deskhardwoodjoineryjointswood
I am installing a wall-to-wall desk in my office, which wraps around on one side.
One side is 10'-9", and the other is 3'-8".
The material is two lengths of oak butcher-block:
I see the need for two joints:
What are the best joints for these? I am installing the counter top using brackets so there will be no legs.
This may be ridged enough, however I would recommend going with a torsion box design. This is how a professional furniture maker would attempt this. You can use 2x4 for the "core" and two skins of 3/4 inch ply. I would put a perimeter of 2x4 around the core (not shown in the picture) then lag bold the perimeter into your studs. You may have to cut a hole in the bottom skin to make this work. The key to making this work is to glue (subfloor adhesive) and screw (2") the skins to the core. Woodworkers have been using torsion boxes for years to create large desktops.
If you are using standard 8' plywood for the skins you will probably want to stagger the seams between the bottom and the top tortion box. For instance in the top use 2 7' pieces of ply. In the bottom skin use a 3' a 8' and a 3' piece of ply.
This will probably be your safest best. After you build it and before you install it you can test it out with two saw horses. I would be very surprised if it did not hold 200 lbs or more.
if you are still worried about flexing move up from a 2x4 to a 2x6 for the core and you should be able to support several people standing on it.
I would just buy a 1x4 or similar material that would go with your butcher block and use them as a ledger board on the three sides. Simply measure the height you want, attach ledger board to wall all the way around (3 easy cuts) and attach them to the studs.
Then just slide on your butcher block. To attach to ledger you can use screws but a little silicone is probably more than enough for a tight space to keep it from moving.
Best Answer
The 45 miter will be your best bet into the corner. Aside from that, please do consider where you want your joints carefully. I would keep them separated as much as possible, yet not in an area where I am going to work at, unless, you are going to sand and finish the top in place and you are certain that you can get the joint relatively flat and smooth. In my opinion, where you have drawn them on your sketch is too much in one place and will draw your eye to that place, not in a good way. Unless you are like me and there will be crap all over the place anyway.... Set the small piece on the other end, that is if it is not going to be a problem there for some other reason.
To join them, I would use 2 products.
Biscuits,
and a type of countertop fastener
which I do not know the name of, but you get the picture :).
Glue is always good too.
I made a sketch when I first seen your post , I thought this was an idea too, but it may make the corner piece way too big....