Dream Desk Build in my Garage with Eric Curtis

For this project I got back to my furniture building roots. I know we have been focused on Home Reno projects for a while and when I did my office I knew that it was going to need a desk that would make a true statement. I really wanted to build a piece of furniture that could stand the test of time and be handed down someday. So I called in the help of my Emmy award winning friend Eric Curtis to collab with me on this build. It was quite the ride but I absolutely love what we built.

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Want to see this build in action? You can watch my build video here (+ make sure to subscribe to my channel)!

Tools + Materials

Tools

Materials

1. Prep the Slabs & Resin Mold

When I was thinking up the design for the desk I came across this slab online and I knew it would be perfect. It was technically broken, so it was literally someone else’s trash. But we do love a makeover!

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I used my track saw and cut the slabs into a few different pieces that I thought would work well for the layout.

I promised Eric I would have the top of the desk ready for his arrival so we could get moving on the rest of the desk. So I got to making a mold using melamine boards.

With daylight running out I decided to finish out the day by assembling my resin mold.

If you want some more detailed instructions on how to build a resin mold, check out this video of a river table I made in my shed shop.

Once the mold was finished I placed my slab pieces into the mold to figure out the arrangement I wanted to go with.

It’s at this point that I realized my pieces were about 2 and a half inches thick and I definitely didn’t need a desk that thick. So it was time to phone a friend.

Shout out to a different Eric friend @ericfinneran_woodshop! Eric has a much bigger shop than I do complete with a much bigger bandsaw that could handle resawing these slabs.

He was kind enough to let me use his bandsaw and jointer and I was able to cut down these pieces and get them back to my shop in less than an hour. Woodworking friends are the best!

All that was left was debarking the slabs and sanding down the sides to smooth them out.

This was my first time using mold release on an epoxy pour, always good to test something out for the first time when you’re doing a collab right?

After I sprayed it on I used a brush to make sure it was evenly applied.

2. The Resin Pour

First I finalized my layout and made sure I was happy with it before making it permanent.

I used Total Boat Thick Set Fathom for this pour because I was on a time crunch and had to pour as much as I could at once.

I also mixed in some pigment to get the color I wanted.

Then it was time to pour! If you want more detailed instructions on epoxy make sure to check out this Epoxy Resin Playlist for a number of epoxy projects I’ve done in the past.

Once the pour was done I left it to dry for 36 hours. After 36 hours it would be dry enough to pour a topcoat.

After pouring the top coat I went over any bubbles with a flame to pop them and leave a smooth surface.

3. Bring on the Collab

The day had finally come! Emmy Award winning, Netflix Superstar, Eric Curtis was really there, in my shop! What he didn’t know was that we were also building a cabinet and I had zero plan for it. But what are friends for, right?

4. Demold the Desktop

We used a mallet to pop the frame off and then a carpentry chisel to separate the face of the desk from the melamine. I really wasn’t sure that the mold release was going to work, so this was a big win!

5. Design and Build the Cabinets

The very official design concept came together as chicken scratch often does, flawlessly.

From here it was cutting down the lumber with the track saw and then the table saw to get the pieces that we needed.

We also used a biscuit joiner, this project was fun because I got to challenge my skills a bit using tools I already had in my shop.

Once all the pieces were cut we dry fit them all together to make sure it would all work. If you’re noticing that we’re breezing through all of these steps it’s because I want you to go watch the video that Eric made. He goes way more in depth on this project and while you’re there make sure you subscribe to his channel!

Eric so graciously suggested that I do all of the edgebanding. So I grabbed the one tool I only use in my shop, and never in my house, my iron, and I got to work.

6. Sand

Like any good woodworking project, it was time to sand.

This was when we paused for Eric to apply some of his favorite wood perfume.

7. Glue up the Cabinet

We needed corner clamps for this glue up, which I of course didn’t have in my shop. So we made some super official ones that got the job done.

From here it was assembly time.

We added the biscuits with wood glue.

Glue ups like this can be stressful because you have to make sure you get everything together before your glue sets. Otherwise you’ll have a major problem. Luckily, we got it done in time.

It really is the most fun to do projects with friends, even if it does make it take way longer.

Against all odds we had a glued up cabinet by the end of Day 2. A true DIY miracle.

8. A Door, a Drawer and Finishing

The goal really was to not use pocket holes even though you know I love them so. But being that we were behind schedule, it was time to get this project done. Pocket holes for the win.

Then it was time to get to staining and finishing.

The desktop needed a final coat of epoxy so while Eric snacked I poured a skim coat.

Eric did help with popping the bubbles.

9. Divide and Conquer

On Day 3 of this 2 day collab we found that the skimcoat on the desktop was not great…So I spent that morning sanding it back while Eric got to finishing the cabinet.

This half day before Eric had to leave really was our most productive day. We even got hardware on the drawers.

And while the new topcoat was drying on the desktop we got the cabinet upstairs and into the office.

From here I had to finish assembling this desk on my own. Luckily, I still had my emotional support pup to supervise.

The Final Reveal

I am so happy with how this desk turned out! I am going to cherish it for years to come, and the best part is that I got to make it with my friend. We hope that you enjoyed this build even a fraction as much as we enjoyed making it. I hope you check out Eric’s YouTube Channel and I hope that this project inspired you to make something with a friend. It might take you way longer than you think it will but it’ll be totally worth it. Stay tuned for the next project coming very soon, and until then Happy DIYing friends!