Plywood Desk With Several Storage Compartments

I ask my desk to be a host for a lot of different activities, from regular computer work to 3D printing, electronics, figure painting etc... But my desk was a simple flat plain slab of painted masonite. Boring, yes. Easily cluttered, yes. Paint starting to chip away, oh yes! So I needed a new one.

I've always wanted to make stuff, become a maker, become a part of the maker-community. But I've never had the time, energy nor the place to do it. I still doesn't have the time, energy or place... But I decided not to let that be an excuse and instead used the need for a desk to become my first project.

I worked on it a little bit (an hour or so) and then rested. Did the same the next day. This took care or the time and energy concern. Because we live in an small apartment the place got to be our balcony and it worked out great!

The Desk

The design I made for the desk is greatly based on HomeMade Modern's Flip Desk (http://www.homemade-modern.com/ep30-the-flip-desk/... So credits for the idea should go to them. Here I'm just showing how I build my own version.

This design could be made to almost any dimensions and the storage compartments can be placed in other locations in the desk. Make it your own, as I did.

Step 1: Materials, Tools and Cut Out

Materials

• Plywood sheet (2400mm x 1200mm x 12mm) - 2 pcs.
• Wood screws
• Wood glue
• Varnish
• Hinges - 2 pcs.

I wanted to use as few different materials as I could.

Tools

• Circular saw (or any other cutting tool)
• Drill (or a screwdriver)
• Sanding machine (or a block and sandpaper)
• Chisel
• Mallet (or hammer)

And as few and simple tools as I had.

I have attached the drawing I did for my design. Use it if you like or make your own. I used OnShape (https://www.onshape.com/) to create a model and drawing (https://cad.onshape.com/documents/413b40aaca65d7e4...).

Cutting

I cut the plywood sheets into many small pieces. Below are the sizes and number of pieces needed for my design.

• 1500mm x 700mm - 1 pcs.
• 1000mm x 700mm - 1pcs.
• 400mm x 700mm - 1pcs.
• 700mm x 100mm - 19 pcs.
• 500mm x 100mm - 12 pcs.
• 400mm x 100mm - 18 pcs.

After I cut these out I just put the small pieces on the biggest piece that is going to be on the bottom. Just to se that it all fit.

Step 2: Put It Together

Next I put all the pieces together with wood screws and glue. I stacked the 100mm wide pieces on top of each other to create a 96mm high desk. 6 pieces in a stack that would have a top or lid over it and 7 pieces in the stack furthest to the left. On every piece in a stack I screwed a couple of 20mm long wood screw into it that fastened it to the pieces below. The visibel top pieces I just glued in place to not have the screwheads showing.

The three top panels I made sure to cut right next to each other from the same plywood sheet to get a continuous pattern on top.

Step 3: Cable Management and Hinges

On the bottom and top pieces I cut out semicircles to manage the cables from things on top and things in the storage compartments.

I also used a chisel to carve out places to screw down the two hinges. This so that the closed lid would be flush with rest of the top. Use the hinges you have to measure how deep you should carve.

Step 4: Sanding, Glue and Lacquer

After all pieces, except the top cover, was fastened together I sanded it all with an orbital sander. Also rounded the corners.

Then the top was glued on. I sanded before the top was glued on to be able to access the open areas that would later come under the top.

Lacquer was then put on with no stain or coloring. I wanted to keep this bright wood style.

Step 5: Finished Desk

At last I screwed on the legs I had for the previous desk (it was simple legs bought from IKEA) and put it in place.

And here's the finished desk!