Norms desk top calls for several boards to be biscuited and glued together.
I was thinking about using 3/4" Oak plywood
instead, and gluing 1" thick by 2" wide Oak breadboard edges on all 4
sides. I haven't decided if I will biscuit or tongue groove the edges. My
question is, -- would 3/4" Oak plywood be adequate for a desktop? I'm
concerned about the thinness of the veneer. I guess I'd lightly use 200 to
250 grit sand paper with 4 or 5 coats of poly applied if I go with the
plywood. If I go with solid
Oak I would need 7 6 foot by 3/4" by 8" Oak boards which would be quite
pricey. Thanks for your suggestions.

On Wed, 04 May 2005 01:43:35 GMT, "Joe" wrote:

Norms desk top calls for several boards to be biscuited and glued together.
I was thinking about using 3/4" Oak plywood
instead, and gluing 1" thick by 2" wide Oak breadboard edges on all 4
sides. I haven't decided if I will biscuit or tongue groove the edges. My
question is, -- would 3/4" Oak plywood be adequate for a desktop? I'm
concerned about the thinness of the veneer. I guess I'd lightly use 200 to
250 grit sand paper with 4 or 5 coats of poly applied if I go with the
plywood. If I go with solid
Oak I would need 7 6 foot by 3/4" by 8" Oak boards which would be quite
pricey. Thanks for your suggestions.

Look at it like this: if you're concerned about normal usage damaging
the veneer, is solid wood really the answer? It's a *desk*, not a
dining table. And a desk for a computer at that...not like you're
going to spend a lot of time writing on it. "Plan B" should probably
be some kind of laminate if wear is really an issue.

And FWIW (and IMHO, based on a *lot* of years sitting in front of
one), Norm's desk looks like it was designed by someone who's never
actually used a computer. (Why yes, that *is* a pet peeve of mine.)

Lee

"Joe" wrote in news:bNVde.45277$r53.11527@attbi_s21:

Norms desk top calls for several boards to be biscuited and glued
together. I was thinking about using 3/4" Oak plywood
instead, and gluing 1" thick by 2" wide Oak breadboard edges on all
4 sides. I haven't decided if I will biscuit or tongue groove the
edges. My question is, -- would 3/4" Oak plywood be adequate for a
desktop? I'm concerned about the thinness of the veneer. I guess I'd
lightly use 200 to 250 grit sand paper with 4 or 5 coats of poly
applied if I go with the plywood. If I go with solid
Oak I would need 7 6 foot by 3/4" by 8" Oak boards which would be
quite pricey. Thanks for your suggestions.


A desk likely to see heavy use should have a desk pad, or a sheet of glass,
over the wood. My dad's desk has had the same sheet of glass for 45 years
or so now.

Patriarch