Getting ready to install the top on the stand-up desk

In an earlier article I showed a great tip to edge-join two boards at a precise 7.6° angle:

The test joint used to test angle.

The jig is simplicity itself: one ¼-inch thick plywood piece is raised on one end by a narrow board; the distance of the narrow board is adjusted back and forth until the angle is dialed in, using the Dixey digital angle gauge:

Jig to cut biscuit slots, offset 1/4-inch, angled at 3.8°

In the photo above, the offset of the biscuits is obtained with the “show” surface down, such that the biscuits are closer to what will be the bottom side of the desk top. This ensures the cut stays far from the show surface. The biscuits are used strictly to align the edges in the glue-up of the large desk top.

In the next photo, the test boards are under full clamp pressure – even without glue, the boards remain in perfect alignment:

The test boards hold under full clamp power!

I wondered about alignment at the edges of the board; alignment also help perfectly:

Test boards clamped - and the biscuits hold.

The edge-to-edge alignment is so good, that the glue-line-to-be disappears – can you spot it in this next photo?

The scraped joint - can you see it?

It will be essential to hold down the desk top, while allowing wood movement as changes in moisture content take place. For this desk I use figure 8s installed in blocks of quarter-sawn white oak glued to the aprons:

Figure 8s to secure the desk top.

Using a number of figure 8s will ensure the top stays in place:

Almost ready to accept the top!

The time finally came to glue up the top. Glued and clamped, then carefully aligned to registration marks on the side aprons, the glue-up went well:

The top glued and clamped.

The liquid hide glue gives excellent open time, allowing for proper glue distribution and edge alignment:

Just enough squeeze-out.

I am very pleased with the results. Once again, my thanks to Sandy for her help with this glue-up! I will scrape the top, do some finish scraping and/or sanding, and then start the finishing process.

— Al Navas