Originally Posted by
Robert Engel
It will all depend on the design, but construction is pretty much cabinet techniques. A simple desk could just be two drawer boxes covered with a top and a pencil drawer.
I've got a fair bit of experience with melamine, so here are my suggestions:
Buy a double sided melamine blade. The Freud is a good one. Even if you won't be using melamine again, it will make an excellent plywood blade. A track saw can be used to break it down rough.
Source your melamine from a hardwood or cabinet supply. The big box stuff is pretty inferior.
You'll need to learn how to edge band and get some edge banding tools.
Fastening methods -- I almost always butt screw. Although other screws will work, I perfer the Confirmat screws because they don't split the edges. They make caps to cover the screws which sound cheesy but may be perfectly acceptable if your matching Ikea.
Other alternatives would include pocket screws & biscuits or Dominoes.
Last but not least, before you do it, I would check the Ikea prices. It may not be worth your time and expense of buying blades and tools.