"Max" writes:

I want to make a computer desk that fits my unique needs -- I have a habit
of living from one apartment to the next, and I'm tired of wobbly throw-away
WalMart computer desks. I'd like more of a utility desk, but stylish,
something I can build out and change up from time to time. My idea is to use
plywood -- but instead of screwing the legs directly on, use metal fasteners
and machine screws so I can disassemble it easily, or add on a side shelf
module, or a leaf on the side to lengthen it later.

A few comments that may or may not be helpful--

First, if you're not using an LCD monitor, get one. You'll be
glad you did. *Much* easier to move than a CRT, and the desk
doesn't have to support as much weight. Make sure it's at least
1280x1024. You can use a normal VGA card. BTW most LCDs have threaded
bushings in the back for mounting screws, so you could mount it to
anything, it doesn't have to sit on the desktop.

Make *everything* adjustable. You'll be glad later. I tend to use
nuts & bolts (because I don't care what it looks like, and I
don't have any oddball hardware to keep track of when I
disassemble it), but there are other options.

For the desktop, use thin plywood with stiffeners rather than
heavy plywood. Years ago I made a desktop out of 3/4" plywood,
it's really heavy (PITA to move) and not all that stiff. Later I
made a bunch of tables out of 7/16" ply with 1x2 stiffeners,
they're much lighter and actually stiffer. If you're more
ambitious, you could build a torsion box.

Remember that you'll want the keyboard below normal desktop
height. I just made the whole desk lower, but that may not be
what you want. You can buy a keyboard drawer, so you wouldn't
have to build one.

I would make it a "box" structure, with 2 sides rather than 4
legs. This will make the whole thing stiffer. Diagonal brace
across the back. If you make the sides higher in the back, you
can have shelves above.

Consider making something to hold just the keyboard and LCD (CPU
tower goes on the floor), with a separate table for your papers &
stuff. This would only have to be about 20" wide (similar to an
old fashioned typewriter table, if you remember those). This also
gives you the option of having the keyboard perpendicular to the
desk (or anywhere else you want to put it).

Build a "rough draft" using the cheapest possible wood, play with
it for a few months, then throw it out and build a better one. If
your first version is "for keeps", you won't experiment enough.