The key components

1

This desk will take a lot of interaction so choose a good thickness of ply, a minimum of 18mm but ideally 20mm. Pay the extra for furniture grade, as it will be more attractive and have minimal cavities. As you see here, the layers are solid and even.

2

Nicely welded, strong and stable legs are well worth it, for the time and materials used. Ensure they’re wide enough to support the top without flex. We went for 100mm wide with two rows of screw holes for added rigidity.

3

Rack ears are a must but also simple, cheap and easy to work with. The key here is to choose the correct amount of space. For me, two sets of 3U is just right for the gear we want to house in front of us while we work. The rest can live in a cabinet.

4

If building a drawer for a keyboard or MIDI controller you’ll need slides. Check max load and slide travel specs, to ensure your gear (and your weight) won’t damage the mechanism and that it slides far enough for you to access the controls.

5

You can use different options here too, including glue, screws and bolts. If, like me, you opt for screws, buy the correct type/size for your materials and, while you’re buying them, check you have the correct drill bit for the pilot holes.

6

Finishing is a personal choice but you’ll need various grades of sandpaper, a stain if you want one, then something to protect the surface. We’ll be using wax, over a walnut stain, which, over the birch ply, will fit nicely in our studio.