Making an L-shaped desk top?

Question

We want to make an L-shaped workspace with kitchen wall cabinets underneath. We have 2 15" and 1 corner wall cabinet for support. We also have a 2'x6' and a 2'x4' piece of maple. I was planning on cutting 45 degree angles on those pieces & joining over the corner cabinet. Will this work? Any other suggestions? (handyman skill level-close to nil!)

Sorry, its a desk workspace, not in the kitchen. We are just using kitchen wall cabinets for the base for storage. The computer would not have to be in the corner but on the straight where there is more knee space. Also we can exchange cabinet types of necessary. Would it be better to use 2 rectangular pieces instead of angling?

Answer 1

Sure this'll work, here's a couple of suggestions.

Using a corner cabinet may not leave much "knee space".

With regard to joining the top with a 45, unless the edges are nearly perfect the joint won't look very good. I would suggest that you find someone with good finish carpentry skills to make the joint.

Answer 2

Nice chunks of Maple BTW. Butcher block style???

Since you already have the cabinets it's pretty much a done deal in them, especially with regard to the corner angled one. Space is relative to your acceptance of what is.

45 need not be the major issue, but as one answer suggests TIGHT fit is. You can 90 at the appropriate place, perhaps getting as good a fit.

More important than the FIT however is the fact that it's a Counter Top, in a Kitchen. The issues include coming in contact with food and prep. Most might claim "Sealing" in some method, and certainly that might equate to easier cleanup, but also is a substance coming in contact with food, and use of cutting boards would certainly be a better way to go, than laying a Steak on the Maple to trim it for grilling. The fact that Maple is the usual material doesn't eliminate it from being absorbent, untreated.

Anyway your initial issue seems to be support at the 90, which may mean cleats, or extra cabinet top bracing flush, to attach the Maple to. A 45 might be more "IFFY" in that means of support?

Steven Wolf