I think your idea of adding a map and a glass top is a good one. The glass will be much easier to keep clean than a wooden top anyway. I would add the glass to both desks. I would suggest using a current map so that the boys have a ready-made geography lesson right at their fingertips. You could use a world map for one and a map of your country for the other.

Just get wood putty fill in the gaps and sand. Once you stain the newly sanded wood, the putty should blend in. An even better route is to choose your stain color in advance and buy the putty in the coordinating wood tone. You can find them in the paint department at the big box stores. This would also work if you were just going to paint them.

I think adding the glass is a great idea. Protects the desk top from the interesting things that kids can find to do on wood surfaces, too! LOL

The only thing I would think about is what to put under the glass. For sure I would not make it permanent, because it could be fun for them as they get older to add their own things. Maybe when you give them the desks, you could have a piece of paper under the glass that says "Merry Christmas with love from Grandma and Grandpa". Then they could add things like pictures of family, perhaps drawings or school project papers, etc.

Be careful putting the glass on the desk top. I had glass cut for all of the tops in my DD's bedroom...side table and desk and dresser top. They stuck in places. She didn't spill on the glass but she did set glasses on the glass and they must have caused enough condensation under the glass to cause the glass to adhere to the wood tops. When the glass was removed to take the furniture to her new apt. the wood top of the side table was ruined in one spot. The glass was not removable at all from the dresser top. I was afraid to pull so we just left it. You could see the large area where it was stuck. Beware...if the condensation of their drink glasses causes the maps to get damp they could stick to the desk. I am sure someone will post with a solution. c

The other caution about using glass is one of safety. If the young boy(s) happen to drop something on the glass that will break it, it could pose a dangerous situation for them. You might want to consider using a good plexiglass, instead.

I love the idea of putting maps under the clear protective covering.

Fill the gouges with putty and restain.
My grand daughter just refurbished a desk that had been my husband's when he was a kid. His parents bought it 2nd handw hen he was about 10. He did some interesting things with the point of a compass. My son used the desk when he needed one and we covered the top with one of those blotter desk top things. Well my grand daughter sanded it down, filled the holes painted it black and put shiny stainless knobs on it....lots of girley glitz!
If you put a map under glass on the desk, the first time a coke is spilled and a bit crawls under the glass, you will have a disaster.
Finish the tops with 2 coats of oil based polyurethane....pretty well bullet proof.
Linda C

Plus, having custom cut glass tops is expensive. You'll probably spend more for the glass than the desks.

Love the maps idea. You could do a decoupage... remember decoupage? fill the gouges, glue the maps down, then cover with several coats of polyurethane... sanding the edges of the maps between each coat.

Thanks for input everyone!

Fun3behere and les, I thought it might be a great idea too, but now I am beginning to re-think it, what with moisture and all. Also cost could be a factor as I have not checked into what glass would cost.

lukkiirish and Linda C, I really did not want to paint the desks, as for the most part they are in really good condition. Just the top on the one desk that has gouges. My DH has said that he can refinish just the top, but I don't know that he will have the time. Seems like there is never enough time for all the projects.

walnutcreek, I had thought of the safety aspect, but thought perhaps safety glass? Although perhaps plexiglass could work too?

trailrunner, I hadn't thought about moisture getting under the glass. My mom had a dresser years ago that had glass on the top and I don't remember it being a problem. But then again I was young. :-)

mclarke, I do remember decoupage, but have never done it myself. It is something to consider as another option.

Keep the ideas coming everyone. It is very helpful. Would not want to ruin the desks at this point. Especially as my DH drove us over 150 miles to get them!

That's a shame really. I think that desk would look really great gel painted.

Almost every wooden office desk I have ever had has had a glass top. I've never experienced the glass sticking. However, I always had those clear round spacers that provide the tiniest amount of air space. Maybe that was enough to keep condensation from forming?

Container store has big pieces of a transparent plastic material that we used to line some of the shelves we put together if you are afraid of breakage. You could replace it with glass when they get older. As far as sticking, a few felt pads sold in hardware stores can help prevent that, just a couple of small ones in strategic places.

You can also use something called "embedding resin", which is thick stuff to apply to a surface if you want to "trap" cool boy-stuff like coins or cards... Like this desktop:

{{!gwi}}

HD or Lowes also has sheets of plexiglass, and they are inexpensive. I think I would go that route instead of glass for safety. You could cut it yourself. You just score it with a razor knife an snap.

Another idea would be to use piece of luan, and you could paint it with chalk board paint. They then can draw on it or write reminders on it in chalk.

I got very thick plastic from the office store cut to fit my daughter's bedside table. Looks like glass, but isn't. My daughter has used it for years. Put ribbons, cards, pictures under it over the years. Got the idea from a friend who had done that and I thought it was pretty clever. Works for us. Was inexpensive and easy to do... easy for her to change things around too. Hope that helps.

aside from safety and the expense, i would be concerned that the glass could get scratched up/chipped with young boys and might not look the best after a couple of years---desks can get alot of 'abuse'/use!! i would probably look into filling and restaining the top, but if you really wanted to put a piece of something on top, i would choose something relatively inexpensive and more easily replaceable...

Shoot...I never even thought about the spacers...duh...would have saved the top of the furniture. Also never thought of plexiglass...2xduh...oh well. Too late now. Maybe a coat of chalk paint :) c

I really like the idea of a chalkboard. The spray paint is wonderfully easy to use. They could turn it over if not wanted. Know it may be messy at times, but cleanup wouldn't be an issue.

Yes on the plastic from the office store, it is softer and won't scratch as easily as acrylic. You could also check an architectural supply, they have specific desk covers which would work. Or one of those healing mats used for hobbyists. I use mine all the time, they come in various sizes.

My DS has a similar desk in his room, and I found a piece of plastic at Staples that is specifically designed to protect the desk top. They had a few different sizes. My DS has sports tickets, programs, etc., under it. I have the same thing on my home office desk and I have a pretty piece of floral wrapping paper under mine! If you go to a high end paper/stationery store, they have the single sheets of wrapping paper that are great for this!

I love the map and glass (with spacers) idea. Glass isn't that expensive, and it's not dangerous when it's sitting on a desk. If the grandkids make desktop glass dangerous, you have much bigger problems...

Plexiglass or Lexan will scratch but are easy to replace. Call a glass shop and at least get a price and see what they recommend.

And some day it can be the kids' project to refinish their desks.

Safety glass isn't cheap, but that would be my choice. I have it on both of my wicker tables on the screened porch. One table came with it and I had the other piece cut to fit. I think it was about $60.

I would go with glass for sure. Love the pic above with the postcards and stamps between the desk and the glass. You could do something really fun with that and change it out whenever you wanted to. I was going to suggest something like this. What I like about it is that you can create whatever "theme" you're in the mood for on top.

[eclectic home office design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-home-office-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_732~s_2104) by brisbane media and blogs Beach Vintage

I don't think you need to get tempered glass, but you do need to get it thicker than usual -- not pane glass, for sure. You want something thicker, like you would use for glass shelving. My glass shelves are 3/8" and are very sturdy. They've been used for our everyday glasses for years without a ship, and on a flat surface, they would be even less prone to any kind of chipping or breakage. I think you could do 1/4" and be much better off than plexiglass. I think plexiglass would get scratched and even cut too easily for a working surface, and if you try to get a really good quality clear plexiglass, it could be more expensive than glass. Do use spacers.

Thanks everyone! I have pretty much decided to price having glass cut for the tops. I just love the idea of maps to start with and then as the boys age they can add or change out things they would like instead. I spoke to their mom last night and she thought it was a good idea too.

So, unless the glass is too costly, that is the route I plan to go. It may be several weeks until I get to a larger town to check into the glass, but I will eventually post the "finished" products!