A kindergarten-to-college unit that is both simple and inexpensive to make, the desk ‘n’ shelves offers multiple use in a minimum of space.

Storage space and a work desk area are the two most pressing requirements for childhood activity. Here is a way to combine them both, in an inexpensive and space-saving unit that retains its utility from kindergarten to college.

As a suggestion, this project can be made from either clear or knotty solid pine or plywood, and then painted.

To begin, cut out desk top (A) from 3/4-inch thick plywood. Bore three equally spaced 1/2-inch holes 5/16 inch deep, 3/8 inch from the left end; then drill 3/16-inch holes in the center of the 1/2-inch holes, all the way through. Start the end holes 1 inch from the front and back of (A).

Cut out desk side (C) and side facing strip (D) from Ixl2-inch solid wood; (C) measures 91/4x281/4 inches, and (D) 21/2x281/4 inches. Fasten (D) to (C) with glue and 6d finishing nails or 11/4-inch No. 8 flathead screws. If nails are used, sink them Vs inch and putty the holes. If you use screws, bore holes as you did on top (A), so that wood plugs can be used to conceal screws.

Photos by Edward DeLong

Opposite page. Bill Baker's son Cary finds shelves just right for his toys; sister sneaked a doll in.

Desk top (A) is cut out for ledge {B). Note that Nail lacing strip (D) to desk side (C), using only four pieces in unit are made of plywood. glue and 6d finishing nails or flathead screws.

Base trim for desk and shelf units are miter cut; use standard 1/2zx3-inch baseboard (6-foot length).

On the bottom of the assembly (C-D), attach a standard 3/8- or 1/2x3-inch base­board, as shown in the drawings. Set the piece aside temporarily.

Make desk mounting cleat (E) of 3/4-inch thick solid wood. Drill three 1/4-inch holes through the left side (that is, the side that faces away from the shelves) and countersink for flathead screws. Start the end holes 11/4 inches from the end. Then bore three ½ inchholes 1 inch deep, with 1/4-inch holes drilled through their center all the way through, in the bottom edge of cleat (E). Locate these holes 1 inch, 31/4inches, and 61/2 inches from the back. Mount cleat (E) onto the bottom surface of desk top (A), flush with the right end and back edge, using glue and 2-inch No. 10 flathead screws.

Cut desk ledge (B) from 3/4-inch ply­wood, round both front corners, and on the front of it attach a 1/4x11/8xl5-inch long hardwood strip by means of glue and 3d finishing nails. Sink the nails and putty the holes, and sand when dry.

Fasten base trim to the bottom of desk side after checking for good joint; use glue and 3d nails.

Bore three holes in left side of desk top (A) for assembly to side (C). Wood plugs will cover screws.

I/4"X 3/8' RABBETS

DOWN BACK

Front of mounting cleat (E) Is rounded off on sander. Half-inch holes were bored in the bottom.

Mount a 3/4-inch piano hinge on the back edge of ledge (B). The complete ledge is now mounted to desk top (A), as shown in the drawings. Attach chains on the bot­tom of ledge (B), 4 inches from the front and 2 inches from each side. Holding (B) to the desired angle of inclination for easiest use, fasten the chains to the bottom of (A), 2 inches from the edges. Use 3/4-inch No. 6 roundhead screws and washers to mount the chains.

After completing the assembly (A-B), screw it to side assembly (C-D), hold­ing the top edge flush with the side and using glue and 11/4-inch No. 8 flathead screws. Plug all holes with 1/2-inch long-grain wood plugs (as described in the chapter on construction techniques), using glue and chiseling and sanding the plugs flush. Note that if you intend to cover the top with linoleum or a plastic laminate such as Micarta, now is the time to do it. Also, fasten an 8-inch angle iron in the upper left-hand corner of the assembly (A-C), flush with the back edges.

After cutting cabinet top (F) out of solid wood, draw lines 3/8 inch in from and parallel to the side edges. Bore four 1/2-inch diameter holes along both of these lines, 3/4inch from the front and back end and equally spaced between; drill 3/16-inch holes through the center of these holes, just as was done on top (A).

Screw cleat (E) to the bottom surface of top (A). flush with right end; use 2-inch No. 10 screws.

Attach 3/4x24-inch piano hinge to back of ledge (B), then screw this assembly to edge of top (A).

Cut two cabinet sides (G) from 1-inch solid wood, and rabbet the back edges for a 1/4-inch plywood back panel. Then, on the inside surfaces, draw a pair of lines 93/4 and 101/2 inches from the top; then a second pair 93/4 and 101/2 inches below these; then a third pair the same distance down; lastly, a fourth pair 101/4 and 3/4inches further down, as shown in the drawing. These lines indicate where the shelves will mount. On the outside surfaces of sides (G), draw guide lines to line up with the center of each pair of lines on the inside surface; these will guide you in drilling holes for screws or, if you wish, for nailing. (Note that if you use nails for the cabinet assem­bly, do not drill holes in the top piece.) For screws, bore four holes along each of these lines, starting 1 inch from the back edge and 3/4inch from the front edge, with the remaining holes equally spaced be­tween. Again, make these 1/2-inch holes 5/16 inch deep, with 3/16-inch holes drilled all the way through their centers. Cut four Ilx221/8-inch shelves (H) out of solid wood, and mount them to sides (G) with glue and l1/4-inch No. 8 flathead screws or 6d finishing nails. The back edge of all shelves (H) should be flush with the inside of the rabbets in the back edges of sides (G). Then attach cabinet top (F) onto the completed assembly, with its back edge flush with backs of both sides (G).

Desk top (A) is mounted lo side (C) with 11/4 inch No. 8 Hothead screws. Use glue before screwing.

Fasten an 8-inch angle iron in back left corner of desk assembly (ACL flush with the back edges.

Plug 1/2-inch holes with long-grain wood plugs and chisel and sand them flush when glue has dried.

After joining four shelves (H) to one side (G), mount on other side (G); use glue and screws or nails.

Two nailing strips, each 3/4-inch square and 221/8 inches long, should then be glued and nailed in place. One of them goes on the bottom surface of (F), flush with the rabbet on the sides, and the second one goes on the bottom of shelf (H), flush with the front.

From a panel of 1/4-inch plywood, cut a piece approximately 227/8x45 inches, and nail it into the rabbets in the back of side pieces (G). Use 1-inch head nails for this.

After all glue is dry, sand the entire outside of the cabinet. Check that all front edges are flush. Round off the side edges of top (F), as indicated in the cutaway drawing on page 51.

Cut rabbets in drawer front (I) for the 3/4-inch thick drawer sides. Make rabbet 3/8 inch deep.

Below. 1/4-inch groove is dadoed into drawer front lor bottom (L); space cut 1/2inch from bottom edge.

Inset photo above, drawer assembly is begun by joining drawer sides (J) into rabbets on front (I). Join desk and shell assemblies by fastening deal on (A) to side of cabinet, 29 inches up from floor.

To form the base trim, miter the base­board on the sides and front. Attach with glue and 3d finishing nails. Note loca­tion of the 3/4-inch square mounting cleat at the cabinet base which serves as a nailing strip for the base trim.

Begin the drawer assembly by first cutting out all parts (refer to page 51) and mounting sides (J) into the rabbets in front (I). Use glue and 6d finishing nails for this and the following assembly. Fasten the back (K) between sides (J), holding it flush in the back, as well as holding the bottom edge of (K) flush with the top of the dadoed groove in the drawer sides, so that the bottom can slide freely into place.

Now slide drawer bottom (L) into place. Nail it down to the bottom edge of back (K) with 3d head nails.

Fit the drawer into place in the cabinet. Refer to Toy Bin Desk for Two, £age 28.

Sand all parts of the cabinet both before and after assembly. The cabinet can be painted to match the room decor, and then join the two assemblies with 11/4-inch No. 12 flathead screws through the desk mount­ing cleat, as shown. Mount two knobs of your choice on the drawer front. •

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