Any woodworkers?

This is my favorite for moderate distances. Not the same exact model but a wide tape.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...Measure-with-17-ft-Reach-48-22-0225/311009547

This for two person jobs when it’s just me.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bosch-BLAZE-PRO-165-ft-Laser-Measurer-GLM165-40/305566975

 

You can't have too many! Of course, mine would all be the same... 25' Stanley's. They're cheap (I eventually destroy them somehow) and they work.

 

Well, if you live in California, EVERYTHING gives you cancer.

 

Depends what kind of wood. We don't have mills where I live. And wood is something I like to see in person. Although, I did order Garapa decking online once. In general, Homedepot if they have it. But, there's a place across the bay that has "raw" wood that I've used for fancier projects, like:

 

There are about a dozen local guys that do their own milling, and a few "wood boutiques".

 

Hey guys! I’m looking for some serious input and advice on a project I’m really looking forward to starting.

We just bought a house and being that I do a lot out of our home office, I sold our desks and I’m looking to build our own.

The plan is to build a desk top that follows the bay window all the way through. Attached is a picture of a “blueprint” I made. Dimensions are +/- 1 inch.

I've never done a project like this, so I need a lot of direction. Haha.

Does Pine seem like a suitable option for a desk? (It will take some use and abuse)

I’m not 100% sure if I want to do a wall mounted desk or give it legs, what’s your recommendation?

Solid piece of wood or should I connect several 8 inch pieces together?

Anything you can think of that I’ll need to keep in mind when building this?

 

Depends how nice you want it to be or not be. I use pine a lot but also don’t typically do big furniture. Pine is generally for low grade or used to mock up a piece before cutting your more expensive or nicer wood. Also how durable and/or nice do you want it to be? Budget? These things will all play into your wood selection.

 

Well, it doesn’t need to be too nice. It’s just a desk and I do plan to treat it like my current desk. Haha. I do a lot of shipping and packaging and I usually build my RC kits on my desk. It gets messy. That’s why I was considering going with pine wood. I know it’s durable and cheap, so I won’t feel bad beating it up.

I’m not looking to spend a boat load of money on a desk though. The base cabinets at 28.5”H are expensive enough. Haha. Im only wanting to build the desk top, because I’ll never be able to find a top in this exact shape.

 

pine is usually soft, but put an epoxy coating/top coat and it would hold up if you wanted more thickness than the pine is, back it with mdf, then a nice edge to cover the layers.

 

Any recommendations on another wood to use then? I’m looking to just stain it and hang it.

 

walnut is nice, but can be expensive. Cherry is also nice, hickory, just depends what "look" you are going for,

 

We’re looking for a modern farmhouse look. White cabinetry/legs and a dark wood color, almost gray.

 

So you just need a top? It’s going on cabinets? Care about color or having it stained etc?

What kind of tools do you have? Ability to laminate wood for the depth you need?

Route to rabbet an edge or TS to rabbet?

 

yes, just need a top. Looking to stain it a dark, almost gray. I’m between placing it on cabinets or just mounting it straight to the wall and having a rolling drawer system I can move.

Haven’t got much beyond the standard power tools and hand tools. You can never have enough tools though, so I have no problem buying new ones. By laminating wood, do you mean quite literally applying laminate to the wood?

 

Like being able to take wood that is only 6” wide and laminate it to another 6” wide one for a 12” wide piece.

Without being able to do that, you would be limited to what you can find in the depth you’re looking for. Stuff like melamine, plywood, mdf, cabinet tops from a box store etc

That said. Honesty, a cabinet top from a box store isn’t a bad solution, that isnt horribly expensive. You can even get (order) a wood butcher block one that you would be able to stain.

 

Walnut is always classic. You can find live edge slabs and cut to fit your needs, or just use thicker boards. Or get some barnwood, light sand and polyeurathane coat it

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/139330182205231224/

 

I can’t see myself being able to find a piece that is the right shape and dimensions. It curves around all 3 windows

 

Dowels or biscuit joints, help in making tops

 

whatever route you go, you will have to cut the edges. Would just need a flat back edge and 30-45° degree inside edges right?