Desk Building. Looking for folks who've done it before!

[bhodi]

I also have a lot of Ikea.

Moments ago, in the Bhodilair...


I'm in the market for a new desk, though. It doesn't match anything else.

[schild]

It's also smaller than my balls.

[NiX]

It's also smaller than my balls.

Bhodi - Look at you with your company pride

[Draegan]

What kind of computer chairs you guys using.  I'm gonna have to buy a good one I think.

[Draegan]

Just got home from a quick stint at Home Depot.  They actually do have MDF board there.  Awesome.  Now I just have to draw up some desk plans.  Time to put my rusty engineering degree to good use.

[rattran]

I don't like using mdf for anything I might someday stand on. Not that that's likely in my current house, as the upstairs ceilings are only 8'
I think I may rebuild/extend my desk. A 28" monitor is becoming increasingly tempting, but I'd need an additional 6-8" of  monitor shelf.

Also, the 3/4" plywood I used is faced with red oak so if I ever get around to putting a finish on it it'll look quite nice.


Anyway, you should document your desk building with pictures, so we can applaud/abuse you for design choices.

[Draegan]

Well the one thing stopping me from pictures is I can't find my camera charger.

I guess that's step one.  I'm going home tonight and measuring out space.  Design docs to follow!

[Salamok]

I don't like using mdf for anything I might someday stand on. Not that that's likely in my current house, as the upstairs ceilings are only 8'

3 layers of 3/4" MDF laminated to each other=strong enough for you and 2 of your heaviest friends to dance on.  Then again it will also take you and 2 of your heaviest friends to move it as well.

[Signe]

I don't know why, but I'm all excited about this!  Paint it a wild colour!  Like this:



I love funky painted furniture! 

[Draegan]

There will be no painting.

[Signe]

But you could make it so purdy. 

[Ookii]

kitchy = purdy?

[Nerf]

Heres my setup, sorry for the incredibly shitty cell phone pic, my brother stole my digital camera and left it at work.


The desk is solid Oak I think, whatever it is it's fucking heavy and came with the house when we bought it, the old homeowners couldn't get it out of the house.

[Samwise]

Nerf wins for best desk.  That's awesome.

[Nerf]

I'll get a real picture of it tomorrow, it's quite fucking impressive, polished to a mirror shine.  My only complaint is the fucking drawer on the right side of the L doesn't let me get my chair under the desk, I keep resisting the urge to rip it out as I don't really store anything big in it anyways.

Also, while I'm posting awesome shit, brother got a new car on saturday.

[Draegan]

Did a little 3D modeling. 

Dimensions are basically are 5.5' x 4'

Edit:
Not bad for the first time using Google Sketchup!

editx2
Nerf, how is that desk supported in the corner under the monitor?  I can think of a few things, but I kept my design simplish.

[Nerf]

You can see a seam just under the keyboard if you look closely, theres a metal brace running the length of the top under that seam on the underside.

On your design, do you have the left (in first picture) section slotted into the rest of the desk, or did it just not line up in sketchup and you said fuckit?

I'd say if you add another section from floor to top on that part where it meets the other half of the L you'll be fine, but that picture isn't structurally sound.

Also, you need a drawer to hide your gun in, preferably on the right if you're right handed.  You don't want to hide it in the drawer right in front of you, you might have to slide the chair back to open it, and those few seconds will get you killed in a home invasion.

Or could always mount a holster I suppose, if you don't want drawers.

[Draegan]

The layering didn't come out right, but it's all essentially correct.  If you use the top picture as reference, lets call the left part "A" and the right part "B".  Part A has support on the left edge, and a support on the right end as well an equivalent legnth on the top right section.  Part "B" rests on top of A and is supported on it's right end.  Then you have two back braces for the edge supports.

[Nerf]

So you're going to have 2 elevations on the table surface? 

I stand by my statement that the way that desk is drawn right now, it is in no way structurally sound, and having one go under/over the other is a horrible, horrible idea that you will hate yourself every day for doing.

Just add another floor-to-top support on the left side (in first picture, right side in 2nd picture) and then a nice heavy metal brace on the underside of the joint.  I'd probably dovetail it too, just for added security and a nice flush fit.

[Draegan]

I'll be facing strait on the left part regardless.  How is it not stable though?  I dont get where the weak point would be.  I was trying to make the desk as simple as possible with the least amount of cutting since I'll have to have it cut at home depot.

Now where would you put this metal brace and how would you connect the two wooden desktops?

[Nerf]

The left portion has no support, screwing it to the underside of the supported desk on the right requires you to have 2 different elevations of tabletop, which is a BAD, BAD idea, and isn't very secure to boot.


Metal bracket would go where I circled on the top picture, on the underside, and like I said, I would dovetail, or at the very list drill holes and use dowels to join the two as well, don't just rely on the bracket.

Picture 2 shows where additional support should go, as it sits now, the desk on the right (speaking of the top picture, again) has support on the left, right, and back of the table.  The desk on the left has support on the left side of it, and that's it, it wouldn't stand if it weren't connected to the other desk, you don't want to do that.

I would also run another board, like you have there in the middle going laterally, but maybe smaller and with a nice patterned edge on it, from the edge of the top all the way across to the sides for additional support.

EDIT: I might be calling you out because the drawing is wrong, is that supposed to be 2 entirely different and somewhat structurally sound tables with one being slightly higher than the other?

[Draegan]

That board doesn't stop there it goes all the way across.  Think of two desktops with one side tucked under the other.

[Nerf]

If that drawing is just fucko and I interpreted it wrong I do apologize, but you still don't want the whole over/under thing going on, it will drive you fucking insane.

[Draegan]

Yea, Sketchup is strange so you have to wrangle it around to get the right shape.  The elevation really wouldn't bother me as I won't be facing into the corner.  However I could put what is the elevated part is and make it lower.

[Nerf]

To clarify, is this your current plan?


That could work, although I'd want more lateral support than that one beam going across, another one just like it but attached flush with the top edge of the desk would help immensely.

And you'll have to use a small block to have that support running on the outside on both desks.

Also, fuck google sketchup, where the hell is my 3-view with model option in the upper right quadrant?  (really, where is it? I know it's got to be there)

[schild]

Desk is too boring and simple. It's the kind of thing you could just buy and it would be more efficient than building it.

[Nerf]

I agree Schild, but who am I to tell a man his ideas suck, this isn't the MMO forum.

[schild]

That desk would just be a low quality Ikea Jerker sat next to another low quality ikea jerker.

[Nerf]

Negative, it would be a low quality Ikea Jerker set /under/ another low quality Ikea Jerker, allowing for leg room at the intersection.

That's how my desk is setup and I love it, sans the drawer that isn't even good for holding a gun.

I like being able to rest both forearms on either side of the desk and having support from the elbow on.

Draegan, if you're planning on doing what I posted, you can fix the elevation problem by just putting another tabletop chunk of wood on the one that goes under from the overlap point to make them flush.

It might be a bit boring, but if you use real wood and stain it, and then hit the edges with a router to leave a nice design, it will end up looking very classy.

[Draegan]

This isn't a permanent job, which is why I'm going cheap.  I'm most likely moving in 6 mos or so. 

I'm also happy you think my simple and efficient idea sucks.   

[schild]

Draegan, the idea doesn't suck. The execution and time spent doesn't make sense. I mean, it sounds like you should jsut go buy 2 folding tables and put them in an L shape. You can then fold them up and take them to wherever you're going. In other words: It's the opposite of efficient.

[Nerf]

It's not that it sucks, it's that it lacks flare.

Your avatar is fitting, though.

[Draegan]

I thought about the folding tables, however I just don't have the space to set up two of them.  I have just enough room for a 2' wide table where my main desktop will be then a 1.5' wide desk going a long side of it.  Yes it's a pain in the ass, but like I said originally, I only have a certain amount of room which ruled out normal solutions, like buying folding tables.

edit:
However you're right.  It does seem inefficient.  I am now going to look into making it detachable so I can re-ensemble it. 

[Sky]

[schild]

Fuck, that's ugly.