Resawing advice

If you have a bandsaw capable of sawing it in half thickness-wise I would to that; since you’re suggesting making veneer I assume you have access to one somehow. Going in half thickness would result in a desk top that is somewhere around 7/8-1” thick made of two book matched pieces which would look sweet.

-- --Rev. Russ in NY-- A posse ad esse

Either one works, the alternatives are obvious. Do you want more of it … then make the veneer. To saw it in half, you’ll end up about 7/8” once it’s smooth. I like the idea of using solid wood so I’d resaw it. Some people think that’s wasteful, but I vote resaw it.

-- Every cloud has a silver lining

24” is probably suitable for a desk, though a bit on the narrow side. If you could saw it into 3rds, you’d have something SLIGHTLY smaller than 3/4” thick, but would be able to do about 30” for your desk top. Since it’s a desk and not a dining table, you SHOULD be fine, but putting another wood backing it, and some sort of an edge around it, would definitely increase its strength. Honestly, I don’t care for the bandsaw method as the blade may wobble, and you still have to plane it, which means even thinner wood, but I’d saw that you project should dictate what your needed dimensions should be, and then plan resawing accordingly.