This desk is easy and inexpensive to build. It was especially designed for use with a wheel chair or power scooter. The design includes two small book shelves below the desk top and a larger shelf unit on top.
This desk is light weight and easy to move as it come apart into five pieces. It can be built in one weekend and finished in an evening or two. It is easy to modify for new equipment. It can be painted in bright, attractive colors.
It is build from 0.5 inch Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF). All the materials can be bought at most home improvement stores and cost about $120.00. The tools and construction skills needed are those commonly used for household projects.
A second Simple Corner Desk in 0.75" MDF is also available. This version is a bit bigger and heaver, it has no upper bookcase, and has two keyboard trays.
The main weakness of this design is that the MDF is not very strong material and this desk will probably only last about 5 years in normal service. This is also about how long our computer equipment takes to become obsolete.
This design includes nine detailed sketches that are critical to your successfully building this desk. The plans are free and can be obtained with this Freebie ordering form.
You can make this desk by:
After you order the sketches, these notes will help you understand them.
The desk is shown looking at the longer wing face on. The desk top sits on a support structure featuring two small shelving units. A larger shelving unit sits on top of the desk. The keyboard and monitor sit at the corner of the desk top.
This sketch shows the top view of all the components. The space required along the wall is about 69 by 57 inches. The two wing areas are only 20 inches deep. The corners of the wings are cut off at 45 degrees to aid in letting a wheel chair pass.
The sketch shows the two top assemblies up side down. Each is a piece of 0.5" MDF with strips of MDF 1.5" wide glued all around the edges. The edge where the two pieces join has matching wood strips that bolt together. The MDF blocks and cable holes shown will be located when the base is complete and sitting upside down on the desk tops.
This sketch shows the Long Bottom Assembly that is one of three assemblies that support the desk top. It is made entirely from 0.5" MDF. The large sections has 1.5" strips glued to them for strength. If you know where the electrical outlet will be on the wall, you can cut a large hole for the AC plugs.
This sketch shows the two large pieces of MDF and the diagonal piece used to make the base. The Short Bottom Assembly is the mirror image of the long one shown in the previous sketch.
This sketch shows the very small number of wooden pieces used in this desk. The Bolt Block Assembly ties the two desk top pieces together. It is made from six pieces of 0.75"x1.5" stock that are glued and screwed together.
The Diagonal Bold Blocks tie the diagonal section of the bottom to the two other bottom assemblies. They are cut from pieces of 2"x4".
The Screw Blocks are pieces of 0.75"x0.75" stock cut from scrap. They are used to tie the top to the base assemblies and can only be screwed to places where the MDF is double thickness.
This sketch shows you how to cut the first sheet of 0.5" MDF to make the two desk tops and parts of the base. Note the First Cut which can be done at the wood store.
This sketch shows how to cut the second piece of 0.5" MDF to make parts of the base. Note the First Cut again. A few of the 1.5" strips need to be long and should be cut from this piece.
This sketch shows the layout of the pieces for the upper book shelf on a 48"x48" piece of 0.75" MDF. It also shows the assembly of the shelf.
Simple Corner Desk is shown made with 0.5" MDF, a few pieces of wood, and a few bolts.
------- Wood Subtotal: $40.00
------- Hardware Subtotal: $24.00
----- Finish Subtotal: $45.00
This is only an estimate (made in the winter of 2006). The price may vary in your area. Getting a good price on the MDF is critical to keeping the price down. You can also save if you make all the wood pieces from scrap wood.
This desk was designed so that it could be built by an amateur woodworker using tools commonly used for home fix up. However, the job will be easier if you can get access to a table or radial arm saw to cut the large number of 1.5" edge strips. A Drill Mate bit for a 1-1/4 #8 flat head screw is most helpful.
These notes are is not intended to be a detailed step-by-step construction guide, but rather a number of points to consider. It is your desk and you can build it to suit your needs and likes.
Look over the desk drawing and decide what you are going to do before you buy the materials:
Go over all the computer and audio equipment you wish to support with this desk and determine the size for each piece. You may wish to adjust the length of the wing areas to suit your equipment and wall space.
Air Typing is an exercise given on our Web Site to help you determine the height you need for the keyboard, the monitor, and the angle for the monitor. If you wish a higher monitor, you may need to make a simple wooden bridge to support it.
The upper bookshelf can be made as wide and as long as you like. The size you need depends on how much other equipment you have on the desk top and what size books you expect to shelve:
Decide what size cable holes you need for your equipment and if you wish to buy grommets. A hole saw for your drill is the best tool for this job. Place the bottom assemblies on the upside down desk on the tops to locate the cable holes. If you know the location of the wall AC outlet you will be using you can cut a larger access hole for the plugs.
This desk can be quite colorful. The bottom assemblies are usually painted a dark color, often black but you may choose dark blue, dark green, or brick red. The desk tops can be a bright, fun color like Chinese red. The top bookshelf can match either the base or the top. This is an inexpensive desk so have fun with the color scheme.
Sketch #7 shows the layout of the desk tops on the 4 by 8 sheet of MDF. You could start with the First Cut at the wood store to make it easier to get the pieces home. The remaining cuts can be made with a table saw, radial arm saw, or a skill saw with a clamped straight edge. You will need a small hand saw to finish off the inside cuts.
Sketch #8 shows the layout of the bottom pieces on the 4 by 8 sheet of MDF. Again you could start with the First Cut at the wood store to make it easier to get the pieces home. Cut the remaining large pieces and label them in pencil.
The 0.5" MDF is not very strong. To address this problem nearly all the edges have to be doubled up with 1.5" strips of the MDF. When you are sure that you have cut out all the large pieces. Cut most of the remaining MDF into 1.5" strips with a table saw, radial arm saw, or skill saw and clamped straight edge.
Fit, glue, and clamp the strips to the underside of both desk top pieces as shown in Sketch #3. Be sure to use tan wood glue which does not need the clamps to be in place for very long. This process will take a lot of clamps as there is no good way to nail or screw 05" MDF. The large, flat glued surfaces will be very strong once the glue has set.
One 20 inch side of each desk top piece needs the 1/2 the Bolt Block shown in Sketch #6. This assembly is made from 1.5" wood, not MDF. The two parts are assembled with screws and glue. Drill three holes for the bolts and for the two for pieces of dowel before assembly.
Do not install the MDF pads for the screw blocks that hold the top down or cut the cable holes at this time.
Sketch #4 shows the bottom assembly. Glue 1.5" strips to the sides of the shelves and the back piece. Be sure the form pairs. Note that the short side overlaps the end of the back sheet but the long section only butts against it. Also the Short Bottom Assembly is the mirror image of the long one.
Assemble the shelf sides and shelf on the back piece. Install eight screw blocks inside the lower shelves.
Sketch #5 shows the Diagonal Bottom assembly. Glue 1.5" strips to the top and bottom. Cut the 2"x4" bolt blocks, drill for the bolts, and glue them to the sides of this assembly. Wait on gluing the second bolt block on until you are assembling the base so that you can make final adjustments to the width of the diagonal.
Place the two desk top pieces upside down. Bolt the two pieces together.
Place each of the bottom pieces on them and bolt these pieces together. They should fit against the 1.5" strips at the back.
Decide on locations for nine 5" pieces of 1.5" stock to accept the screw blocks that hold on the top. Glue them in place with a small space between this block and the bottom assembly. The thickness of the cardboard back of a writing tablet is about right. You may only be able to hold them in place with weights until the glue sets.
Fit the Diagonal Assembly and adjust its width if needed. Drill the bolt holes. Glue on the second bolt block.
Decide on locations for cable holes. Avoid places where the legs of equipment or the top shelf may fall. If you know the location of the AC wall outlet that will be used with this desk you can cut a large access hole for it. Make lots of cable holes in the bottom assemblies.
Locate the nine screw blocks that hold down the desk top. Drill pilot holes, screw, and glue them to the bottom assemble pieces but do not glue them to the desk top. Everywhere a screw goes must be a double thickness of MDF.
When all the glue is set. Remove the bolts and screws and take the desk back apart.
Decide the width and length you want for the top book shelf. Cut the 0.75" MDF for the Top Shelf Assembly as shown in Sketch #9. Dado the top and the two end pieces with 0.25"x0.75" slots using a table saw, radial arm saw, or router and clamped straight edge. Assemble the the ends, shelves, and top with glue. You can use #4 finishing nails in the 0.75" MDF if you redrill a hole using a nail with the head cut off for a drill bit.
Cut the stiffeners to fit inside the upper section and under the bottom shelf. MDF tends to sang under weight so these are important.
Sand all exposed MDF edges well. Rasp off the desk top corners so that they do not hurt you if you run into them. Round off the desk top edges with sand paper until they feel comfortable on your hands. Sand the edges of all cable holes to be round enough not to damage the cables.
I see this desk done in bright, fun colors.
You may finish your desk any way you like. I recommend: thinned shellack on everything, a dull color of paint for the bottom, bright paint for the top, and two coats of satin finish polyurethane on everything.
Seal the MDF with a thinned coat of shellack. Paint all surfaces including the bottom of the desk tops with the shellack. Go back and put a second coat on all cut edges of the MDF.
Lightly sand the shellack with fine sand paper.
I like oil based enamel in one bright color and one duller color. You think about brick red for the base and top book shelf, and Chinese Red for the desk tops. You do not need to paint the underside of the desk tops.
Sand lightly. Apply two coats of satin finish polyurethane to all surfaces except the bottom of the desk tops. The MDF is not very strong and needs all the help it can get from the finish. Sand lightly between coats.
All that is left is to reassemble the desk, and install the computer.
Install felt feet under the bookshelf and metal feet on the legs. Move the desk into its final location and bolt together the five parts. Screw the top to the base but do not use glue.
Detailed cabling instructions and plans for a remote power switch are given in our Web page under Freebies. Make up several cable tie mounts and be ready with mounting screws and tie wraps. Screw only to places with double thickness MDF.
Determine which bottom side will be closest to the wall outlet. Screw a outlet strip with surge suppressor to to the back wall.
Dress the cables neatly and tie then in place using tie wraps. Do not pull the tie wraps too tightly, the cable should be able to slide back-and-forth a little. Trim off all the tie wrap ends. Black tie wraps look best and last longest.
Thanks again for using a Woodware Designs computer furniture plans. We very much want to know how you are getting along with your project and would be happy to answer any questions by email.
If you send us a picture of your finished desk, we would be happy to put it on our web page. We need pictures of desk with real people standing beside them.
Don't forget to order the sketches.