut with it.

Don't depend on Lowes cutting them well. I'm in the middle of finishing my new desk build and I figured since I was working with plywood and needed 3 simple 18" shelves I'd let them rip it. Wow who knew 18" could come out 3 different ways. I ended up re-ripping myself to 17 1/2" which threw off the rest of the dimensions.

 

[Mandres]

Yea, definitely don't rely on the accuracy of big box cutting service. Even a perfectly adjusted panel saw is only as good as the operator, which in this case is likely an $8.00/hr. school kid.

If you build it yourself without the right tools it will look cobbled together, period. A nice desk has dados, mitered corners, moldings, solid joinery and typically a solid wood face-frame/edging to hide the plywood. The best you can do otherwise is the old "wood door laid across a couple of filing cabinets".

 

[HeXen]

who needs Dado's when you got

 

[Tommy2000GT]

I have never seen a home built computer desk that looked good. A lot of DIY people can woodwork but can't design things that look good.

 

[pelov]

I have never seen a home built computer desk that looked good. A lot of DIY people can woodwork but can't design things that look good.

You really need the right tools for it. It's can also be difficult to do on your own unless you know what you're doing or have someone to help.

Off the top of my head, you'd need

- a tablesaw. The small one's will be very tricky to work with unless you've got someone there to help you. Cutting a 4x8 piece of plywood on a tiny tablesaw isn't the easiest of tasks.

- iron to apply the edging tape

- clamps if you're using hardwood

- a plane to smooth out the hardwood

- contact cement for plastic laminate and a router with the appropriate bit

- drill with an assortment of tips and bits.

- if you want a grommet hole you need a hole saw as well

- hardware for drawers or keyboard pullout

If you've got everything planned out beforehand -- tools, materials and sketchings -- you should do okay. If you're going to wing it then it'll never get done and it'll look like shit.

 

[paperfist]

You really need the right tools for it. It's can also be difficult to do on your own unless you know what you're doing or have someone to help.

Off the top of my head, you'd need

- a tablesaw. The small one's will be very tricky to work with unless you've got someone there to help you. Cutting a 4x8 piece of plywood on a tiny tablesaw isn't the easiest of tasks.

I'm not an expert, but a circular saw with a ripping guide will give you nice, straight lines. I'm actually getting better results using that method than the table saw.

I have never seen a home built computer desk that looked good. A lot of DIY people can woodwork but can't design things that look good.

Since it's subjective I can't really argue with that, but what do you consider 'looked' good?

 

[pelov]

I'm not an expert, but a circular saw with a ripping guide will give you nice, straight lines.

You'll still have the issue of where to place it. The cut with a hand-held saw will always be subject to the person holding it even with a ripping guide. If you get a plunge type saw then with the table prepped for cutting you've essentially built yourself a crappy tablesaw ;P Large long pieces of plywood on a tablesaw with a rail will always insure a straight cut (provided the person knows how to push the wood through). Keep in mind that being off by just a quarter inch could mean the fit isn't snug and the proportions can be off. If it's a quarter on a leg by the drawers then you've got uneven drawers and potentially a off-level countertop.

 

[paperfist]

You'll still have the issue of where to place it. The cut with a hand-held saw will always be subject to the person holding it even with a ripping guide. If you get a plunge type saw then with the table prepped for cutting you've essentially built yourself a crappy tablesaw ;P Large long pieces of plywood on a tablesaw with a rail will always insure a straight cut (provided the person knows how to push the wood through). Keep in mind that being off by just a quarter inch could mean the fit isn't snug and the proportions can be off. If it's a quarter on a leg by the drawers then you've got uneven drawers

The cage on the circular saw rests against the guide which is pretty much the same setup as a table saw. Like you said, a table saw is tough to rip a full sheet of plywood with one person. Two aren't always easier either since the other guy has to have an idea of what's going on.

You can place a full sheet on 4 garbage cans and rip it. With a table saw you have to hold it up to accomplish the same thing so there's more jitter.

Why would you need to make a plunge cut? That's what they make jig saws for

 

[BlackTigers]

Everytime I go to Lowes or HD to have some plywood cut, I either:

A) find someone who looks like they know what they are doing.
or
B) have them leave like a half inch to an inch on it, and then trim it up on my smaller tablesaw at home. The pieces are MUCH more manageable this way.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I would just use a circular saw to make plywood cuts. Get a straight edge, clamp it down, and go at it. If you are really good you can do it without the straight edge, but with a straight edge is just so much easier. You just need to compensate for how far the saw blade is from the edge of the saw. When I'm off work and start on my desk I'll probably make myself a basic jig for that so I can draw my line, then put the jig and add a point, then I know to put my straight edge at that point. I already built myself 4 saw horses so it will make this stuff easier. My issue right now is I'm not setup well so I've been working on getting myself setup for a while before I can even start.

 

[BlackTigers]

I would just use a circular saw to make plywood cuts. Get a straight edge, clamp it down, and go at it. If you are really good you can do it without the straight edge, but with a straight edge is just so much easier. You just need to compensate for how far the saw blade is from the edge of the saw. When I'm off work and start on my desk I'll probably make myself a basic jig for that so I can draw my line, then put the jig and add a point, then I know to put my straight edge at that point. I already built myself 4 saw horses so it will make this stuff easier. My issue right now is I'm not setup well so I've been working on getting myself setup for a while before I can even start.

this works very well also, just use a ripped piece of MDF or similar, or a 1" board, and you can get really nice cuts.

Just make sure its clamped really good, and you keep the saw firmly against the guard, its very easy for it to kick in or out.

 

[herm0016]

2 file cabinets and a solid core door was my desk in college. I miss that giant flat surface and nice legroom. I really don't think you can beat that combo. go to a local door place and get a door with damage on one side for a cheap price and then get 2 nice file cabinets that are the right height. It will look pretty good, and be very solid.

 

[radhak]

I own a 5 HP Unisaw - one of the best known table saws and fully equipped to deal with tough wood, but I don't cut a whole plywood with it - it can be unwieldy, and even dangerous in the wrong hands. I use my circ-saw with a straight edge to cut to size; and sometimes, when I need exact accuracy, I re-cut with the TS. I have practically furnished the entire house with that setup.

But for the OP, planning a simple table might be fruitful, using HD/Lowes to cut large ply to size. If correctly planned, he might not even need to 'clean up' those cuts at home. Some of the panel saws at those stores can do a mighty good job. Now finding the plans to a good table you like - that might take some looking!

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

I own a 5 HP Unisaw - one of the best known table saws and fully equipped to deal with tough wood, but I don't cut a whole plywood with it - it can be unwieldy, and even dangerous in the wrong hands. I use my circ-saw with a straight edge to cut to size; and sometimes, when I need exact accuracy, I re-cut with the TS. I have practically furnished the entire house with that setup.

But for the OP, planning a simple table might be fruitful, using HD/Lowes to cut large ply to size. If correctly planned, he might not even need to 'clean up' those cuts at home. Some of the panel saws at those stores can do a mighty good job. Now finding the plans to a good table you like - that might take some looking!

I would never ever risk depending on a panel saw cut. I always go 1/2" and always take a good tape measure. There are construction techniques like a panel and grove, but then he needs a router since hes not going the table saw route.

 

[Juddog]

Sorry to bump this old thread, but I was looking into the same thing.

I'm thinking about buying a countertop at Home Depot / Lowes and converting it to a huge desk. My buddy has some good woodworking tools, so he could help me carve out a spot where you sit.

Has anybody here done something similar by using a countertop? I originally got the idea from the Ikea thread on Hardocp, where someone had a pretty cool looking desk that they built from cheap Ikea parts, but Ikea charges a lot for delivery so I'm looking at local stores now for the raw supplies.

 

[sdifox]

I've been looking for a nice hardwood desk for a while and I haven't found anything I liked. Most of what I've seen are too anotique looking and or have too much fancy mumbo jumbo like over sized hutches and crap.

I'm not what you would call a skilled carpenter, but since what I want is a fairly simple design, I'm sure I can do it.

Basically I want a desk that is 26"x60" with 2 file drawers, and a large keyboard drawer, nothing more.

Are there any websites that show you instructions on building simple desks and stuff?

err, anything involving cabinets is not simple carpentry.

you know you can custom order furnitures right?

 

[sdifox]

If you have built anything from wood before, you can always up your skills while building a new desk. Lowes and HD will cut plywood to size (only straight cuts) for you - makes transportation easier. A tablesaw is a must for complex cuts, but I think you may get away without any complex cuts.

You can get some ideas for the simplest stuff (with instructions) at Lowes' creative ideas, like this Lift-Top Computer Desk , or at the Diy Network

Below is the study table I made for my daughter, combination of mahogany, Oak and Mahogany ply. 42" x 24". Am now building a stand-up computer-desk for my wife now, but she's finicky, so it's taking time.

kudos on this... love the varnish.

 

[radhak]

Will that be a regular ply-topped-with-laminate countertop, or a granite/marble one?

If the latter, you have to think your strategy of joinery thru before you start, but if the former, then it should be just the same as building any regular desk. I have not done it myself but know friends who have built themselves work-tables with counter-tops, and even solid-core doors.

 

[Juddog]

Will that be a regular ply-topped-with-laminate countertop, or a granite/marble one?

If the latter, you have to think your strategy of joinery thru before you start, but if the former, then it should be just the same as building any regular desk. I have not done it myself but know friends who have built themselves work-tables with counter-tops, and even solid-core doors.

I've heard people reference the solid doors before as a great desk surface.

I'm looking into potentially doing this in my basement as a work area so that I can setup some equipment and such.