Modern Red Ironbark Desk

Feb 19, 2020

A modern computer desk made from floorboard timbers.

This desk is made up of;

85x22mm lengths of iron bark floorboards
90X20mm merbau flooring
45x18 merbau slats

Sort the ironbark floorboard by colour. Wet each panel to see its final colour and match it to it’s adjacent panel.

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Sorted lengths into two separate stacks. One for a dining table, one for a desk.

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Cut each to length.

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Cut the merbau 45x20mm slats to length. It supports the laminate panel. Give it a preliminary primer and coat of automotive duplicolor matte black as it is much easier than painting after assembly.

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Laminate each length together with glue and pocket holes on the underside. Then screw to the underside merbau supports. Use 8g 30mm screws, be sure to use large countersunk pilot holes as ironbark will snap screws easily.

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Wait for the glue to dry. Flip over the table and fill in any gaps with glue and wood-fill

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Plane and sand the top with 80 grit, 150 grit and then 240 grit till level. Use a circular saw to square off the ends of the table.

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The legs are created by laminating 2x merbau floorboard lengths together

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One side of the leg overhangs on the bottom to accommodate a horizontal slat.

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Paint the legs with primer and then 2 coast of matte black spray paint.

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Fix the legs. 2x 75mm 14g screws are screwed through the top into each leg. A horizontal beam runs across each leg. Spray the legs with another coat of matte automotive paint to even it out Recommend using washi tape as it holds lines much better than generic masking tape. Give the underside a couple coats of Danish oil. Flip the table over and apply danish oil to the top surface.

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