My wife likes to remind me that whenever I give a time frame for any given project, to double it. She has proved to be right again! This past week has been mid-term break, and I usually like to take a break from pipe making and get into DIY projects around the house. I had a list of things to do, but the desk project ate up all my time. I did not mind, however, as the project is now complete and I am very proud of the results.

The first step was to make two cabinet frames. The tenons were adjusted to each individual mortice and marked to avoid mix up. Having only two clamps, I knew this would be the slowest part of the project. I took it nice and slow during a weekend to make sure everthing was perfectly square as I tightened down the clamps. There was no room for error because each joint was glued.

With both units now built, it made a perfect level surface to build the work-top and shelf. Once the top was made and set aside, I turned my attention back to the cabinets. I had to consider the costs involved in making the drawers and runners. Lumber in the UK, as with everything else, is very expensive, and I had a budget of one hundred pounds for this project (not including the oak, which was in trade…see first article). I decided the best course of action was to recycle our old pine desk. So, my boy Isaac and myself dismantled the old desk, and I cut it down into the right sized pieces with the bandsaw and planed the rough edges. By the time this portion of the project was done, my workshop looked like a disaster zone!

Several years ago I made a telescope with a base that rotated by using a teflon sheet on top of an old vinyl record. Using the same principle, I made runners for the drawers using long teflon strips. It is super slippery and quiet, and much easier to install than store bought steel runners. Once the drawers were made, I finished up the cabinet sides with tounge and groove planks. The completed worktop and cabinets were then brought inside the house to give a wax oil treatment, which is still making the house pretty stinky.

The last step was the most enjoyable…putting everything together. The desk is in three separate pieces that slot together without the use of pins. This will make it much easier to move around in the future, as the desk weighs a lot. I then finished and hung the hutch door, installed brass handles, and sat back to enjoy my work. Today, I have very much enjoyed sitting down at our new oak desk to update the oak desk project blog!