Need help refining plans and putting together a cut list
Relatively recently moved, got rid of my old collection of desks that I'd cobbled together to make a corner set up in my old apartment, and I'm well past done with my current borrowed corner desk. I'm trying to build a proper, long-term replacement. I'm not new to woodworking in general, but I am new to furniture building in particular. I'm not a complete idiot (my appendix was removed March last year). Even after being in remission for 2ish years, I'm still struggling with cancer related cognitive impairment.
I've got a few goals with this build:
- Keep it under $700 USD (I've only got my tax return to work with for funding);
- Keep it relatively modular (I'm building it in a detached garage, and will need to move it again in a few months);
- Needs to "not look like shop furniture" - direct quote;
- Minimal (if any) holes in the wall; and
- Fit in available corner (92 1/2" from the corner to the door trim, 99 1/2" from the corner to the corner to the closet door trim).
I keep hearing about a decent lumber yard near by, so in the hopes of it actually existing and being decent I was thinking baltic birch ply for the top surface and hard maple or poplar for the rest - assuming pricing doesn't change that.
I figured I'd drop the ply tops into rabbits in the frame so I don't have to do edge banding, and I'd build it in 3 main pieces, all with the top surface 27" off the floor:
- 30" x 30" corner piece. Put a shelf maybe 4" off the ground for the PC tower and Battery/UPS unit. Awkward multifunction laser printer would go on top.
Since it probably won't fit in budget I'd like to leave mounting points to eventually add a raised box to hold a mic and soundproofing for voiceover work. (Interior would not be quite so "square", but that's a later project)
After multiple failed attempts at sketching, I tried to get an LLM to make a stab at it. This is close - the top isn't what I had in mind and it's confusing a few other things from brainstorming.
- 30" x 62" desk that will sit along the wall with the door. I need to leave space for my full monitor tree (~58" wide, ~30" high with monitors installed). I loath the under-desk keyboard trays on sliders - keyboard is going on top.
I'd eventually like to add some shelves that would mount on top, but I'm not sure how much space will be taken up by my Stream Deck, XLR interface, and other equipment. I also want to make use of the under desk space for storage. I've got three file totes that I'd like to put in proper file drawers, as well as cables, spare keyboards, etc. that are all living in plastic totes stacked semi-usefully in the corner.
Like before, after several failed attempts at sketching, I got the LLM to take a stab at it. It was a lot less close... I'll need more than 28.5" for my fat ass, and I don't know where it came up with the labels. I do want to keep the storage more to the right though, and I was thinking of using something I could write the contents in dry erase for the drawer faces. I'll probably just get the paint and make a raised label.
- 30" x 69" instrument repair work bench that will sit along the wall with the closet. The last 6 years or so I've been repairing and refurbishing stringed instruments. I moved to take care of my mother after my step-father's passing, and I'd like to make some space to take up some freelance repair work. I want to make space for tool/part storage, and leave some mounting points to later build a frame and hang some pegboard. (instead of hanging the pegboard on the wall - see earlier goal of minimal holes in the wall)
I'd also like to fill a fair amount of space over the bench with cabinets and/or other storage, but that's for a later date.
Blah blah LLM caveats etc. etc. Again I don't know where it got some of these measurements and labels, though I'm ok with floor to under the bench shallow drawers existing on either side. (so long as I have access to the corner shelf from the desk side)
Given the budget constraints, I was thinking of skipping the traditional drawer slides and just making them boxes secured to a sheet that has an extra 1/4" extending on each slide, and wax the wings so they glide in a slot in the drawer cabinets. I was thinking of 2" x 2" legs. I like simple designs with straight lines and square corners, and was going to make sure there was no overhang on the sides that abut another section, so I can secure them to each other for stability.
I know just enough to be dangerous, and not enough to know if I can get away with 1/2" ply for the tops or if I'll need to go 3/4". Or how much support is enough vs over-engineered. What's the most reasonable joinery to use so it'll hold, look decent, but when I move into the apartment over the garage after the current tenant's lease is up I can move it myself in pieces and re-assemble it.
I'm sure I'm forgetting something, and I'm open to suggestions. Probably ought to add something about padding for the repair bench side and/or dog holes. Definitely almost forgot I need somewhere to put a small vice.
Thank you in advance.