Replies

1. 
   Ricks503 | Dec 19, 2005 08:24pm | #1

   Not plans, but what I did for my son.  Had found a pallet that had a nice 3/4" plywood top - looked to be a nice veneer on top. - Took off the top, Covered the edges with some ripped down oak strips, put on an apron and 4 legs with stretchers on sides and across the back.  Finished it with a rubbed oil finish and it came out fine and has been used for 12 years now.

   1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go        4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
2. 
   MrWilson | Dec 20, 2005 05:55pm | #2

   David Marks built an Arts & Crafts writing desk (http://www.djmarks.com/woodworks/204.asp), which would do just fine as a students desk.

   Leigh jigs has a picture of a writing desk in its ads. They may be able to point out where the plans or measured drawings can be found.

   The book "Desks" by Andy Charron published by Taunton has plans for a whole series of different kinds of desks. I built the pedestal desk, though not for a student.

3. 
   BG | Dec 20, 2005 07:43pm | #3

   knotrealgood,
   Atttached are pictures of a couple of desks. I built the #1&#2 picture for my daughter in mahogany...developed my own dimensions as I had no plans to work from. I considered building #3 but was not fond of the stretcher geting in the way of the feet.

   
   

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   Edited 12/20/2005 11:49 am ET by BG

   
1. 
   knotrealgood | Dec 20, 2005 10:31pm | #4

   Nice stuff, almost to nice for little kids! I think they'd trash it.  I'd consider that for myself.Safety tip o' the day - Always keep your three good fingers away from the blade and remember to wear a safety monocle over your one good eye.

1. 
   BG | Dec 20, 2005 11:28pm | #5

   Knotrealgood,
   It might help if you knew that the top and slats were mahogany decking material...as in the stuff they use on porches/decks. What you need to consider is whatever marks and damage they due ....will be memories for SWMBO and you'll never be able to throw it away...

4. 
   chelor | Jul 09, 2020 10:11am | #6

   Since you say "nothing fancy, just functional", maybe you just want to set a stock laminate countertop (available at home improvement centers) on top of two filing cabinets? If the filing cabinets are too low, you can just lay some wood on top of them before setting the countertop down. (It's hard to know if someone isn't really into woodworking and just found this site and thought it would be a good place to ask a basic "woodworking" question).

   I've done this several times, the first time as a poor graduate student myself many years ago, and it's always worked well for the person.

5. 
   stantheman | Jul 09, 2020 01:15pm | #7

   Just a tip from experience. Consider the height of the chair that will be used, and make sure the desk will have clearance for a sitter's legs, but so the top wont be too high. In other words, dont make the front and aprons so wide you cant get under it. If you want it to be usable through high school, it might as well be adult sized anyway.