corner computer desk leg size

[Brian Runau]

Planning on building a corner computer design. Basic design is to make it portable. Two corner table that are triangles, center section that can drop in between the two tables and holds the pull out keyboard, then the top. Short sides on the table bases @ 19-21" long.

I'm using plain sawn white oak. I am looking for comments suggestions on the leg size. I was thinking 2", I don't want it to bulky, but this puts me in a conundrum on how to glue up for a 2" square leg without a lot of waste. I'm thinking I can possibly get an 1-1/2" leg out of a glue up of two boards. To get the other 1/2" on the leg I would have to use a third board and this seems like a lot of waste and a larger leg feels almost to big for what I am building, but if I have to use 3 boards for a glue up then I would go to 2-1/4"?.

Feels like I talked myself into using 2-1/4" square legs.

Curious what you think.

Brian

[Steve Jenkins]

What about using 4/4 and mitering the corners. No glue line that way.

[Jamie Buxton]

2” square legs on a table that is 20” wide seems bulky to me. I’d go with something more like 1.5”, and taper it toward the bottom.

And +1 on Steve’s approach toward the fatter leg.

[Brian Runau]

What about using 4/4 and mitering the corners. No glue line that way.

Already Have a bunch of white oak in stock I wanted to use. Thanks brian

[Brian Runau]

2” square legs on a table that is 20” wide seems bulky to me. I’d go with something more like 1.5”, and taper it toward the bottom.

And +1 on Steve’s approach toward the fatter leg.

On the individual table it may be, but assembled with the two tables, keyboard and top on I don't think it will? Thanks brian

[Lee Schierer]

You could rip strips of oak that are 2" wide with 45 degree bevels on both sides, then flipping the board with each pass, then gluing up the four adjacent pieces to make a 2" square hollow leg. There would be very little wasted wood and the leg would be all face grain.

[Brian Runau]

You could rip strips of oak that are 2" wide with 45 degree bevels on both sides, then flipping the board with each pass, then gluing up the four adjacent pieces to make a 2" square hollow leg. There would be very little wasted wood and the leg would be all face grain.

Lee, now that's an idea. I was planning on domino joinery, would this affect the strength of the joint? Thanks brian

[Steve Jenkins]

When you make a leg from mitered pieces the joints are long grain so nothing beyond glue is needed. For clamping I use clear packaging tape wrapped around the assembly. It is stretchy so can provide a lot of clamping force as you wrap it around the leg.

[Brian Runau]

I did a mock up of a 2" leg and my wife talked me into making it 1-1/2" square.