NotchLoading plan…
Loading plan…
Use your browser's Print (Ctrl/Cmd + P) and choose Save as PDF. This page works offline once you've opened it with a signal.
A campaign-style desk on crossed X legs, built from laminated 1x3 layers so each leg reads as one solid angled piece with no visible joints.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long leg pieces Both ends cut at 35° off square, parallel to each other. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 35 3/4" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Shorter full leg pieces Both ends cut at 35° off square, parallel to each other. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 31 3/8" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Leg bottom fillers One end at 20° off square, other end at 35°, measured to the longest points. | 4 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 17 1/2" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Leg top fillers One end at 20°, other at 35°, longest-point measurement. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 14" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Notch supports One end at 20°, other at 35°. Dry-fit against your assembled legs to confirm orientation before final cuts. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 18 1/4" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Side aprons Both ends cut at 35°. | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 24" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Back and front apron Front apron is optional — skip it if building the drawer version. | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 45" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Bottom stretcher | 1 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 45" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Desktop | 1 | 3/4" × 24" × 48" | 3/4" plywood or project panel | ☐ |
| Drawer sides Two layers stacked per side for extra drawer depth. | 4 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 15 1/4" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Drawer front/back | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 12" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Drawer face | 1 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 44" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Drawer bottom | 1 | 1/4" × 16" × 44" | 1/4" plywood or hardboard | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1x3 board, 8 ft (sharp, square edges) (Pine) Shop for boards with genuinely sharp, square edges — the laminated legs depend on tight glue lines. | 6 each | ☐ |
| 1x4 board, 12 ft (Pine) | 1 each | ☐ |
| 3/4" plywood or project panel, 24" x 48" The desktop. | 1 each | ☐ |
| 1/4" plywood or hardboard, quarter sheet | 1 each | ☐ |
| Euro-style drawer slides, 16" | 1 pair | ☐ |
| Finish nails, 1-1/4" and 2" | 100 each | ☐ |
| Pocket-hole screws, 1-1/4" | 16 each | ☐ |
| Wood glue | 6 oz | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Speed Square
Lay out all the leg pieces for both leg sets before gluing anything — a dry run catches a mismatched angle now, while it's cheap to fix.
Tools: Brad Nailer. Materials: 1x3 board, 8 ft (sharp, square edges), Wood glue
Start with the two longest leg pieces. You're building two mirror-image leg sets, so keep track of which is which. Attach the 17-1/2" leg fillers to the bottoms of the long pieces with 1-1/4" finish nails and wood glue, taking great care to line the edges up flush — that's what creates the illusion of a single solid leg and saves sanding later.
Tools: Brad Nailer. Materials: 1x3 board, 8 ft (sharp, square edges), Wood glue
Do the same lamination for the shorter full leg pieces. The middle angles are all 20° off square; the top and bottom angles are 35°.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Tape Measure. Materials: Wood glue
Position one short leg and one long leg crossing in the middle to form an X. Check the bottom spread measures exactly 23-1/8" before gluing and nailing down. Build the second leg set as a mirror image.
Tools: Brad Nailer. Materials: 1x3 board, 8 ft (sharp, square edges)
Fit the long top leg piece with its matching short filler piece and nail down.
Tools: Brad Nailer. Materials: 1x3 board, 8 ft (sharp, square edges), Wood glue
Position the notch supports into the notch formed where the crossed legs meet, and glue and nail down.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x4 board, 12 ft
The side aprons sit to the inside of the leg assemblies. Attach the back apron as positioned in your reference. For a drawerless desk, add the front apron the same way now.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x3 board, 8 ft (sharp, square edges)
The bottom stretcher is a 1x3, attached the same way as the back apron.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Drill / Driver, Pocket Hole Jig. Materials: 3/4" plywood or project panel, 24" x 48", Pocket-hole screws, 1-1/4", Wood glue
If you have a pocket-hole jig, drill 3/4" pocket holes in the aprons before step 7 and attach the desktop through them with 1-1/4" pocket hole screws. Otherwise, nail and glue the desktop down with 2" finish nails.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x3 board, 8 ft (sharp, square edges), 1/4" plywood or hardboard, quarter sheet, Euro-style drawer slides, 16", Wood glue
Build the drawer box from the sides, front, and back, and attach the plywood or hardboard bottom with 1-1/4" finish nails and wood glue. Check the drawer is square and overall 1" narrower than the desk's drawer opening.
Attach the drawer slide members to the bottom side corners of the drawer box, and the matching cabinet members to the inside of the desk, following your drawer slide manufacturer's instructions. When closed, the drawer should sit slightly inset on the desk front — that's the intended look, not a fit problem to chase.