Instructions for How to Build a Computer Desk
Building your own simple computer desk is a good alternative to the expense of purchasing a pressboard model from your local office supply store. This project should take a few hours to finish. Though these plans are for a 60 by 42-inch desk, you can make one smaller or larger by adjusting the lumber sizes.
Things You'll Need
- Plywood sheet, 1/2 by 60 by 42 inches
- Plywood sheet, 1/2 by 60 by 30 inches
- 2 beams, 2 by 4 by 57 inches
- 2 beams, 2 by 4 by 42 inches
- 4 posts, 4 by 4 by 30 inches
- Box of 3-inch wood screws
- Box of 1-inch nails
- Hammer or nail gun
- Power drill with drill and screwdriver bits
- 1 1/2-inch auger bit
- Sandpaper
- Paint or stain (optional)
Instructions
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1
Sand all faces of your lumber with coarse grit sandpaper, then sand a second time with fine grit sandpaper. If you plan to paint or stain the wood, do so at this point.
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2
Set your four beams in a rectangle with the 57-inch beams inside the 42-inch beams. All four beams should rest on the 2-inch wide faces. Attach them with two wood screws at each point of connection, driven through the face of the 42-inch beam and into the end of the 57-inch beam.
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3
Lay the 42 by 60-inch plywood sheet on top of the rectangular frame. Attach it with one nail per corner, two evenly spaced nails along each 42-inch side and three evenly spaced nails along each 60-inch side. Drive the nails through the plywood and into the beam below.
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4
Set one 4 by 4-inch post in the corner formed by two beams on the underside of your desk surface. Attach it with two wood screws driven through the plywood and into the end of the post. Reinforce the post by driving one screw drilled through the face of each beam, into the face of the post behind.
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5
Repeat step four with the other three beams.
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6
Lay the 60 by 30-inch plywood along one 60-inch side of the desk so that its upper edge is flush with the top of the larger plywood sheet. Its sides should be flush with the outside edges of the posts on either side.
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7
Attach the plywood sheet with one nail per corner, two evenly spaced nails along each 30-inch side and four evenly spaced nails along the 60-inch side.
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8
Drill a 1 1/2-inch diameter hole in the center of the desktop, at its rear edge about one inch from the back of the desk. This will serve to pass cords through as you install your equipment.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want to add a keyboard drawer, the best plan is to buy a premanufactured drawer and mounting to install beneath the surface of your desk. You can get one at any office supply, and many home improvement, stores. Follow the directions that come with your drawer, most of which involve screwing the mount to the underside of the desk top.
