Parson's Desk

Hi All

I am very (read: VERY) new to wood working but I would love to make this
desk for myself.  Because of my newness I know that I won't start until I
understand this plan inside and out so I have a ton of questions which
hopefully, when answered will give me the confidence to start this. I plan on
doing it with someone else (under the principle of two heads are better than
one).  The table doesn't have to last forever but I do have to put a
computer screen on it and maybe a piece of glass so it has to be relatively
stable.

1. Is it possible to use screws instead of nails for all of the parts? I
don't think I have enough/the right clamps to glue, nail and dry the pieces as
I go?

2. When it comes to nailing the 1X3's together for the legs, do I put 1 nail
at each end and 1 in the middle (so 3 nails along the length) for the 11/4 inch
nails (red dots) and again the same thing for 2 inch nails (see my very awesome
microsoft paint skills)? Is this enough? If I repeat the same pattern for the
outside trim will this also be enough?

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh.....directlink

3. Once you have sandwiched all the boards together, sanded the outside,
primed and then painted, will the legs look like they are made out of a single
piece of wood like in the west elm piece or will it be apparent that they are sandwiched
pieces of wood?

4. Should I use a random orbital sander or will hand sanding with a block be
enough?

5. When it comes to attaching the side aprons, will a single nail in each of
the 1X3s be enough (see again my amazing paint skills)?

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh.....directlink

6. When it comes to attaching the front apron will 2 nails (1 for the side
apron and 1 for the front side of the 1X3) on each side be enough?

7.  As long as I don't go overboard, is there such a thing as too many
nails?

8.  What does Ana mean by cross-nailing when it comes to attaching the
drawer supports to the underside of the table?

OK I think that's all for now.