Looks great! I'm going to be building a desk myself soon, and it's good to see a video that's at my woodworking level rather than a professional shop with thousands of dollars of tools that makes it look so easy. I'm going to try to learn from you and try to clamp the glue-up in some way (not sure I have big enough clamps), but I think that would go a long way towards reducing the work of leveling everything out.
Nice job! It's clear that you took the time to do whatever it took to get it right (45* supports, taping for paint, etc). And THAT is the secret to great looking projects. Some TH-camrs post 15 min videos of time lapsed projects that took them a long time to complete, cutting the mishaps and do-overs, so it looks like they're Michaelangelo with a chisel... I'd rather watch regular guys who do this stuff better than I can do I have a sense that it's actually worth trying. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for this, as a beginner I really learned a lot (eg offsetting dowels- so sensible but would never have occured to me until my first fail). Cheers!
I have found it’s easy and cheap to fix a slight back to back with some small deck brackets ($2? at Home Depot) they are sturdy yet small enough to remain unseen if you don’t wanna have a 45 poking out. I usually build console tables but will be doing your build tomorrow:)
Nice looking desk, building an 8' now myself. Only comment is you should have a couple of pieces along the back in an 'x' formation to reduce racking. What you have now is a really sturdy top, just sitting on a couple of legs with that minimal gusset. Does go to show though that you don't need a lot of big shop equipment to make something functional. Although the router sled is a little unusual for people with minimal tools, it certainly is a useful jig to make if you have one.
Also, I like to sand and paint ends and such before cutting as it seems faster and less need for taping and cutting in. Just ends need touching after assembly then.
I have an old Craftsman router. It works great for face planing! Beware the mess... And you can attach just a 1/4" piece of plywood with some paste wax on it for your base plate. It works very well.
The lumber has gone up. I would have done it with 2x4 but I ended up getting a butcher block counter top for $100.its unfinish but its a better choice for me.
My doing less ALWAYS leads to doing more as I correct for my mistakes! I still haven't heard the courage to try anything too complicated for that reason. I'm afraid I'll end up with a lifetime project. You know, like a bench with a drawer...
My first desktop planing job I didn't make my frame big enough, figuring I could just slide it a bit. Except I got all into the planing and how great it was working and ran off the end of the frame with 6" left on my desktop real estate. Told my "customer" the resulting divot was part of the "natural" flaws in the wood. Thankfully, everyone is still into "rustic" because there isn't enough wood filler in my shop to fill that curlicue. :)
Sometimes it's better to flatten by going with the grain. It eliminates the trouble of getting rid of the streaks while sanding. For the bottom slats/cross supports, it looks better with 45 degree cuts at the ends. It's a way of hiding them better.
I love the economy woodworker. I dont have the crazy money some people put out on wood. I assume the wood curled separately so table might not be a plane anymore. would be nice to see some dimensions.
Definitely had wood movement during glue up and there’s been a fair amount of shrinking in the last year. It’s not perfect, but it’s been a fantastic desk.
@jiannilazaga8471 no pre-stain but depending on how you feel about stained pine…I’m sure there are splotchy areas. There was never anything bad enough to bother me or my wife. As for dimensions I think I just trimmed the ends of 8ft 2x4s after glue up and the width is 9 boards across.
It definitely had some racking, the 45 braces at the back helped a lot. I just used wood screws through the legs into the table top, I would definitely use inserts and bolts if I were to do it again, I think that would also help a lot. For a desk it worked fine, but I wouldn’t want to do anything with it that required a lot of forces on the table
You can get a simple hand-held electric jointer for $50 that could do this relatively easily. You can also make a simple jig that will hold it upside down, like a regular jointer, and be able to feed boards through it.
Yeah, Craftsman parts are at a premium. Everybody has Craftsman routers, but Stanley (or whoever owns Craftsman now) doesn't think parts are worth making... Ask the eBay crowd what they think of that idea! I'm not giving up my 1/2" industrial until I can't Gerry rig it, anymore!
Should probably move your wife's vehicle next time you're spraying. Though the dust on it should prevent a lot of the overspray damage. Nice project though!
I didn’t own one at the time and had never used one! I had watched lots of videos of people flattening slabs with routers though! I think I’d still do it this way though...I struggle to plane pine with this many knots
is there a certain method you used to drill your dowel holes straight? ive been doing some tests on scrap wood before i start my tabletop build and it comes out slightly crooked.
At the time, none were straight. My advice is to buy a dowel jig, they aren’t that expensive. Another option is to drill a hole in scrap straight and use that as your guide to start the holes. I also 3d printed one that did the same (but heat from the drilling ruins it pretty quick).
If you wanted a desk this basic you could have spent 20$ at good will... your desk isn't custom, clever or unique. Not even a single shelf? I am very very confused. You can get a free desk topper for free off craigslist/facebook. Was the point of this to waste time and money and then stick "cheap" on it as a label? I'm not criticizing just genuinely confused at this much wasted effort/time.
I think he learned a few things here and allowed himself to build something for his home. That alone is worth the sweat and time. I'm sure his wife appreciate his handy work and many viewers may be inspired to make something with minimal tools.
Looks great! I'm going to be building a desk myself soon, and it's good to see a video that's at my woodworking level rather than a professional shop with thousands of dollars of tools that makes it look so easy. I'm going to try to learn from you and try to clamp the glue-up in some way (not sure I have big enough clamps), but I think that would go a long way towards reducing the work of leveling everything out.
Definitely clamps would have helped. We learned a lot about drilling straight dowels too haha. Good luck!!
Nice job! It's clear that you took the time to do whatever it took to get it right (45* supports, taping for paint, etc). And THAT is the secret to great looking projects. Some TH-camrs post 15 min videos of time lapsed projects that took them a long time to complete, cutting the mishaps and do-overs, so it looks like they're Michaelangelo with a chisel... I'd rather watch regular guys who do this stuff better than I can do I have a sense that it's actually worth trying. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Mark. Thrilled to find a DIY' channel with basic tools and cheap supplies and improvization. Love that you left the out-takes in ❤️ subscribed
Thanks, hoping to post more projects soon!
Thanks for this, as a beginner I really learned a lot (eg offsetting dowels- so sensible but would never have occured to me until my first fail). Cheers!
Happy to help!!
Very helpful helped me build my own desk
Yay!
The suspense is intense! Will he or won’t he have enough lumber?!
I have found it’s easy and cheap to fix a slight back to back with some small deck brackets ($2? at Home Depot) they are sturdy yet small enough to remain unseen if you don’t wanna have a 45 poking out. I usually build console tables but will be doing your build tomorrow:)
Good luck!
Loved the table gonna take inspiration
Awesome balance between talking and working
Thank you!!
I highly reccomend the borosilicate glass for the ender printer. Prints beautifully and no need for glue or tape
Nice looking desk, building an 8' now myself. Only comment is you should have a couple of pieces along the back in an 'x' formation to reduce racking. What you have now is a really sturdy top, just sitting on a couple of legs with that minimal gusset. Does go to show though that you don't need a lot of big shop equipment to make something functional. Although the router sled is a little unusual for people with minimal tools, it certainly is a useful jig to make if you have one.
Also, I like to sand and paint ends and such before cutting as it seems faster and less need for taping and cutting in. Just ends need touching after assembly then.
Thanks for the tip! X bracket along back... 👍
looks great
Thanks!
Off to show my husband this video! 🏃♀️ back to school is just SO different this year! Oy!
Good luck!!
Great job
Thanks!
I have an old Craftsman router. It works great for face planing! Beware the mess... And you can attach just a 1/4" piece of plywood with some paste wax on it for your base plate. It works very well.
I was having fun with the printer, but definitely will try plywood next time! Thanks for the tip! That router never skipped a beat!
The lumber has gone up. I would have done it with 2x4 but I ended up getting a butcher block counter top for $100.its unfinish but its a better choice for me.
Yeah lumber prices are ridiculous right now. Good luck!
The ender is a great little printer. So pleased with mine which replaced a bigger cr10.
I love it so far
Looks like a job site worktable.
Lol, dude, I have the same gear as you, everything from the the hybrid water heater, to the laptops.
lol nice! Good choices!
super cool
Thanks!!
Amazing desk , it will look even better with the cable management and hanging monitors
Thanks! I’ll update once we do that! Also have plans for cabinets on at least one side!
Just needed it functional for now!
@@markbuilds yeah keep it up!
A desk that can holds all of your stuff on your recent table
It holds everything and some!
My doing less ALWAYS leads to doing more as I correct for my mistakes! I still haven't heard the courage to try anything too complicated for that reason. I'm afraid I'll end up with a lifetime project. You know, like a bench with a drawer...
I’m thinking some garage cabinets/drawers for my next project. I think I’ve got the courage to try it now...we’ll see!
Love the content, like the other people have said TONS of talking. Maybe make it two parts next time?
Thanks for the feedback!
My first desktop planing job I didn't make my frame big enough, figuring I could just slide it a bit. Except I got all into the planing and how great it was working and ran off the end of the frame with 6" left on my desktop real estate. Told my "customer" the resulting divot was part of the "natural" flaws in the wood. Thankfully, everyone is still into "rustic" because there isn't enough wood filler in my shop to fill that curlicue. :)
Sometimes it's better to flatten by going with the grain. It eliminates the trouble of getting rid of the streaks while sanding.
For the bottom slats/cross supports, it looks better with 45 degree cuts at the ends. It's a way of hiding them better.
Great advice thanks!
What are the dimensions of the legs?
I love the economy woodworker. I dont have the crazy money some people put out on wood. I assume the wood curled separately so table might not be a plane anymore. would be nice to see some dimensions.
Definitely had wood movement during glue up and there’s been a fair amount of shrinking in the last year. It’s not perfect, but it’s been a fantastic desk.
Looks good!
Thank you!
Interested to know what the dimensions of the table top are... thanks
Also, did you use a pre-stain?
@jiannilazaga8471 no pre-stain but depending on how you feel about stained pine…I’m sure there are splotchy areas. There was never anything bad enough to bother me or my wife. As for dimensions I think I just trimmed the ends of 8ft 2x4s after glue up and the width is 9 boards across.
@@markbuilds thanks!
when you run the mouse over the area where 2 pieces of wood join, can you feel it?
Nope, I was able to get it flat enough that there are no lips!
Do you make custom pieces by any chance? I was just behind you at a light here in town and thought I’d check you out! Let me know!!
I’m fairly new to this, but I’m open to ideas if you had something simple!
i think i know what my next project is :)
Good luck!
y'all did some great team work. nice job mark.
Thank you!!
Nice build. But maybe less talking and more building would help 👍👍👍
Thanks!
How stiff is the front side from racking side to side?
It definitely had some racking, the 45 braces at the back helped a lot. I just used wood screws through the legs into the table top, I would definitely use inserts and bolts if I were to do it again, I think that would also help a lot. For a desk it worked fine, but I wouldn’t want to do anything with it that required a lot of forces on the table
Should have plastic sheeted over the car when spraying that poly
Could you have made the sides of the 2x4 straight and then avoid needing to plain it a much?
Yeah of course, and you could also get the dowels straighter and more accurate. That was our biggest issue here.
You can get a simple hand-held electric jointer for $50 that could do this relatively easily. You can also make a simple jig that will hold it upside down, like a regular jointer, and be able to feed boards through it.
Shim your board, plane one face, then flip. No more twist.
Learned a lot on this one
@@markbuilds I did, too. I just finished my third desktop (first one I face planed) and made every mistake possible.
Yeah, Craftsman parts are at a premium. Everybody has Craftsman routers, but Stanley (or whoever owns Craftsman now) doesn't think parts are worth making... Ask the eBay crowd what they think of that idea! I'm not giving up my 1/2" industrial until I can't Gerry rig it, anymore!
Vladhir Derbez
Cool!
Should probably move your wife's vehicle next time you're spraying. Though the dust on it should prevent a lot of the overspray damage. Nice project though!
Thanks!!
Hey , well done!! Question for you what is the size between the leg and the side of the table ? 10 inc?
Thanks! 12” I think
@@markbuilds thanks for the fast response! Thanks for this video again!! Very helpful!!!
Why no Planer?
I didn’t own one at the time and had never used one! I had watched lots of videos of people flattening slabs with routers though! I think I’d still do it this way though...I struggle to plane pine with this many knots
No one cringe at the overspray on the car? lol
I’ve learned my lesson haha
is there a certain method you used to drill your dowel holes straight? ive been doing some tests on scrap wood before i start my tabletop build and it comes out slightly crooked.
At the time, none were straight. My advice is to buy a dowel jig, they aren’t that expensive. Another option is to drill a hole in scrap straight and use that as your guide to start the holes. I also 3d printed one that did the same (but heat from the drilling ruins it pretty quick).
@@markbuilds I'll look into that. thanks.
Cars, meet over spray
Haha yeah I’ll be moving them away if I do that again
Did the vehicles get a nice coat or were the spray can gods on your side?
They were so dusty from the sanding that it was ok, but I don’t want to chance it again
build or talking?
Both!
How long are the legs?
It was around 30 inches to the top of the table!
@@markbuilds thanks
What color stain is that?
Early american!
If you wanted a desk this basic you could have spent 20$ at good will... your desk isn't custom, clever or unique. Not even a single shelf? I am very very confused. You can get a free desk topper for free off craigslist/facebook.
Was the point of this to waste time and money and then stick "cheap" on it as a label? I'm not criticizing just genuinely confused at this much wasted effort/time.
Thanks for the fredback
I think he learned a few things here and allowed himself to build something for his home. That alone is worth the sweat and time. I'm sure his wife appreciate his handy work and many viewers may be inspired to make something with minimal tools.
And we’re still using it!
What is the measurement?
For what part?
Wtf with the router
What?
Do you have a better idea?
No i mean i liked the video pretty cute but i didnt understand what u have done with it
Oh! It was used to flatten the slab. It was pretty uneven after glue up
constructive advice , way too much face time videoing not enough working
Thanks!
Bla bla bla bla.....
So... we have.... what's the big deal? Weird.
You mean my use of filler words? Sorry. I get annoyed by it while I edit too! Trying to break the habits.