Secretary desk build – part 1

This is part one of (probably) a three part series on a secretary desk build. In this video I build the lower cabinet carcass from reclaimed and leftover construction lumber. I began by resawing some spruce 2x10s, using a circular saw with a jig that turns it into a kerfing plane, and a hand saw. These were bookmatched and planed flat and cut to size, and then I could form mortises and tenons and dovetails to put it all together. The dovetails are purely structural in this piece and will be hidden by trim later, so I made them quite large and to no specific spacing or angle. After glue-up I attached a temporary metal cross to the case to give it lateral strength, and then I could cut and plane some thick face frame pieces. I used a compass trick to easily and accurately get the miter angle, and left the pieces long so I could cut them flush with the case after assembly. After that, I planed a piece of plywood to size and replaced the metal cross with a full back panel. In part 2 I’ll be making the doors, the folding desk, and the lower trim/feet – it’ll be out as soon as those are built!

I'm no professional and I don't have anything to teach, this is just me, sharing my thoughts and my work. Join me as I'm learning fine woodworking!

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