How to Build a Writing Table Using the Golden Ratio

Phi, the Golden Ratio, has been called the perfect proportion. It's been found in everything from mollusk shells to the angle of a hawk's approach when hunting prey. And for thousands of years it has been used in music, art and architecture. Here's how you can build a beautiful desk using this magnificent and irrational number.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 4-by-8 foot sheet of 3/4 inch plywood
• 2 10 foot long 2-by-4s
• Wood screws
• Sander
• Pocket screw jig
• Edge banding (optional)
• Glue
• Tape Measure
• Drill
• Circular Saw or table saw
• Wood Filler
• Stain or paint
• Lacquer

1. What is Phi? it is a line divided at a point so that the ratio of sum of the segments A and B to segment A is equal to the ratio of segment A to segment B. That's the long way of saying a ratio of 1 to approximately 1.6180339887. For our purposes, we'll reduce it to 1:1.62.

2. Make these cuts out of plywood (if you want a simpler version see the tip below):
   1 piece at 42 3/4 by 11 1/4 inches
   1 piece at 29 1/2 by 29 1/2 inches
   1 piece at 18 1/4 by 18 1/4 inches
   1 piece at 11 1/4 by 11 1/4 inches
   1 piece at 7 by 11 1/4 inches
   1 piece at 42 1/4 by 4 1/4 inches
   1 piece at 42 1/4 by 2 3/4 inches
   2 pieces at 24 by 4 1/4 inches
   2 pieces at 24 by 2 3/4 inches
   2 pieces at 46 1/4 by 4 1/4 inches

3. Make these cuts out of the 2-by-4s: 8 pieces at 28 3/4 inches long x 1 1/4 inches wide by 2 1/4 inches thick. Be sure that when you make these cuts, you remove the routed edges.

4. Sand all surfaces.

5. Build the legs. Pair up 2 of the 2-by-4 cuts so that they make a 2 1/2 inch by 2 1/2 inch leg that is 28 3/4 inches long. Make sure you are flush on all edges and both ends. Repeat until you have all four legs.

6. 
   frame end

   Build the ends of the frame. Span 1 piece that is 24 by 4 1/4 inches between the tops of the two legs. Make sure you are flush with the outside and the top. Move down 17 inches and attach the top of one of the 24 inch x 2 3/4 inch pieces, matching above. See image.

7. Span these two ends using the 42 1/4 inch pieces, both the 4 1/4 inch and the 2 3/4 inch pieces. This will be the back of the writing table.

8. Span one 46 1/4 inch by 4 1/4 inch piece across the length of the desk flush with the top and 10 1/2 inches from the front (8 inches from the back of the front legs). Span the other 46 1/4 inch by 4 1/4 inch piece 6 inches from the back of the desk (3 1/2 inches from the front of the back legs). These are your supports.

9. Measure down 4 1/4 inches from the top of the front of the frame. Attach the 42 3/4 inch by 11 1/4 inch piece horizontally (as a shelf) to both front legs. The back of this piece will line up exactly with the front 46 1/4 inch x by 1/4 inch support. Attach it to this as well.

10. Edgeband (if you choose to) and Stain or paint the frame to your liking. Apply 2 to 3 coats of lacquer sanding lightly in between each coat.

11. 
    grain directions

    Time to put together a puzzle. The remaining pieces will form a 29 1/2 inch by 47 3/4 inch Golden Rectangle if assembled properly. Figure it out. You can do it. Turn each piece so that the direction of the grain of each square is opposite that of the the next largest square. Attach using pocket screws (or you can screw it down from above). Make sure the surface is even (all pieces are flush).

12. Stain or paint the top. If you want to go wild, you could use a different stain for each top piece.

13. Enjoy perfection. The ratio of the length to the width is golden. The ratio of the height to the length is golden. Even the rails, shelf and supports are golden.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to go simple, just make the top out of 1 piece of plywood, 29 1/2 inches by 47 3/4 inches.
• You may want to add sides to the shelf, 2 pieces @ 8 3/4 inches by 4 1/4 inches.
• Never paint or stain without ventilation.
• Though the piece will generally keep itself square, be sure to check.

Resources

• wikipedia golden ratio