Secretary desk build – part 1

This is part one of (probably) a three part series on a secretary desk build. In this video I build the lower cabinet carcass from reclaimed and leftover construction lumber. I began by resawing some spruce 2x10s, using a circular saw with a jig that turns it into a kerfing plane, and a hand saw. These were bookmatched and planed flat and cut to size, and then I could form mortises and tenons and dovetails to put it all together. The dovetails are purely structural in this piece and will be hidden by trim later, so I made them quite large and to no specific spacing or angle. After glue-up I attached a temporary metal cross to the case to give it lateral strength, and then I could cut and plane some thick face frame pieces. I used a compass trick to easily and accurately get the miter angle, and left the pieces long so I could cut them flush with the case after assembly. After that, I planed a piece of plywood to size and replaced the metal cross with a full back panel. In part 2 I’ll be making the doors, the folding desk, and the lower trim/feet – it’ll be out as soon as those are built! I'm no professional and I don't have anything to teach, this is just me, sharing my thoughts and my work. Join me as I'm learning fine woodworking! Follow me on Instagram for progress pictures of upcoming projects @gillisbjork