The best woodworking instructable you'll read...

In the next 3 minutes that is.  As this is the first Instructable I've written I wanted to start with something simple and build on the complexity from here.  Actually the desk I have built in the following Instructable was designed specifically to work with the limited space I have given that I just had a new roommate move and and I had to sacrifice my computer room and my unnecessarily large desk in the process.

This Instructable will serve as hopefully 3 different things.  1) an example of modifying your intend build to suit the space you have, 2)Show you many good tricks for what not to do when working with wood, and 3) the aforementioned practice at making Instructables.  Shall we proceed?

Step 1 Tools and materials

Materials
1 8' x 4' sheet of 23/32 interior grade plywood

1 4" x 4" x 6' board

2 3" x 3" x 4' finished table legs

1 box of decking screws (I like decking screws cause they're so darn versaitle and hold up well for outdoor projects.  Since you'll definitely have some left over might as well have something you can use later)

Finishing Nails

1 2" x 4" (you won't need much so some scrap wood will do)

1 8' strip edge moulding

Wood Putty

Wood stain & Brushes

Polyurethane & more brushes

440 Grit Sandpaper

Tools
A Circular Saw
Power Drill
  w/ assorted drill bits & screw driver bits
Carpenters pencil
A hammer
Wood working triangle
Chalk Line
Safety glasses & gloves
A small putty knife

Comments

[crkalino]

What wood stain did you use to get the great black finish? I have been reading up on different finishes and people are saying that getting a pure black finish requires lacquer. I disagree. Can you confirm my suspicions?

[seanmcshaft]

I don't really remember. I don't think it was anything special, just like Minwax colored wood stain. I don't remember if it was gloss or semi gloss finish. I'll check when I get home. But I'm pretty sure it's just several coats of black wood stain. Polyurethane afterwards to increast the gloss and to protect the surface.

[crkalino]

Alright. I looked at the MINWAX EBONY stain and read that one coat leaves more of a gray color with the woodgrain appearing black. I read on to find out that multiple coats may do the trick but it would not adhere to the surface as well. The polyurethane topcoat sounds like a perfect solution to that. Your project turned out fine, so I guess I will try your method!

[jdege]

The primary reason for cutting plywood with the good side down, when using a circular saw, is that on a circular saw the teeth are moving up, into the bottom side of the panel. Which means that any tear-out that occurs will happen on the top. side. And, of course, since you were wise enough to put the good-looking side on the bottom, the tear-out occurs on the bad-looking side.

If you're cutting with a tablesaw, put the good side on the top.  The blade on a tablesaw cuts down.

[mr.incredible]

It's good, but I'd venture to say, not the best woodworking instructable. I do like it though.

[seanmcshaft]

No, by no means it the best wood working instructalbe around. Probably not in the top 50%. Mostly just trying to keep the tongue firmly planted in cheek and keep it fun, and get practice for writing more soon. Thanks for the cooment tho.

[mr.incredible]

I figured that... It is a good ible though.