# Emily's Wood Desk

**URL:** <https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/emilys-wood-desk/35852>\
**Category:** Projects\
**Tags:** woodwork\
**Created:** [3 August 2024 08:48 UTC](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/emilys-wood-desk/35852 "2024-08-03T08:48:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Benpace](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/letter_avatar/benpace/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Benpace](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/u/Benpace)\
**Post date:** [3 August 2024 08:48 UTC](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/emilys-wood-desk/35852/1 "2024-08-03T08:48:11Z")

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Hey [@Wood-helpers](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/groups/wood-helpers)!

This may be a bit ambitious for a first project but why not try!

Taking inspiration from this desk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ\_X-XVit\_g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ_X-XVit_g) , [https://foureyes.podia.com/desquire](https://foureyes.podia.com/desquire) I’ve created the attached plans. [Emily’s Desk Plans.pdf](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/uploads/short-url/y75HfryVjEE3miqX9q0zXySzx3.pdf) (93.6 KB)

The legs need to be able to be removed for moving house etc. Ideally the finished product would have a Teak-esc, mid-century look, but without using Teak as it’s very expensive!

If someone could point me in the right direction of where and how to buy materials, that’d be great!

Any advice would be welcomed with open arms.

Ben 😃

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**Author:** ![mbg](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/letter_avatar/mbg/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@mbg](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/u/mbg)\
**Post date:** [3 August 2024 09:18 UTC](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/emilys-wood-desk/35852/2 "2024-08-03T09:18:30Z")

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What’s your plan for attaching the legs to the top? They look slotted in, which can work but it’s unclear whether you’ve accounted for wood movement.

As far as where to get wood, I usually go to S.L. hardwoods (tell them you’re from the makerspace). E Robert’s is also good.

Sapele is a good alternative

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**Author:** ![Benpace](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/letter_avatar/benpace/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Benpace](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/u/Benpace)\
**Post date:** [3 August 2024 09:28 UTC](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/emilys-wood-desk/35852/3 "2024-08-03T09:28:52Z")

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I forgot to mention a big complication with this project is that it need to be disassemblable. I need to be able to take the legs off it.

I was thinking of some pocket screws but open to suggestions on how to attach the legs in a way that keeps the slotted insert.

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![mbg](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/letter_avatar/mbg/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@mbg](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/u/mbg)\
**Post date:** [3 August 2024 09:34 UTC](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/emilys-wood-desk/35852/4 "2024-08-03T09:34:24Z")

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> **[How to Use Table Top Hardware — YouCanMakeThisToo](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ycmt2.com/blog/table-top-hardware%3fformat=amp)**
>
> This video covers table top hardware and most importantly, the right way to use table top hardware to attach a table top so you don't end up with split top! You’ll learn the right technique, and understand the why, so you can apply the principles to...

Do something like this to attach the top.

Something like this for the apron in the back: [https://www.bpfonline.co.uk/show\_product.asp?id=17059&catid=11228](https://www.bpfonline.co.uk/show_product.asp?id=17059&catid=11228)

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**Author:** ![Benpace](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/letter_avatar/benpace/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Benpace](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/u/Benpace)\
**Post date:** [3 August 2024 17:27 UTC](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/emilys-wood-desk/35852/5 "2024-08-03T17:27:25Z")

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This is great, thanks!

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**Author:** ![Benpace](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/letter_avatar/benpace/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Benpace](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/u/Benpace)\
**Post date:** [6 August 2024 19:46 UTC](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/emilys-wood-desk/35852/6 "2024-08-06T19:46:11Z")

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Hi [@Wood-helpers](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/groups/wood-helpers), I’m looking to use Z Clips to allow for the wood movement after looking at the sources @mbg kindly shared. Ideally i want to avoid having a thick edge under the table top, so am looking to only have the Z Clips attached to the top of the legs. My concern is this won’t be enough to stop the table top sliding, and/or the whole table wobbling.

My question is - If i use dry dowels (no glue) between in the end of the legs and the table top, would this make the Z Clips redundant, as the dowels would stop the movement that i’m trying to allow for?

I’ve attached the updated plans here [Closeup Leg joints.pdf](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/uploads/short-url/1E7X7hILBqzNIVf8h3KaX3IkF6E.pdf) (113.0 KB) [Desk Plans 0808.pdf](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/uploads/short-url/v7axINgXli53qrZ8WJH0N21LGi4.pdf) (95.9 KB)

Hope this makes sense!

thanks in advance for the help!

Ben

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**Author:** ![mbg](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/letter_avatar/mbg/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@mbg](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/u/mbg)\
**Post date:** [7 August 2024 03:02 UTC](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/emilys-wood-desk/35852/7 "2024-08-07T03:02:40Z")

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You could use dowels, but I’d recommend using something to actually hold the tabletop to the legs, I’m not sure loose dowels by themselves going into slots (you wouldn’t want tight fitting dowels in more than one spot along the leg) would be enough. Dowels plus z clips or blocks would probably work; you could also route a shallow channel (5mm or so) in the bottom of the tabletop that the legs slot into (prevents sliding but wouldn’t constrict wood movement) and fix with z clips. Also instead of screwing the z clips in you can use threaded inserts and a bolt so you can retighten/take apart many times.

If you look towards the end of this post you can see how I did my coffee table: [Coffee table](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/coffee-table/31175)

Or towards the end here how I’ve done our desks (they only clamp to the frame on the ends: [Beech desktop for standing desk frame](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/beech-desktop-for-standing-desk-frame/22841)

Neither of these have had any problem with sliding/racking

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Benpace](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/letter_avatar/benpace/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Benpace](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/u/Benpace)\
**Post date:** [9 August 2024 14:08 UTC](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/emilys-wood-desk/35852/8 "2024-08-09T14:08:50Z")

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Most up to date plans here:  
[Desk Plans 0908.pdf](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/uploads/short-url/nVE36dHpdJHHoTryWe61tcka0Fp.pdf) (138.9 KB)