instructables

Modern Plywood Desk

by Urban Shop Works

This Midcentury Modern Plywood Desk is a perfect when you are done!
project for anyone who appreciates simplicity
combined with modern design. This desk has 3 large Preston
storage drawers and is the perfect size to comfortably
fit a laptop, monitors or writing projects but is still Supplies:
small enough to fit neatly into most rooms. Tools:

Download plans with cut lists and 1:1 scale printable - Tablesaw - Jigsaw - Cordless Drill - Parallel Clamps
templates for the legs here; https://urbanshopworks.c - Pocket Hole Jig - Router - Template Router Bit
om/plans
Materials:
Website https://urbanshopworks.com
- (2) 5' x 5' 3/4" Plywood - (1) 5' x 5' 1/2" Plywood - 2
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCywCp board feet Walnut - Glue
Q0iiuLUDcP8...
- 1-1/4" Pocket Hole Screws - 1-1/4" Drywall Screws -
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/urbanshopwork 3 sets 22" Full Extension Drawer Slides - Finish of
s/ choice

Enjoy the build and don't forget to send me pictures

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDM4xZIUuRM

Modern Plywood Desk: Page 1

Step 1: Cut Out All Pieces From the Cut List

This project is made with 3/4 Baltic Birch Plywood for 1/2 plywood pieces
the main desk body and legs There are 7 pieces to
the desk box and there are as follows; 8 - Drawer Box Side x 6

3/4 plywood pieces 9 - Drawer Box Front/Back x 4

1 - Desk Top/Bottom x 2 10 - Drawer Box Bottom x 2

2 - Desk Side x 2 11 - Drawer Box Front/Back, Large x 2

3 - Desk Divider x 2 12 - Drawer Box Bottom, Large x 1

4 - Desk Back x 1 The drawer fronts can be made from your material of
choice. There are 3 pieces for this.
There are 5 pieces to the Leg Assembly. The leg
pieces are best cut out with the 1:1 scale printable Walnut or material of choice
template provided here https://urbanshopworks.com/p
lans 13 - Drawer Front x 2

3/4 Leg Pieces 14 - Drawer Front, Large x 1

5 - Desk Stretcher x 1 PDF Cutlist available here. https://urbanshopworks.co

m/plans
6 - Leg, Outside x 2
I used my track saw to break down the 5 x 5 sheets of
7 - Leg, Inside x 2 Baltic Birch into more manageable sizes then I cut
the final dimensions with my table saw.
The drawers are constructed out of 1/2 inch Baltic
Birch Plywood. There are 15 pieces for the drawers
total.

Modern Plywood Desk: Page 2

Step 2: Cut the Dados and Rabbets in the Desk Box Pieces

This desk is held together with glue, dados and
rabbets. Instead of mitres I rabbeted the corners
together, this gives the look of a miter from the
outside but the pieces snap together really easy
which makes the glue-up a sinch! I cut the rabbets
down on the side and back pieces of the desk box
and the dados are to hold the centre dividers between
the drawers. For all of these cuts I used a router table
and a plywood dado bit but you could also use a
tablesaw and dado blade.

Modern Plywood Desk: Page 3

Step 3: Glue Up!

This is the fun part because everything just snaps together! Start by gluing the each of the outer and inner legs
together clamp as needed.

With the desk box start with gluing the centre dividers in place followed by the top then the sides and the back
piece last. I used only a few clamps to hold the glue on the desk box. Most of the edges I held in place with blue
painters tape.

Modern Plywood Desk: Page 4

Modern Plywood Desk: Page 5
Step 4: Drill Pocket Holes on the Desk Stretcher

The desk stretcher is an important piece, it will help keep the desk from racking side to side. This is mounted with
3 pocket holes on each end.

Once you have the pocket holes drilled you can screw the whole leg assembly together.

Modern Plywood Desk: Page 6

Step 5: Round Over the Edges!

I used a 1/8 round over bit on my trim router to do this. You will want to round over every edge on the desk box as
well as the outside edges of all the legs. *You could also use a chamfer bit of this too.

Step 6: Apply Finish of Your Choice

I used Wipe on Poly for this, I wiped on 4 coats allowing time too dry between coats with a light sand of 220, grit
between coats. I finished off with a 320 and 400 grit sanding before the final coat was applied and this gave me a
hard smooth finish.

Step 7: Mount the Desk to the Leg Assembly

This is where you drop the desk box on the leg
assembly, I fastened it in place with screws I placed
in predrilled holes in the desk stretcher.
I used the 1:1 printable drilling template provided in
the plans for drilling the screw holes in the desk box
to fasten the outer legs to the desk box sides. I
placed these screws on the inside of the desk box.
Drilling template available here https://urbanshopwork
s.com/plans

Modern Plywood Desk: Page 7

Step 8: Cut Out All Pieces for the Drawers

Now the two side drawers are the same and the centre drawer is larger but all measurements for these should be
referenced off the actual finished desk. Cut out all pieces for the drawers from 1/2 inch Baltic Birch plywood

from the cutlist available here https://urbanshopworks.com/plans

Modern Plywood Desk: Page 8

Step 9: Drill Pocket Holes

Drill pocket holes in the front and back pieces of the drawers referenced in the photos above

Step 10: Cut the Dados in the Drawer Sides and Front/back Pieces

Now is the time to cut the dados that hold the drawer bottom in place. I used a router with a half inch plywood dado
bit in my router table but you could also use a table saw with a dado blade for this.

The pieces you want to cut the dados in are the two drawer sides and the drawer front/back pieces (4 in total for
each drawer)

Modern Plywood Desk: Page 9

Step 11: Sand Your Pieces!

This is very important Sand all your drawer pieces to 220 before you assemble the drawers.

Modern Plywood Desk: Page 10

Step 12: Drawer Assembly

Now you can assemble the drawers. Put wood glue in the Dados for the drawer bottoms and on the edges where
the sides meet. Assemble and clamp as necessary.

Use pocket holes as the primary method of joinery

Step 13: Apply Topcoat to Drawers

I used Wipe on Poly for this and I followed the same 4 coat procedure as I listed above for finishing the desk box.

Step 14: Mount the Drawer Slides

Mount the 22 inch drawer slides of your choosing as-per the manufacturer specifications with enough set back to
allow the full drawer front to fit inside the desk box. I used a thin piece of scrap wood as a shim to get even
spacing on the drawer slides and the drawer boxes

Modern Plywood Desk: Page 11

Step 15: Cut the Drawer Fronts

Now that your drawers are installed you can measure
for and cut the drawer fronts out of the material of
your choosing. I used Walnut in mine but you can use
whatever wood you like. Be sure to leave about 1/8
inch around all sides of the drawer front to the desk
box *(see photo above)
in my actual desk I drilled a shallow hole with a
forstener bit and my drill press for the drawer pulls or
you can add any style of drawer pull you like.
Download plans here https://urbanshopworks.com/pla
ns

In my plans I have layed out measurements for

cutting the type of handle shown in the photo above.

Modern Plywood Desk: Page 12

This is a good looking table. Nicely done! : )

Thank you! It’s a great desk I’m happy you like it!

Modern Plywood Desk: Page 13