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With a simple Pine frame and Spotted Gum panel, this desk was a relatively easy D.I.Y. project and looks stylish.
The project
I made a desk for my youngest son and it is a variation of my earlier computer desk build. It measures 2000m long, 500mm deep and is about 780mm high. This time I decided to use a Spotted Gum top that's available at Bunnings.
We painted the frame using Dulux Gloss White on White and gave it three coats. The top was sanded with 240 grit sandpaper and coated using Timber Protect Gloss One Coat Clear Water Based Varnish. I applied three coats with a final sand down by hand after the last coat. The top was fixed to the frame using an adhesive and brackets to hold the top in place.
I used 10G x 100mm countersunk ribbed head screws, which you can get from Bunnings. These were used to attach the cross-bracing between the legs in the middle and upper frame. I used the 100mm length because the timber is 700mm wide. I found that pre-drilling holes makes it easier to screw through the wood and keep everything straight. To build the frame, I used 20 screws (10G x 100mm) to join the wood and 16 screws (8G x 30mm) for the brackets. I am amazed at how strong the frame is when all the screws and brackets are in place.
How to build a desk
Make your own desk with Experienced Workshop member Rob's step-by-step guide to building your own desk.
Popular desk projects
Creating a dedicated workspace or updating an existing one can be easy and affordable, and you'll have everything you need to be more productive when working from home. For more ideas for your D.I.Y. desk build, check out our Top 10 most popular desk projects.
