Ready for a New Desk? Give This One a Try…
This desk is a really simple build… The DIY furniture plans to build a Mena Hutch Desk feature two large drawers, with a small hutch attached to the top with two drawers in the hutch. There is also a notch cut into the back of the hutch to allow for power cords. As usual, this plan can be completed in a weekend.
Materials:
- 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws (<– affiliate link!)
- 1-1/4″ brad nails
- 1-3/4″ brad nails
- Edge banding
- 2 sets of 20″ drawer slides
- Cabinet pulls
- Wood glue
- Sandpaper (100, 150, 220 grits)
- Finishing supplies (primer & paint, or stain, sealer)
Lumber:
- 1 – 1×2 at 6′
- 1 – 1×4 at 8′
- 4 – 1×6 at 8′
- 1 – 1×8 at 8′
- 1 – 1×10 at 4′
- 2 – 2×2 at 6′
- 1 – 4′ x 4′ sheet of 1/4″ plywood
- 1 – 2′ x 4′ sheet of 3/4″ plywood
Cut List:
- 4 – 2×2 at 29-1/4″ – Legs
- 2 – 1×6 at 20-1/2″ – Desk Sides
- 1 – 1×6 at 38″ – Desk Back
- 2 – 1×2 at 38″ – Front Stretchers
- 1 – 1×6 at 22″ – Desk Divider
- 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 24″ x 42″ – Desk Top
- 2 – 1×8 at 8″ – Hutch Sides
- 1 – 1×8 at 39-1/2″ – Hutch Shelf
- 2 – 1×8 at 3-5/8″ – Hutch Dividers
- 1 – 1×10 (ripped to 7-3/4″ wide) at 42″ – Hutch Top
- 1 – 1/4″ plywood at 8-3/4″ x 40-1/4″ – Hutch Back
- 4 – 1×6 (ripped to 4″ wide) at 16-1/8″ – Desk Drawer Box Front & Back
- 4 – 1×6 (ripped to 4″ wide) at 20″ – Desk Drawer Box Sides
- 2 – 1/4″ plywood at 16-5/8″ x 19″ – Desk Drawer Bottom
- 2 – 1×6 (ripped to 3-3/4″ wide) at 18-3/8″ – Desk Drawer Fronts
- 4 – 1×4 at 5″ – Hutch Drawer Sides
- 2 – 3/4″ plywood at 5″ x 8-3/8″ – Hutch Drawer Bottom
- 4 – 1×4 at 9-7/8″ – Hutch Drawer Front & Back
Click on the drawings for a larger view!
Step One
Cut the pieces for the legs. Cut the taper in the bottom of the legs using a jigsaw.
Step Two
Cut the pieces for the desk sides. With the pocket hole jig set for 3/4″ material, drill pocket holes in each end. Secure the sides to the legs (with the tapers facing to the same side as the pocket holes in the sides) using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. The back face of the sides will be flush with the inside faces of the legs.
Step Three
Cut the piece for the desk back and drill pocket holes in each end. Secure the back to the legs using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. The back face of the back will be flush with the inside faces of the legs.
Step Four
Cut the pieces for the front stretchers and drill pocket holes in each end. Secure the stretchers to the legs using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. Orient the pieces so that on one piece, the pocket holes face up and on the other piece the pocket holes face down.
Step Five
Cut the piece for the desk divider. Cut the notches using a jigsaw, and drill pocket holes in the opposite end. Secure the divider to the desk back using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. Add a few brad nails through the stretchers into the top and bottom of the divider.
Step Six
Cut the piece for the desk top. Apply edge banding to the exposed edges of the plywood prior to securing it to the frame. The sides and front overhang by 1/2″. Secure the top in place using glue and 1-3/4″ brad nails.
Step Seven
Cut the pieces for the hutch sides and drill pocket holes in one end of each piece. Secure the sides to the desk top – positioning the sides so they are 1/2″ in from the side edge of the desk top – using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.
Step Eight
Cut the pieces for the hutch shelf and dividers. Secure the dividers to the shelf using glue and 1-3/4″ brad nails.
Secure the shelf to the hutch sides using glue and 1-3/4″ brad nails through the sides into the shelf.
Step Nine
Cut the piece for the hutch top. The top will overhang the sides and front by 1/2″. Secure the top in place using glue and 1-3/4″ brad nails.
Step Ten
Cut the piece for the hutch back. Cut a notch in the back using a jigsaw. The notch can be any size or shape desired. Secure the back to the hutch using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails.
Step Eleven
Cut the pieces for the desk drawer box sides, front, and back. Cut the groove in the bottom edge of each piece at 1/4″ wide by 1/4″ deep using a table saw or a router and a straight bit. Set the pocket hole jig for 3/4″ material and drill pocket holes in each end of the drawer box front and back pieces on the opposite side as the groove. Make sure that the pocket holes will not interfere with the groove. Secure the sides to the back using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.
Step Twelve
Cut the piece for the drawer bottom. Slide the bottom into the grooves in the sides and back. The piece should fit snugly but not too tight.
Step Thirteen
Insert the front edge of the drawer box bottom into the groove on the drawer box front. Secure the drawer box front to the drawer box sides using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. Install the drawer slides according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions locating them ¾” back from the front edge of the sides and divider.
Step Fourteen
Cut the pieces for the drawer fronts. Mark the position for the drawer pulls and drill the holes. Shim the drawer front in the opening – there will be a 1/8” gap around all sides – then drive screws through the holes for the drawer pulls into the drawer box. Open the drawer, and secure the drawer front using countersunk 1-1/4” screws from the inside. Remove the screws from the holes for the drawer pull then finish drilling the holes. Install the drawer pull. Take a look at this easy tutorial on installing drawer fronts.
Step Fifteen
Cut the pieces for the hutch drawers. Secure the sides to the bottom using glue and 1-3/4″ brad nails. Secure the front and back to the sides and bottom using glue and 1-3/4″ brad nails. There will be a 1/8″ gap at the top and a 1/16″ gap at each side of the hutch drawers in the openings. Install the drawer pulls.
Finish as desired.
This desk is the perfect addition to any room and can help keep essentials organized in style! have any questions about the DIY furniture plans to build a Mena Hutch Desk? Leave a comment below!
Originally posted 2016-01-06 08:00:22.
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