Quick, Cheap, Easy and Functional Scrapwood Desk

[@JesperMakes]

All woodworking should be done like this. Fast, efficient, clean. You had me captured the whole time!

[@FixitFingers]

Mostly clean 😅 Cheers Jesper, I may do a few tweaks to it, but the concept holds! Took longer to edit than build 😊

[@graduallywizardly]

Pro tip: Anything for the mrs is a two nap project man. ;)

[@FixitFingers]

Hahahaha naps that overlap with free time are a little too far appart right now. Soon...(he tells himself) ;)

[@NotJustSawdust]

And still... the energy is overwhelming (considering the attention going to the newborn). As I slowly got used to a nap time during the day (called siesta over here), how nice would it be if projects just finished themselves during that time! But seriously, this is actually a project where beginners in woodworking could get some inspiration from. Well done!

[@FixitFingers]

Especially if the sanding and painting nap-time fairies would visit, that would be great 🤣

[@michaelwillson6847]

​@@FixitFingersthey don't exist Jimbo am afraid. 😬

[@FixitFingers]

Don't shatter my dreams Mike! 😝

[@michaelwillson6847]

@@FixitFingers that's life unfortunately m8 a haven't been in shop for nearly 2 weeks. Just wait til she's older and your fighting for shop time during holidays. Not fun.

[@JohntheSchreiner]

Nice one! Sometimes that's all you need, just something quick and dirty to get the job done for the time being.

[@FixitFingers]

Who you calling dirty!? ... oh yeah.. me. 🤣🤣

[@woodenthumbyt]

My first 10 videos were nap time woodworker videos hahah. Thats why it’s slowed down a lot since. But good job pleasing the wife. Smart man

[@FixitFingers]

Hey, if the wife asks for conten.... I mean a project which means I can get in the shop for a few hours, I'm all over it! 🤣

[@AceWoodCo]

Congrats on the new baby! hopefully you're settling in nicely with the little one, also nice temporary desk made, quick and easy and does the job just right!👍

[@FixitFingers]

Cheers Tony! She's an Angel most of the time...except between 10pm and 4am... You know, regular baby play time 😂

[@SmallFryCreations]

Perfect problem solved!!! And Block plane work for the win!!!

[@FixitFingers]

Glad you found that cheeky shoutout... want to see yours in action next video! You could laser your name into the side of it :P

[@briansbuildsandoutdoors4936]

Clean as you go, good advice. I'm terrible at it and every flat surface becomes a storage space when I'm on the go. I have solved the lost tape issue by buying several pocket sized ones. They are 2 metres long, fit easily in my pocket and and suit most situations where they are needed. Anyway James all the best to you and the family for 2024.

[@FixitFingers]

I've seen people 3D print tiny tape (and pencil :P) holders and stick them all over the shop so there is always one at hand... then I'd get frustraited trying to find which 'home' is empty when I want to put it back. 😋

[@briansbuildsandoutdoors4936]

@@FixitFingers you've got plenty of pockets in your new old work uniform.

[@rangars1]

That’s an awesome one mate😊👍🏼

[@FixitFingers]

@@rangars1 Still doing well! I use it every day

[@rangars1]

@@FixitFingers inspiring 👍🏼 subscribed to your ch to learn more 😊 you take a good care of yourself.

[@SujMenon]

James, that was a really quick build. I would take twice that amount in just procrastination alone, lol. Your workbench also seems pretty good in handling this. Btw, I hope that broken camera viewfinder is a fixable pblm.

[@FixitFingers]

Cheers Suj, sadly no, the actual camera was body and lens was broken too, so it has been replaced. I was filming outside, I think I'll use my phone for that in the future :P Expensive mistake. I liked this build. Wifey asked for it that morning, built by lunch, video edited by the evening. I wish they were all like that!

[@SujMenon]

@FixitFingers oh man, that's a bummer. My gopro 6 is nearing its end of life as well. Doesn't reliably record anymore, battery lasts just 20 minutes, etc. I started using my mobile phone now for filming. Might get a newer gopro later. The potential problem we have is inside the garage, the lighting might be good directly under the light, but in corners, (low light situations) etc, it turns out grainy..

[@FixitFingers]

@@SujMenon that's one of the main advantages of a real camera. As good as phones are now, they can never compete with physics. Cameras have bigger sensors and lens that can capture more light so will be less grainy and have better contrast

[@No1projects]

Your stressful build still left me feeling good 🙂 nice job 👏

[@FixitFingers]

Only minor disasters along the way... I'll take it as a win 😅

[@BuiltByChris]

Stirling job mate. Takes me 3 hours just to setup to make something. That desk will probably last until the daughter will be off to college. 😉

[@FixitFingers]

Yeah as soon as I made it I was thinking this 'temporary' desk will outlast anything from Ikea... And cost less time and money than the trip and petrol it would have taken to get it from the store 😅

[@fathogwoodworking]

I have 3 tape measures and a dozen pencils for a good reason. But even then, some builds I can’t find one half way through. I’m sure they play hide and seek! Great build mate.

[@FixitFingers]

Tapes, pencils, 10mm sockets and the tool you just put down 5 seconds ago... Impossible! 🤣🤣

[@RYwoodview]

I do enjoy you. One notion to share is that the corners of the table support & the legs show the end grain. It would be just as easy to build by hiding the cross-members' end grain behind floor-to-table legs. Thanks!

[@FixitFingers]

You know, I did think exactly that! ...but I was outta time and the melamine was edge banded. Easy enough upgrade for the future. It also would benefit from a diagonal brace within each of the legs as it is solid left to right, but has a little wobble front to back. Looks like it'll end up being a 4 hour desk ;)

[@RYwoodview]

@@FixitFingers Nah, you'll get faster every time you do it!

[@Edtopia_upcycling_]

I love it when you build useful things from scrap wood. You did really well. Greetings, Detlef

[@FixitFingers]

I went through a 'gathering' cycle a few years back, and have been trying to use it all up ever since 😅 Every project is an opportunity to clear some out of the shop productively.

[@Edtopia_upcycling_]

@@FixitFingers We men can't do anything for...that's in the genes...hunters and collectors🤣🤣

[@coolabahwoodworking]

😂😂😂 something always breaks when you are in a rush. Well done man! This would take me 3 days. 2 days looking for tools 1 day trying to figure out what to do and 1 hour of building until I loose a tool again 😂

[@FixitFingers]

The benefits of an organised workshop ;) I was actually pretty impressed. If I wasn't filming and didn't mess up my initial size I would have been closer to 2 hours :)

[@coolabahwoodworking]

@@FixitFingers 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

[@onehandedmaker]

Hey James. Good to see another Australian on YT. Great project and video. Have subscribed and will be checking out your other videos. Regards James One Handed Maker

[@FixitFingers]

Another James no less! :D Followed back! Looking at your thumbs it seems there is some high quality viewing in my night-shift future ;)

[@karlpopewoodcraft]

In out shake it all about and home for nappies and milk 😅 top man, honestly i think james is a great dad I can tell mile off.

[@FixitFingers]

This top dad takes any excuse to pop into the shop for a few hours 😝

[@The42Joker]

Wait! D&D?!?! That is awesome! I'm currently using Pathfinder 1e with my group, but I am a long time D&D nerd! Between woodworking and D&D, you are my favorite woodworking youtuber!

[@The42Joker]

Oh, and the desk is very functional! I made one like it for my wife with an old door and dimensional lumber.

[@FixitFingers]

Oh good spot, you did well pick up on the book. THat was only a very quick (and purposeful) nod to my nerdom 😊 You should check out my dice tower build, I think you'll like it 😉

[@The42Joker]

@@FixitFingersI watched one, and I'm watching the other one asap! I built a few for my buddies, but they are way more simple than yours. The spiral stairs are awesome!

[@FixitFingers]

@@The42Joker waaaay overcomplicated. But great fun 😅

[@The42Joker]

@@FixitFingersI love the round corners, and will put something similar in my next design. Thanks for the inspiration, and keep up the great work!

[@thefakemaker]

That’s some damn fine thwacking sir

[@FixitFingers]

It is a surprisingly useful little hammer! I'll use it until it disintergrates... product testing!

[@sawdustandshavingscreations]

well that was awesome! love it!

[@FixitFingers]

It's 1am... someone else needs a nap time! ;) Cheers mate.

[@FixitFingers]

Awww Cheers for jumping on the Member Wagon Jamie!

[@sawdustandshavingscreations]

Love what you do James. It’s only a small thing. Coffee will be your friend now you have an 8 week old!!!

[@FixitFingers]

@@sawdustandshavingscreations 10 weeks yesterday... And yes, coffee has become a workshop staple 🤣

[@CrudeButEfficient]

Ah, stress building during nap time - those were the days! 😂 Nice simple scrap build. How many beds have been repurposed in your shop so far? Why isn't there a stand for the circular saw, so you don't have to balance it between cuts? Might look into that...

[@FixitFingers]

If I answered that question the bed-slat-liberation army would be at my door in minutes... Honestly, I think I've probably scabbed over a dozen bed-bundles off the side of the road from single frame 19mm to queen sized 38mm (the latter are getting harder to find!) Still enough on hand I am currently not tempted to collect more. Might have to look into that stand!

[@dassh22]

wow that came up great build for 3 hours i think i will start useing pocket holes, 50 years as a cabbie and never use them hmmmmm

[@FixitFingers]

Some cabinet shops have huge panel walls that can pneumatically drill a dozen pocket holes in sheets in under a second! For the hobby maker they are great for jigs and workshop builds, face frames and even clamping long edges together when you don't want to wait for glue to dry. Good fun!

[@michaelwillson6847]

Well well well thats some speedy desk building. Although thought youd of went with a bed slat slab top think that would of been nice. Hope your good m8 and managing get plenty stuff done and hope you and little one and wife are good. 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Ps i never put stuff away kills me every time. Oh and i sh** myself when u dropped that saw. 😬

[@FixitFingers]

Hahahaha, built Makita tough. I actually haven't checked it over yet to make sure nothing is bent or busted but it still runs at least! I think a solid wood top would have killed my nap time aspiration ;) ...plus, that'd look too much like Dainer. Can't have that! hahahaha

[@michaelwillson6847]

@@FixitFingers a don't no a saw u nearly using the saying through the video looked like u had to stop yourself 🫢 but no we couldn't have that. Bad enough with one of him. 🤣 Looking wicked though think this nap time woodworking could become a series. Hope your all well looking forward next project

[@kuffyswoodwork]

That would definitely take me longer than 3 hours to build.

[@FixitFingers]

There would probably be more you know... actual joinery and design involved however 😆

[@barberspaddockwoodworking]

I think you're allowed to take of an hour or so for 'filming'. 😄

[@FixitFingers]

The edit took longer than the project...even with the filming :P I reckon it's a 2 hour desk if I didn't have the camera out (and stuff up the size :P).

[@dainermade]

😂 I made it. So maybe you need some sleep. Just saying! Take care mate

[@FixitFingers]

Poor wifey needs it more. At least before a work day I am allowed to wear earplugs and grab a few hours :P

[@dainermade]

@@FixitFingers goes fast mate. Trust me