In this episode, I show my process for building a custom writing desk. The desk is made from American cherry, and the sides and drawer pulls are accented with ambrosia maple. The drawer pulls also have a walnut accent.
This desk was built for a Denver custom furniture client; if you are interested in a Custom Desk, let me know, and I will be happy to design one for you.
Crafting a Writing Design with Curved Legs
I’ll walk through my process. from cutting mortises to final assembly, while sharing tips to improve accuracy and avoid common pitfalls.
Preparing the Legs
I used a stop block against the fence to ensure consistent cuts and prevent the workpiece from pinching the blade. Before cutting, I carefully laid out the legs, ensuring the best grain faced outward and marking mortise and tenon joinery. Cutting mortises before shaping the curves is easier. I used a router jig with dual rails to keep the bit from wandering, referencing the same side for consistency.
Shaping the Curves
With mortises done, it was time for the bandsaw. Leaving Room for Cleanup, I cut just outside the line, leaving material for hand sanding to smooth the curves. Since both sides needed curves, I saved the cutoff piece and taped it back on to provide support when flipping the leg.
Cutting Tenons
I rough-cut tenons at the table saw but left the final cut for hand tools. Small misalignments compound, and trimming by hand ensures a perfect fit. I always cut tenons slightly oversized, then refine with test fits and a shoulder plane. (Pro tip: Removing material is easier than adding it back!)
Bookmatched Side Panels
For a decorative touch, I used book-matched spalted maple, which I split in half to create mirrored panels. Since the panels were thin, I skipped biscuits or dominoes. Instead, I clamped carefully and left the pieces slightly thick for final planing.
Assembly Tips
I routed grooves in the desk’s rails to accept tenons on the panels, ensuring a tight fit. I saved the cutoff pieces from the legs, which were taped back on during the glue-up to create flat clamping surfaces and keep everything square, and I assembled the side panels first, then the main desk structure, to avoid rushing.
Final Touches
A well-tuned hand plane leaves a silky finish, plus, it’s satisfying to work at the bench. The final step was adding my signature, a small but meaningful detail. Every custom furniture maker should have a maker’s mark.
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