Althoff Woodshop
Big Desk Plans - 8 ft European Beech Desk with Knockdown Joinery
Big Desk Plans - 8 ft European Beech Desk with Knockdown Joinery
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This is a big desk: 96" long and 27" deep, with a 2" European beech top set edge grain up. The top alone is about 135 lb. The guide covers the whole build in 15 steps over 35 pages, with a cut list, a finish schedule and large drawings at the back.
These plans are for someone who's built furniture before. I'm not going to teach you to joint a board.
Want the backstory first? Read the build story.
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What's in the download
You get one zip file to download after purchase. It contains:
- The build guide (PDF, 35 pages), with the cut list on p. 22, the finish schedule on p. 23 and large drawings from p. 25
- The Fusion 360 model of the desk (mostly parametric; see below)
- A VCarve .crv file for the cable slots
- 1:1 DXFs for the cable and mounting slots
- A Fusion 360 file for the 3D-printed slot covers, plus STL, 3MF and STEP filesÂ
The desk
- Top: 96 Ă— 27 Ă— 2", edge grain up, about 135 lb
- Height: 28-1/2". Adjust it through the legs if you need it taller or shorter.
- Wood: European beech, 8/4 skip-planed, for all parts
- Lumber: about 110 bd ft including waste, in boards at least 9′ long
Tools: jointer, planer (under 13" is fine), table saw with dado, bandsaw, router and router table, slotting bit, trim router with a round-over bit, loose-tenon joiner (optional), CNC (optional), flush-cut saw, drill, random orbit sander, HVLP sprayer, clamps.
Joinery: loose tenons and KV connectors
- 8Ă—40 loose tenons align the top.
- Four KV D8 knockdown connectors join the aprons.
- 3/8"-24 Ă— 2" stainless bolts thread into brass inserts.
- Tabletop fasteners attach the top.
No loose-tenon joiner? Steps 2, 3, 5, 11 and 12 show alternatives, and dowels work too. No CNC? You can cut the bolt slots in the base and the cable slots in the top with a plunge router and some patience.
The Fusion 360 model
The zip includes the Fusion 360 file of the desk design. It's mostly parametric. I'm not a Fusion expert, though, so tweaking it may give you unexpected results. Check the model before you cut.
Cable Management Slot Covers
The cable slots take a simple drop-in cover. Make one in the shop, print the included one, or print your own design. You get the Fusion 360 file plus STL, 3MF and STEP files for the cover.
License
Buying the plans lets you build the desk, and you can sell what you build: up to 10 desks per calendar year. Please don't share or resell the files themselves. If a friend wants to build one, point them here so they can get their own copy.
Read the build story
How the first one came together, from the lumber to the finish: Building the Big Desk.
FAQ
What's included?
One zip file: the 35-page PDF guide, the Fusion 360 desk model, the VCarve .crv file and 1:1 DXFs for the slots, and the Fusion, STL, 3MF and STEP files for the slot covers.
What joinery does it use, and does it come apart?
Loose tenons align the top, KV D8 knockdown connectors join the aprons, and the base bolts to the top with stainless bolts into brass inserts.Â
Which Fusion parameters can change?
I'm not a Fusion expert, some tweaks may give unexpected results.
Can I sell desks under the license?
Yes. You can build and sell up to 10 desks a year. You can't share or resell the files.
Do I need a 3D printer?
No. The cable slots are designed to take a simple drop-in cover. You can make one in your shop, 3D print the one I included, or print one of your own design. The Fusion 360 file for the cover is included, so you can tweak my design without starting from scratch.
More plans in Digital Files & Plans. Other questions: FAQ.