Design Model Furniture

[DeadlyTedly]

My wife said I took up too much space on her desk when I was working on my paper models, and I needed to get my own workspace. After looking in furniture stores and online, I couldn't find exactly what I needed in a desk/workbench, but I found one design that had possibilities, but was way too expensive. I decided that I could adapt the design of a tab & slot desk system and build it myself. I started design work in CorelDraw, and decided to check my design with a beta test model, in 1/6th scale. These pictures are the results of my first build.

[DeadlyTedly]

In building this scale test model of my new workbench, I built up seven layers of cardstock and cardboard, for a total thickness of just under 1/8". This simulated 3/4" plywood, which will be used for the real thing. I laminated the plys with Bron double adhesive roll, which is pretty easy to work with. Here are some pics of the trial layout, on 8" square cardboard, which is scale for the 4' x 4' oak furniture grade plywood that I will be using.

[DeadlyTedly]

This initial test build revealed some measurement mistakes, so I fixed those and decided to build version 2.0, and while I was at it, opted to add some improvements. These photos show an extension, a hutch, and a second rolling file box. There are other optional items I can add later, but I think I'm ready to start building the full-sized workdesk.

[rickstef]

Hutch looks good, you could mount a small LED tv under the shelf, and you watch tv or run your desktop computer from it, and the extension looks like a good printer stand with paper storage under the top

[Yale]

Rickstef's correct, that this could be a computer desk for any adult or a study desk for any student -- as well as dandy for many kinds of hobbies. So hang on to your plans, because you may well get requests to build several of them for other people. And if you have young grandchildren, they'd love scaled-down versions, finished in bold colors. (I think I hear Santa chuckling already.)

[DeadlyTedly]

Now there is a good idea, scaled down versions for the little people. I will keep the plans, definitely, but alas, I cannot share them, because the basic idea of the tab & slot desk was patented.