Dad built plywood desks to give away (DIY YouTube link included)

The only power tool that one would need to make the non-foldable desk is just a circular saw; everything else can be done with glue and clamps (or nails) alone. The miter saw and nail gun just made the job a little quicker. For the neanderthals, no power tool is needed, just a handsaw will take care of it.
 
I demoed a site-built vanity in my house recently.  It was original to the house which was built in 1953.

It was a bear to break up and it was assembled using just hand-driven nails and no glue. 

I watch HGTV and they often create site-built kitchen cabinets (I think the doors are made off-site).  They use glue and a finish nailer.  Which begs the question, why we resort to dominoes, biscuits, tenons, and pocket holes when nails hold together a vanity for 70+ years.

The addition of glue would have made it that much harder. 
 
Packard said:
I demoed a site-built vanity in my house recently.  It was original to the house which was built in 1953.

It was a bear to break up and it was assembled using just hand-driven nails and no glue. 

I watch HGTV and they often create site-built kitchen cabinets (I think the doors are made off-site).  They use glue and a finish nailer.  Which begs the question, why we resort to dominoes, biscuits, tenons, and pocket holes when nails hold together a vanity for 70+ years.

The addition of glue would have made it that much harder.
Click to expand...

If you attach a construction to one or more walls you’ve eliminated most of the potential stress on the joints. In comparison, a stand alone product needs extra strength in the joints.
 
Michael Kellough said:
Packard said:
I demoed a site-built vanity in my house recently.  It was original to the house which was built in 1953.

It was a bear to break up and it was assembled using just hand-driven nails and no glue. 

I watch HGTV and they often create site-built kitchen cabinets (I think the doors are made off-site).  They use glue and a finish nailer.  Which begs the question, why we resort to dominoes, biscuits, tenons, and pocket holes when nails hold together a vanity for 70+ years.

The addition of glue would have made it that much harder.
Click to expand...

If you attach a construction to one or more walls you’ve eliminated most of the potential stress on the joints. In comparison, a stand alone product needs extra strength in the joints.
Click to expand...

I agree.  The kitchen cabinet manufacturer's association and the Ready-to-assemble furniture manufacturers association commissioned tests on various joinery methods.  The kitchen cabinet manufacturers were far less interested in racking strength as their cabinets are typically wall-mounted.  While the RTA was more interested in racking strength. 

 
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