Plans

Free DIY Furniture Plans to Build an Abigail Desk

07.22.13 By //
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Free DIY Furniture Plans to Build an Abigail Desk, complete with fold down extension!! Yahoo, right? Xx… Rayan

Estimated Cost

$50-$75

Dimensions
Dimensions for This Project
Tools
  • Tape Measure
  • Saw – Jig, Circular, or Miter
  • Drill
  • Square
  • Sander
  • Kreg Jig
  • Brad Nailer
Lumber
  • 3 – 1×2 at 6’
  • 2 – 2×2 at 6’
  • 1 – 2’ x 4’ sheet of ¼” plywood
  • 1 – 2’ x 2’ sheet of ½” plywood
  • 1 – full sheet of ¾” plywood
Materials
  • 1” pocket hole screws
  • 1-1/4” pocket hole screws
  • 1-1/4” brad nails
  • Edge Banding
  • 6 small cabinet pulls
  • 1 larger cabinet pull
  • 1 set of 14” drawer slides
  • 1 set of hinges
  • Wood filler
  • Sandpaper
  • Wood glue
  • Finishing Supplies
Cut List
  • 4 – 2×2 at 29-1/4” – legs
  • 4 – 1×2 at 14-1/2” – Side Frames
  • 2 – ¾”plywood at 5-1/2” x 14-1/2” – Side Panels
  • 4 – 1×2 at 25” – Back Frame & Front Stretchers
  • 1 – ¾” plywood at 5-1/2” x 25” – Back Panel
  • 2 – 1×2 at 5-1/2” – Drawer Spacers
  • 2 – 1×2 at 14-1/2” – Drawer Spacers
  • 1 – ¾” plywood at 18” x 29” – Desk Top
  • 4 – ¾” plywood at 7-1/4” x 7-3/4” – Hutch Dividers
  • 3 – ¾” plywood at 7-3/4” x 8” – Hutch Shelves
  • 3 – ½” plywood at 7-3/4” x 8” – Hutch Shelves
  • 1 – ¼” plywood at 7-1/4” x 27” – Hutch Back
  • 1 – ¾” plywood at 8-1/2” x 28” – Hutch Top
  • 1 – ¾” plywood at 12-1/2” x 21” – Large Drawer Bottom
  • 2 – ¾” plywood at 5” x 12-1/2”- Large Drawer Sides
  • 2 – ¾” plywood at 5” x 22-1/2” – Large Drawer Front & Back
  • 1 – ¾” plywood at 5-1/4” x 23-1/4” – Large Drawer Front
  • 6 – ¾” plywood at 6-1/4” x 6-1/4” – Small Drawer Bottoms
  • 12 – ¾” plywood at 2-7/8” x 6-1/4” – Small Drawer Sides
  • 12 – ¾” plywood at 2-7/8” x 7-3/4” – Small Drawer Front & Back
  • 1 – ¾” plywood at 9-1/2” x 29” – Extension
Instructions

Before beginning to build, always check in on my site to make sure you have the most up to date set of plans, I occasionally update and change the plans to make the building process easier or to allow for less expensive purchasing of materials! Read through the entire set of instructions and all comments before beginning this project. If you print out or save plans, be sure to check in on my site to be sure you have the most up to date set of plans, as I occasionally update things for ease of building or buying. If you are new to building, read through the GETTING STARTED section and other articles found under the BUILD tab in the menu on my site, it has valuable information about how to get started, tools and techniques. If you are unfamiliar with the finishing process, visit my Finishing school for some tips and tricks for painting like a pro and for special finishing practices. Use glue to secure your joints and Consider Painting or Staining individual sections prior to assembling. This makes the paint application virtually flawless. Coat with a spray on Poly or Wipe on Poly to protect your finish and your piece and it will last for ages. Adhere to all safety standards and guidelines, and be sure you follow safety protocol throughout your build. If you are unsure about whether you are building safely, run a quick online search for the tool or technique you are using, or contact me via email or post to the forum before you move ahead. My contact info can be found in the menu of my site.

Step 1
Step 1

Edge banding will be applied before assembly.

Cut the pieces for the legs, side frames, and side panels. Set the Kreg jig for ¾” material and drill pocket holes in each end of the frame pieces as well as all four edges of the panel. Secure the frame pieces to the legs using glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole screws. Orient the pocket holes so they face away from the panel opening (and won’t have to be filled). Insert the panel then secure using glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole screws making the back side of the panel flush with the inside of the frame.

Step 2
Step 2

 Cut the pieces for the back frame and back panel. Drill pocket holes in each end of the frame pieces as well as all four edges of the panel. Secure the frame pieces to the legs using glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole screws. Orient the pocket holes so they face away from the panel opening (and won’t have to be filled). Insert the panel then secure using glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole screws making the back side of the panel flush with the inside of the frame.

Step 3
Step 3

Cut the pieces for the front stretchers and drill pocket holes in each end. Secure to the legs using glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole screws orienting the pocket holes away from the opening.

Step 4
Step 4

 Cut the pieces for the drawer spacers. Attach the vertical spacers to the legs inside the front stretchers using glue and 1-1/4” brad nails. Attach the horizontal spacers inside the cabinet as shown using glue and 1-1/4” brad nails.

Step 5
Step 5

 Cut the piece for the top. Secure to the frame using glue and 1-1/4” brad nails. The front and sides will overlap by ½”.

Step 6
Step 6

 Cut the pieces for the hutch dividers and drill pocket holes in the bottom edge of each piece. Secure to the desk top using glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole screws.

Cut the pieces for the hutch shelves. The ¾” shelves will be secured to the desk using glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole screws. Set the Kreg jig for ½” material and drill pocket holes in one side only of each ½” shelf. Secure the shelves one at a time by securing the end with the pocket holes into the divider first, then securing the other side with 1-1/4” brad nails until all three shelves have been installed.

Step 7
Step 7
Step 7

Cut the piece for the hutch back and secure as shown using glue and 1-1/4” brad nails.

Cut the piece for the hutch top and secure using glue and 1-1/4” brad nails. The front and sides will overlap by ½”.

Step 8
Step 8
Step 8
Step 8

Cut the pieces for the larger drawer. Set the Kreg jig for ¾” material and drill pocket holes in each end of the drawer sides, as well as all four edges of the bottom. Assemble the drawer as shown, then install the drawer sides according to the manufacturer’s instructions. For an easy tutorial on installing drawer slides, click here. Make any necessary adjustments.

Cut the piece for the drawer front and drill the holes for the position of the cabinet pull. For an easy tutorial on installing drawer fronts, click here. Make any necessary adjustments. Finish drilling the holes for the cabinet pull, then install the pull.

Step 9
Step 9
Step 9

Cut the pieces for the small drawers. Drill pocket holes in each end of the drawer sides, as well as all four edges of the bottom. Assemble the drawer as shown. They should fit in the opening with a 1/8” gap at the sides and top.

Step 10
Step 10

Cut the piece for the extension. Position on the desk top, then install the hinges.

Finishing Instructions

Fill any Screw, Nail or Pocket Holes, Sand and Finish as Desired. For Finishing Tips and Tricks visit my Finishing School

**Disclaimer: Some rights reserved. Private use only. Feel Free to link to any of my plans so long as you provide an adequate link back to the appropriate post! Plans from this page are not to be used for commercial purposes or republished without the express written consent of Rayan Turner, The Design Confidential I hope to provide accurate plans, however, I cannot guarantee each plan for accuracy. Not every plan that I post has been built and tested, so you are building at your own risk. It is recommended that you have a clear understanding of how the project works before beginning any project. Please contact me if you find an error or inaccuracy so that I might fix it.

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