Do it yourself step-by-step production of a simple desk from chipboard

1. Classic rectangular. It is a countertop with legs or supports. Often equipped with drawers for storage of office supplies.
2. Combined with windowsill. The advantage of this model is maximum lighting over the countertop. The window opening is equipped with additional drawers or shelves. Also, a similar table saves space in the room.
3. Folding, folding. Such options are used in small rooms. The first modification can be displayed in the form of a book. As for the folding models, they are most often represented by a work surface that is attached to a wall or cabinet and can occupy both horizontal and vertical positions. Here, the main load falls on the fasteners.
4. Angular. Such a desk for a student or an adult allows you to rationally use the space, characterized by a large working area.
5. Desk bureau. This product combines a chest of drawers and a countertop. Under the working surface there is a large number of drawers and shelves. The countertop can hide in one of the cabinets, freeing up space.

In the manufacture of any modification of the table for the student with his own hands, you can get several significant advantages: cost savings, the ability to use materials of your own taste, to develop a unique and functional design taking into account the parameters of the room, its interior.

Materials and Tools

In order to make a desk with your own hands, first you need to decide on the material, having previously studied its properties. The most common options for raw materials are presented in the table.

A type	Characteristic
Chipboard	This is wood shavings bonded with an adhesive. The material is easy to handle, lightweight. However, with frequent ingress of water, it swells and deforms. Poor material emits formaldehydes. For processing the product, a saw with small teeth or a jigsaw is used. To eliminate chips used sandpaper. The product should not be loaded, it is not recommended to make folding tables-transformers from such raw materials. Self-tapping screws and glue are used for fastening.
MDF	More expensive material, characterized by environmental cleanliness, a high degree of uniformity, resistance to moisture. The product is a wood chip pressed under high pressure. Due to its high density, it holds furniture fasteners and accessories well. Plates can be processed by grinding, sawing, milling machines. From this material you can make any designs
Plywood	This is a durable raw material with a small mass, reasonable cost. Plywood desks can be restored. But really high-quality material is hard to find. Do not use it if the load on the table is significant. Not recommended for beginners. Higher strength tools are required to process plywood.
Natural wood	This material is strong, natural, durable, can withstand any fasteners, is easily restored. But the tree has a lot of weight, high cost. The product is difficult to process, it must be carefully polished, coated with antiseptics and varnish. Nevertheless, any modification of the table can be made of wood.
Pallets	Classic rectangular models are made from them. Pallets withstand heavy loads, they are inexpensive, environmentally friendly, practical. Grinding machines, grinder, drill, jigsaw are used for processing

It is better for a novice master to choose chipboard or MDF, since these materials are the easiest to process. For fixing parts, nails, screws, glue, staples are used.

Countertop Selection

Before making a desk with your own hands, you also need to decide on the configuration of the countertop. Products are:

1. Rectangular. This option has a good capacity and fits into any interior. But for small rooms it is not suitable, as it takes up a lot of space.
2. Radius Such countertops are often installed in apartments where several children live. Their use is possible only in the presence of a large area.
3. Corner They allow you to use the entire space of the room. The outlines can be symmetrical or in the shape of the letter G.

As for the material of manufacture, there is also a choice.

Product type	Characteristic
Laminated chipboard	Resistant to moisture, has a high degree of resistance to wear, is well sawn. It can be cleaned with various household products. But despite its resistance to moisture, do not expose the chipboard to its frequent effects, as the material may swell
MDF	It can be used in children's rooms, as it is environmentally friendly, has a wide range of colors, easy to process and durable. But if the surface is glossy, scratches will be clearly visible on it.
Tree	The most durable and durable material that combines with any design style is environmentally friendly. But the tabletop made of wood is expensive, has a sufficiently large weight and after some time of use requires restoration

You can also make a design with a glass countertop. This material is resistant to wear, makes the furniture original and light.However, traces constantly remain on the glass, so it has to be washed and polished often.

How to determine the optimal dimensions

Assembling a desk must be done after its optimal sizes are determined. For an adult, whose height is above 175 cm, they are: height - 75 cm, width - 50 cm, length - 70 cm. As for children, the parameters are different.

Height, cm	Width cm	Height cm	Length cm
85	60	34	120
100	60	40	120
115	60	46	120
130	60	52	120
145	60	58	120
160	60	64	120
175	60	70	120

If the table is needed as a workstation for the computer, another 40 cm is added to the standard tabletop width. For schoolchildren, the parameters are somewhat different. Here the minimum width is 1 m, the depth is from 60 cm. For a child to be able to put his hands normally, a space of 500 × 500 mm is required. The preferred option is a product with adjustable height and tilt angle of the countertop.

For adults, a design with a length of 110-140 cm and a width of 50 to 80 cm is suitable for working with documents.

Drawing preparation

Making a table of wood with your own hands begins with drawing a sketch, according to which drawings are created. In addition, instructions and flow charts will be required. It is important to consider the following parameters:

• layout and size of the room, the presence of other furniture;
• purpose and dimensions of the table;
• type of material used for work;
• product functionality;
• the presence of additional designs.

If a beginner does the work, he’d better start with a simple desk, and you should make sure that the step-by-step instructions are quite detailed. This will minimize time loss and prevent the risk of making mistakes.

If there are 2 children in the family, and there is not enough room at home, you can organize the workspace with the help of a double structure, which is equipped with additional drawers, cabinets. Sometimes the countertop is installed in a niche between the walls, which saves usable area. You can also give preference to multifunctional products in which the upper part is mounted on a shelf. Rectangular tables may be placed in any area of ​​the room.

To make a drawing, a sketch, a sheet of paper, a pencil and a ruler are required. All parts of desks are depicted with dimensions. The diagram shows the general facets of the furniture and draws all its details. If you can’t come up with a design on your own, you can find ready-made drawings of the desk, and then adapt them according to your size.

According to the obtained scheme, a nesting chart is made, a drawing is detailed. It has the form of a table in which all structural elements (even small ones) are indicated, their number, as well as the exact dimensions in millimeters. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the room and the thickness of the material.

Step-by-step manufacturing algorithm

It is better for a beginner to start work with a simpler material - chipboard. It can be cut immediately at the place of purchase according to the specified dimensions in order to prevent damage to the plate. Now you need to collect the necessary tool:

• hammer;
• a screwdriver, as well as a drill with drills;
• fasteners (self-tapping screws or special furniture bolts);
• wood glue;
• measuring tools, pencil, construction level.

If a solid wood is provided for a desk, an additional grinding machine and a milling machine are required. Clamps are needed to secure parts before fixing.

To create a design you need such details:

Element	number	Size cm
Side racks	2	73,5 × 38
Back wall	1	109 × 29
Countertop	1	120 × 58
Interior shelves	2	45 × 25

The assembly of the product is carried out in stages. You can use the ready-made instructions:

1. Holes are made under the lower shelf in the central and lateral elements. Marks are best drawn at a height of 5-7 cm from the floor.You can fix the shelf using self-tapping screws.
2. In the same way, the upper shelf is installed at the selected height.
3. Next, the back wall is fixed. It is located at the same height as the end of the side and central parts.
4. Now a second side post is screwed to the rear wall.
5. Lastly, a countertop is installed. To do this, holes are made in the side elements and dowels are mounted. The same should be done with the very top. Here the holes should be deep, but not through. Now the dowels must be greased with glue, inserted into the ends of the frame, and then put on the countertop.

Further finishes depend on the material used. Laminated chipboard or MDF does not need to be painted additionally, and the tree will have to be sanded, primed and an antiseptic, and then painted or varnished.

It is not difficult to make a desk with your own hand, if you correctly draw a drawing and think through every step of the work. It is also important to choose high-quality material, in which case a self-designed product will last a long time.

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