So it's not exactly a desk for $2.50, because I did have to buy the stain and brushes, and technically there was a minuscule amount of gas for transport involved, and I guess you can calculate the number of hours spent as having monetary value... but fuck all of that, I got a $2.50 desk.
Back in ~March 2023 I'd been looking for an auxiliary desk to sit alongside my main work desk to create an L-shape for the additional surface area. I'm not too concerned with matching aesthetics, and I like online auctions and secondhand sales/thrifting. I found a desk on a Maxsold online auction and, I don't know, something about it just tickled me. In my head, I could see what it could be down to the color (well, that part was easy... black is my first choice and favorite). I have no idea where this came from or why I saw this in this particular desk, but I did.
Auction picture, pretty much the only whole-item picture I saw. The rest were close-ups of the damage.
I am not handy. I am clumsy and terrible. I think the furthest I've ever gone prior to this was gluing loose legs back together, tightening screws, and other very basic "maintenance" on furniture. I've done room "renovations" before, although I hesitate to use that word (painting, replacing outlet faceplates, and having the carpet professionally replaced somehow doesn't really count in my head and I'm not sure why. Something about "renovation" implies to me a much deeper work than all of that).
There was, naturally, some feverish internet research at this point when I realized that -- although I had a good picture in my head -- I did not have the slightest clue how to bring the image to reality. YouTube videos were watched, articles were consumed, and I probably called Dad. Having determined it was in fact possible to do the thing, I bought the desk, and took a drive to [REDACTED], an idyllic suburb about twenty minutes away.
The desk before I touched it.
The leg damage.
The surface damage.
When obtained, it was in decent enough shape, aside from some scratches on one of the legs and some water-staining on the surface. Structurally sound. Handle hardware in all good condition, drawers all well-seated and easy to open and close. You can't inspect most items before buying on Maxsold, so it's always a little gamble.
I sanded it by hand -- I didn't have an actual sander. I don't know what grits I used... because I used a series of scraps I found around the house from ages and many projects ago. I spent about four hours on a Saturday doing the sanding portion. I do recall I'd polished my nails the prior evening, which turned out to be a very stupid decision, as the nail polish did not survive the sanding without intense chipping (hey, now I know how to easily and quickly obtain the punk look without waiting two weeks like I normally do).
After sanding (painstakingly).
I bought some supplies, as unfortunately I didn't have these laying around the house like the sandpaper:
- Pre-stain wood conditioner (probably Minwax; Home Depot has since obfuscated my actual purchase behind some kind of code, and walking to the garage to actually check? Pfft)
- Varathane - 1 qt. Ebony Premium Fast Dry Interior Wood Stain
- Varathane - 1 qt. Clear Satin Oil-Based Interior Polyurethane
- 3 brushes - Linzer 2 in. White China Bristle Flat Stain Brushes
After the conditioner.
Then had at, over the course of about a week. I believe it was one coat conditioner, two coats of stain followed by one of the polyurethane, but I'm not really sure on the precise numbers of coats of anything. I didn't write anything down at the time.
Drawers in progress.
Desk in progress.
It was nice having a thing out in the garage I could go spend some time with -- most of my time is spent keyboarding and manipulating digital things rather than real-world things. I put on my headphones and jammed on some podcasts and talks, and it was altogether a very nice time.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ It came out pretty good, I'm happy with it, and I'm writing this a year and change after completion. It's been my faux L-shaped desk for that time and has held up well.
The surface afterward. Far from perfect, but good enough.
I'm not 100% happy with the sanding particularly on the surface of the desk, it could be much better (especially if I'd had any sort of power tool) but it's certainly close enough. I also totally ignored the hidden parts of the desk no one would ever see -- the insides of the drawers and the underside are the same color they were when purchased.
Done.
My dirty secret: the desk actually cost $2.45, I rounded up.