Looking transform your chaos-cluttered desk into a sleek, organized masterpiece? Look no further than this DIY mid-century inspired desk organizer, a woodwork project that is as aesthetically pleasing as it is functional. It will be best to keep your office supplies in order, this solid walnut construction is not just about creating a space for your pens and notes; it’s about reshaping the way you interact with your workspace. So bring out your inner artisan, tackle the clutter, and infuse your desktop with vintage charm, you may be surprised at the motivation that springs from a place of order.
DIY Mid-Century Inspired Desk Organizer Project
Materials List:
- Walnut Hardwood
- Brusso L-37 Knife Hinge (Affiliate link provided in the original project post)
- Brusso ¼″ Ball Catch (Affiliate link provided in the original project post)
Tools Used:
- ⅛″ Radius Bowl & Tray Bit (Affiliate link provided in the original project post)
- ¼″ Downcut Bit (Affiliate link provided in the original project post)
- White Marker (Affiliate link provided in the original project post)
- Jointer Push Block (Affiliate link provided in the original project post)
- Microjig Gripper (Affiliate link provided in the original project post)
Step-by-Step Making of the Desk Organizer
Milling Blanks
Start your project by delineating all necessary parts on a piece of 8/4 walnut. Rough cut the lumber into manageable lengths and re-saw them to produce all the components for both the case and the drawers. It’s good practice to mill workpieces to precise dimensions as you progress, initiating with the desk organizer tray.
Creating the Organizer Tray Template
Before crafting the organizer tray, devise a router template for the storage pockets. Arrange the objects you plan to store on a half-inch MDF sheet to determine the pocket sizes, then cut the design using a drill and jigsaw for precision.
Cutting Organizer Tray Pockets
Secure the template onto your workpiece with robust double-sided tape. Using a Forstner bit at the drill press, eliminate the bulk of the pocket material to lighten the router’s load. Finish shaping the pockets with a router, employing a ⅛″ radius bowl and tray bit for cleanly rounded corners.
Finishing Touches on Organizer Tray
Remove the template and proceed to cut the workpiece to its definitive size on a table saw. To elevate the piece’s visual appeal, incorporate a descending angled slope across the tray’s top, leveraging a tenoning jig for consistent results.
Crafting the Organizer Tray Bottom
Prepare wide planks for the case by edge-gluing blanks. Then, route a quarter-inch deep dado into one of these planks to host the organizer tray. Ensure the fit is snug, then proceed with gluing the components and trimming the assembly to size.
Making the Stationery Dividers
Shape thin strips from your wood to create dividers for stationery. Begin with pencil partitions, mirroring the tray’s downward slope, and utilize the router table with a stop block to define the compartment boundaries precisely.
Case Side Joinery
Combine side panels of correct width via edge gluing, following the same procedure used for previous steps. With your router table, carve stop dados to receive the case’s bottom and interior partitions. Perform dry fits to confirm the accuracy of component lengths.
Installing Knife Hinge
Clamp your case assembly and mark the locations for the knife hinge mortises. Employ a router with a guide bushing and a downcut bit in conjunction with a Woodpecker jig to achieve the right depth for mortises. Position and pre-drill the necessary hinge screw holes.
Processing the Door Panel
Having the male side of the hinges installed, size the door panel appropriately. Utilize sliding dovetail battens to prevent warping—a tried-and-tested Chinese joinery practice. Make dovetail grooves and corresponding battens with precision for a friction fit that remains glue-free.
Installing Ball Catch Door Stopper
Secure the door’s hinge and configure the ball catch, which functions as the door closer. Carefully drill the holding hole for the ball on the door’s lower edge, using floss for trial fittings to ensure the depth is perfect for the catch mechanism.
Final Assembly
Prior to the ultimate assembly, do a mock setup to mark and cut the side panels’ final profile. With the side panels shaped complementarily to the organizer, complete sanding all parts up to 220 grit before gluing everything together. Upon drying, apply your chosen finish to the whole case.
Building the Drawers
While the case finish dries, pivot to crafting the hardwood drawers. Propriety-sized parts should be cut, dados routed for drawer bottoms, and rabbets formed for connections. Ensure drawer backs are shorter to accommodate later wood movements and proceed to install the drawer pulls.
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