How to Make a Keyboard Drawer

A keyboard drawer is a type of shallow tray that slides out from under a fixed desk or table top. The drawer is mounted on sliders that allow it to easily move back under the table top when not in use. The tray is usually wide enough for an ergonomic keyboard, mouse and mouse pad. The tray must hang down far enough for the objects on the tray to clear the bottom of the table top. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Cut two pieces of 2-by-4 inch studs to 16-inches long using a table saw. Cut nosed stair tread 28 to 36 inches long for the surface of your drawer shelf. Sand and finish the wood to your desired finish. Allow the finish to dry completely (24 hours).

2

Place a 2-by-4 inch stud piece on either side of the stair tread piece. Attach one half of a center undermount drawer slide (there are two pieces per side) to the front inside bottom edge of one 2-by-4 inch stud when the stud is standing on its 2-inch face. Mount the other piece of the drawer slide to the side of the stair tread wood as close to the rounded part of the wood (front) as possible. Repeat this for the second 2-by-4 inch stud and the other side of the tread.

3

Slide the stair tread brackets into the receiving brackets of the 2-by-4 inch studs. Slide the drawer shelf back and forth to make sure it is working properly.

4

Mount two L brackets about 12 inches apart on the outside of the 2-by-4 inch studs so that the bracket is flush with the top 2-inch face. Repeat for both sides.

5

Attach your drawer from the underside. Align the closed drawer with the front edge of the table. Screw up through the L-brackets into the underside of the table top using screws that will not penetrate the top surface of the table.