So, it’s a bit crucial to get it right. I’m using this new mitre saw I bought a while back for in and around 20 euros from Homebase, and it does a great job of making sure that your cuts are straight, or well angled if you so wish. It doesn’t do compound mitres, which annoyed me slightly when taking it out of the box, but after using it today it does many jobs quite well. Cutting 2 by 2′s though… it’s about as much as it can handle.

More after the jump.

After cutting the sides of your half lap joints with the mitre saw, a tenon saw would do the trick, you start to chisel out the piece that’s left going no farther than the line you have marked. Chisel up at an angle from both sides, then slowly work across until the bed of the joint is level. Don’t chisel straight across as you’ll blow out the back of the joint.

Measure twice, cut once. The mortises in the back upright need to be exactly the same on both sides, otherwise the desk won’t sit level. And if the desk isn’t level you’ll have many pencils roll off onto the floor.

Measuring and cutting the other pieces according to the plans, create one side of the desk. If you have google sketchup and you wish for me to email you the plans then leave a comment below.

When you complete one side, it should look like this.

And then you rest. Or if you have power tools, you’ve finished the whole desk by now. But I’m going to hone my skills with hand tools for now. More tomorrow.

Went to the park, went charity shopping, all sorts of stuff.
Then Craig swung round to give us a new table; him and his buddy ended up hanging around for hours and having the craic. And T’was 90 boss. /Irish

And all that stuff on Wednesday about it being a lean weekend? Some how managed to scrape cash from everywhere to go drinking. The fun never ends up on the lane.