5 ms·

This is entirely off topic, but I'm starting to think about making my own desk at home. How'd you do that, what did you use? Your desk looks great, and worth em

by dkuntz2 11y ago

This is entirely off topic, but I'm starting to think about making my own desk at home. How'd you do that, what did you use? Your desk looks great, and worth emulating.

pjc50 11y ago
That metal structure looks like scaffolding pipe, or industrial modular storage. It's not going to win any design awards but it looks sturdy as hell.
- noir_lord 11y ago
  Not interested in design awards ;), I wanted something brutally simple that would be the last desk I ever need (worst case I replace the panel if it gets battered). As for sturdiness, it's weight and rigidity make it a very stable desk. I've already had two people ask me to make them one (with a nice margin on top), I think a lot of people are tired of crappy fall apart desks.
noir_lord 11y ago
Slightly better angle http://i.imgur.com/iBFnTKy.jpg http://i.imgur.com/iBFnTKy.jpg Scaffolding was old stock from a local scaffolders (I wanted the distressed industrial look, just given 'em a ring). Fittings are from ebay (there are standard sizes and joints), the legs are spinners (if you turn the handles the desk moves up and down). The top panel is 28mm structural birch ply (structural ply may have surface blemishes and patches rather than finishing ply so if that matters get finishing ply but since I wanted the industrial look and it's way cheaper to boot), routed with a 5mm edge and covered in 4 coats of heat resistant wax (makes it water proof without ruining the color). Original panel was 8ft x 4ft so I took a strip of the long side for the shelf (if you work out your dimensions most timber places will make the cuts for you). Through holes are 60mm and there are 3 on the back (UK plugs are massive). http://i.imgur.com/YzfWv5E.jpg http://i.imgur.com/YzfWv5E.jpg in construction, two cross beams are for the shelf which sits on them, the middle upright is because even 28mm play will sag. Total height range is ~85cm (I'm quite tall and normal desks are a tad too low) to ~140cm.
- dkuntz2 11y ago
  Do you have the wood attached in any way, or is it just freestanding on the scaffolds?
  - noir_lord 11y ago
    Top panel is held with wide screws, 4 on each post (the fittings underneath had holes already), the shelf with the PC has a slat underneath which slots between the two horizontal bars.
- moonman272 11y ago
  Could you tell me about that stool? Hows it work with the standing? Can you do like a kind of lean/sit or just, on or off?
- moonman272 11y ago
  Could you tell me about that stool? Hows it work with the standing? Can you do like a kind of lean/sit or just, on or off?
akgerber 11y ago
Ikea makes a nice birch tabletop of a similar size and aesthetic: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50106773/ http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50106773/
- noir_lord 11y ago
  That's only 5ft by ~2ft and cost more than my 8ft x 4ft panel did (though finishing it was a bitch). Would work nice on a smaller desk though :).

by dkuntz2 11y ago

This is entirely off topic, but I'm starting to think about making my own desk at home. How'd you do that, what did you use? Your desk looks great, and worth emulating.

pjc50 11y ago

That metal structure looks like scaffolding pipe, or industrial modular storage. It's not going to win any design awards but it looks sturdy as hell.

noir_lord 11y ago
Not interested in design awards ;), I wanted something brutally simple that would be the last desk I ever need (worst case I replace the panel if it gets battered). As for sturdiness, it's weight and rigidity make it a very stable desk. I've already had two people ask me to make them one (with a nice margin on top), I think a lot of people are tired of crappy fall apart desks.

noir_lord 11y ago

Slightly better angle http://i.imgur.com/iBFnTKy.jpg http://i.imgur.com/iBFnTKy.jpg Scaffolding was old stock from a local scaffolders (I wanted the distressed industrial look, just given 'em a ring). Fittings are from ebay (there are standard sizes and joints), the legs are spinners (if you turn the handles the desk moves up and down). The top panel is 28mm structural birch ply (structural ply may have surface blemishes and patches rather than finishing ply so if that matters get finishing ply but since I wanted the industrial look and it's way cheaper to boot), routed with a 5mm edge and covered in 4 coats of heat resistant wax (makes it water proof without ruining the color). Original panel was 8ft x 4ft so I took a strip of the long side for the shelf (if you work out your dimensions most timber places will make the cuts for you). Through holes are 60mm and there are 3 on the back (UK plugs are massive). http://i.imgur.com/YzfWv5E.jpg http://i.imgur.com/YzfWv5E.jpg in construction, two cross beams are for the shelf which sits on them, the middle upright is because even 28mm play will sag. Total height range is ~85cm (I'm quite tall and normal desks are a tad too low) to ~140cm.

dkuntz2 11y ago
Do you have the wood attached in any way, or is it just freestanding on the scaffolds?
- noir_lord 11y ago
  Top panel is held with wide screws, 4 on each post (the fittings underneath had holes already), the shelf with the PC has a slat underneath which slots between the two horizontal bars.
moonman272 11y ago
Could you tell me about that stool? Hows it work with the standing? Can you do like a kind of lean/sit or just, on or off?
moonman272 11y ago
Could you tell me about that stool? Hows it work with the standing? Can you do like a kind of lean/sit or just, on or off?

akgerber 11y ago

Ikea makes a nice birch tabletop of a similar size and aesthetic: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50106773/ http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50106773/

noir_lord 11y ago
That's only 5ft by ~2ft and cost more than my 8ft x 4ft panel did (though finishing it was a bitch). Would work nice on a smaller desk though :).