Thread: Making a Desk a Little Bit Wider

IMG_3532.jpgIMG_3531.jpg

Breadboard ends would be one way of doing it.

There are a few ways depending on look you want and if temporary or forever.
The breadboard ends would be a good permanent fix and a temporary would be end pieces rebated the thickness of the top and screwed up from below. When removed the screw holes will not be seen.
Regards
John

For the breadboard ends and sides, you could make them out of contrasting timber for a different look. Sometimes this is better than trying to, and not quite matching the existing colour.

For permanency and load bearing you'd want to dowel, domino or spline them on with glue while taking into account for seasonal width movement of the existing boards at the end (hence the breadboard suggestion by 62woollybugger). The picture frame surrounds with 45 deg angles tend to open up the most with expansion.

Cheers

Bryan

When I was a student in the States I had an el cheapo desk made from 25mm (American) white pine - similar to radiata. After a while I decided my desk was too small and decided to enlarge it with breadboard extensions both ends and on one long side. Bought the timber and a dowling jig and did a reasonable job of the extensions. Reasonable, not good, as my skills then were rudimentary.

At first I was very pleased with the result, it seemed to double the size of my desk. But after a while it started to annoy me, increasingly. The "texture" of the woods was different and the joints were obvious, especially to touch.

And a lot more work was needed than I antipated. One had to be very accurate.

I finished up putting a sheet of plywood on top.

I have no idea of your skill-base. But if I was doing it again I would look at replacing the entire top with something of a suitable size and like this available from Bunnings, Mitre 10, Ikea, etc.
2200 x 600 x 26mm Acacia Solid Oiled Hardwood Project Panel - Bunnings Australia

Desk Top.jpg

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

When I was a student in the States I had an el cheapo desk made from 25mm (American) white pine - similar to radiata. After a while I decided my desk was too small and decided to enlarge it with breadboard extensions both ends and on one long side. Bought the timber and a dowling jig and did a reasonable job of the extensions. Reasonable, not good, as my skills then were rudimentary.

At first I was very pleased with the result, it seemed to double the size of my desk. But after a while it started to annoy me, increasingly. The "texture" of the woods was different and the joints were obvious, especially to touch.

And a lot more work was needed than I antipated. One had to be very accurate.

I finished up putting a sheet of plywood on top.

I have no idea of your skill-base. But if I was doing it again I would look at replacing the entire top with something of a suitable size and like this available from Bunnings, Mitre 10, Ikea, etc.
2200 x 600 x 26mm Acacia Solid Oiled Hardwood Project Panel - Bunnings Australia

Desk Top.jpg

As it so happens I'm just back from Bunnings and picked up some of those project panels. In the end I think they'll be the easiest and cheapest solution.

Cheers!