Reclaimed Scaffold Desk

This is a reclaimed desk made from rough construction 3/4" CDX plywood found in the construction dumpster site to work with a Werner Rolling Scaffold. I'll leave a PDF document which includes plans to scale on 8.5 x 11" paper. Also available to download is an STL file for the stretcher.

The intent of this design was to use CDX plywood that I picked up on a dumpster dive. Ebonizing the plywood takes advantage of the rough exterior texture. The skeleton frame was inspired a lot by the Ron Paulk workstation but with more curves for the visual appeal. It was a lot of fun to explore design with really cheap material. I hope you enjoy and can also explore the world of reclaimed plywood.

Leave a comment if you would like an DWG, or sketchup file and I'll upload later.

• ¾” CDX plywood reclaimed pieces:
  • (Qty: 2) 46 1/16” width x 5 9/16” height
  • (Qty: 4) 13 1/16” width x 5 ¼” height

• 1 ¼” wood screws (at least 24). I used black oxide #8 wood screws with a square drive
• Wood dye and satin finish is optional. I used black to match the screws
• Shelf pins and more scrap plywood if you want a bottom

Download or sketch out a design. The most important dimension on this design is the 42 1/4" centerline of mouse hole to centerline of other mousehole so the platform will sit snug on the 1" outer diameter bars of the scaffold.

Cutout the templates with one of the following:

• Shaper Origin (what I used)
• CNC machine
• Jigsaw and circular saw. Clean up the template with a lot of sanding... I know this is some work, but only two templates are needed.

I used some large diameter drill bits(forstener bits) and jig saw to cut out the shape of the plywood to rough size.

Doublestick tape the template to the plywood. I used a top bearing 1/2" pattern following router bit clean up the final shape. I also gave a 45 degree bevel to the edge to knock off the sharp corners.

Apply black leather dye to the plywood and let dry. I did a couple of coats, and I like the way leather dye covers plywood so well.

Clamp and predrill the holes for the woodscrew. This is probably not necessary, but since I'm going into the edge grain of the plywood, it's a lot safer for a strong bond. No wood glue is used and this platform feels quite study.

Add a top for a desk. I had a bunch of cutoff green 3-form material that I spliced together and reshaped for my desk. My plans it to enter the desk top into the plastic challenge.

Shelf pins were added at the bottom to include a bottom shelf. This quickly accumulated junk into my desk which is kind of the plan, but I'm not sure I want to keep it as I may keep too much junk down there.