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This desk shrinks the sawhorse leg concept down to 1x3 stock and desk height, and its one genuinely tricky step is notching the bottom shelf boards into the angled legs by hand. Use a precut beveled board as a physical guide to trace the notch shape rather than trying to calculate and mark it from measurements alone — then cut the angled side of the notch with a jigsaw set to the matching bevel, and the straight cross-grain cut with a jigsaw or hand saw, not worrying if it notches slightly into the bottom board since the support boards added later cover any overcut. Practice this notch on a scrap board first and test-fit it before cutting your actual legs — this is explicitly the step worth a dry run.
Attach the bottom supports to the legs first, marking the insides of each leg 1-3/4" up as the reference point for that joint. Once the notched bottom shelf is fitted and attached, mark each leg 16-3/4" from the bottom for the second shelf joint and attach it the same way.
The top attaches last, with the legs marked and inset 1/2" in from each side edge — a small positioning detail that keeps the desktop from overhanging its own leg base unevenly. The corner-notch pieces (1x12 and 1x6) explicitly assume standard board widths (11-1/4" and 5-1/2") — the plan flags this directly and recommends adjusting the notch-out dimensions if your actual boards measure differently.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x3, 8 ft | 4 each |
| 1x6, 4 ft | 1 each |
| 1x12, 4 ft | 1 each |
| Pine project panel, 24 in x 48 in | 1 each |
| Pocket hole screws, 1-1/4" | 60 each |
| Brad nails, 1-1/4" | 40 each |
| Wood glue | 4 oz |
| Primer and paint, or stain and poly | 1 set |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Legs1x3, 8 ftBoth ends beveled 10° off square, ends parallel, long point to short point. | 8 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 29" |
| Bottom supports1x3, 8 ftBoth ends beveled 10° off square, ends not parallel, long point to long point. | 4 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 9 3/8" |
| Bottom shelf ends1x3, 8 ft | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 24" |
| Bottom shelf, 1x121x12, 4 ftCorners notched to fit around legs; assumes 11-1/4" actual width. | 2 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 24" |
| Bottom shelf, 1x61x6, 4 ftCorners notched to fit around legs; assumes 5-1/2" actual width. | 2 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 24" |
| Second shelf supports1x3, 8 ftBoth ends beveled 10° off square, ends not parallel, long point to long point. | 4 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 4 1/2" |
| TopPine project panel, 24 in x 48 in | 1 | 3/4" × 24" × 48" |
Buy 7 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
1 board
1 board
4 boards
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Mark the insides of each leg 1-3/4" up from the bottom. Attach the bottom supports to the legs at this mark with pocket holes or screws and glue.
Use a precut beveled board as a guide to mark the notches on the bottom shelf boards. Cut the angled side with a jigsaw set to the matching bevel and the straight cross-grain cut with a jigsaw or hand saw. Practice on scrap first, then test-fit before cutting the actual pieces.
Once satisfied with the notch fit, attach the bottom shelf in place.
Mark 1/2" in from each side on the top boards and attach the legs.
Mark each leg 16-3/4" from the bottom along the inside edge and attach the second shelf support in place.
Attach the assembled base to the top.
Sand all surfaces and apply primer and paint, or stain and poly.
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