Another desk thread

[strumpusplunket]

I really want to replace my old and increasingly tatty PC/work desk. It's sagging in the middle, the screen wobbles if I type too hard, the under-desk drawers won't stay shut. It's got to go.

It looks like an Ikea setup is most likely to use the space well. Current desk is 160cm wide by 75cm deep and that's about right for me. Maybe another 10cm of space in the bay it's housed in.

Some combination of Alex drawers, legs and a tabletop seem best and the dimensions are pretty much spot-on. I have some questions for people who may have tried this out, though:

1. I can't see how the tabletops get fixed to the Alex drawers. I wouldn't want it sliding around, so is there a neat solution for afixing them? What do most people do in this regard?

2. How is the strength of the various tops over a 160cm span? The Gerton looks like solid wood so I guess that would be okay? The Linmon and Thyge, being particleboard, I'd be less confident of supporting my (34" UW) monitor sitting in the middle. Would they need reinforcing? Would the addition of a central leg at the back suffice if so, or would it need more comprehensive support?

3. Some surfaces seem to need treating before use. I could really do without that, tbh, but how difficult/time-consuming/messy is it to do for the various options?

Cheers in advance!

 

[strumpusplunket]

I might be wrong, only I don't think many people who have an Alex drawer setup; actually fix the tabletop to the units?

Instead rely on the weight of equipment or the worktop itself? Rubber stoppers on top of the Alex units can prevent sliding. I would caution from firsthand experience, using the Linmon tabletop, it will bow unless braced. Also, even with rubber grommets, unless the grommets have decent stickiness; they will move even when trying to place/align the top onto the units.

For lighter tabletops, as you point out, they will slide with a nudge, for example, when pressing against as a support or or accidently bumping. I am using a kitchen (solid wood) table top made of Beech on top of Alex drawers; No bowing/movement. I have an additional support leg at the back and thus far - its been fine.

Forgot to mention, that I asked very similar questions about treating a kitchen worktop.

Right. I really didn't know what people with this set-up (which seems pretty common) were doing with it.

Your reports of working with the Linmon makes me think I'll spend the extra and get the solid wood Gerton top.

Cheers!

If the top of the IKEA unit is solid I would screw from inside the unit into the bottom on the top (using the correct length screws)

Otherwise metal L brackets or KD blocks.

Screwing the top on will help stop it bending.
If your top is rigid enough there is no need.

You can add a metal shelf brackets under your monitors in the centre of the span of its not solid.

I have a MDF top with one end held by shelf brackets.

Using screws from inside the drawers makes sense. Another reason to go with the solid wood option, too.

(BTW - this thread was meant to be in General Hardware, not General Discussion...)

 

[strumpusplunket]

Yeah, reading the replies here I just had a search for cutting into the Linmon tabletop... that thing is, what, corrugated cardboard with some reinforced bits?

I think I'm right in saying the Gerton is solid wood, though? Definitely worth the extra. That Linmon material looks awful.

 

[strumpusplunket]

Now reading up on the Gerton, it sounds like it needs a lot of work to treat it before use. The recommendations are oiling it every 2nd or 3rd day for two months? Or some people suggest a process of sanding and treating with polyurethane over a period of several days.

That seems a lot of work.

The Klimpen top is fibreboard, so better than the honeycomb filled particleboard structure of the Linmon, but no idea how strong it is and there seem to be few reviews of it compared to the others.

 

[strumpusplunket]

KARLBY is solid chipboard and much better than the Linnmon.

Yeah, it looks great quality, but not deep enough. Only 63.5cm deep. My current desk, and the Linmon, Klimpen and Gerton options are all 75cm. Really wouldn't want anything that narrow. Otherwise it'd be perfect.

 

[strumpusplunket]

You won't get anything deep enough from IKEA without some work into it, I'm afraid. Time to mount the monitors on arms to keep them as far back as possible?

You know, I am beginning to suspect the same thing!

It's not just the monitor issue, though (even if that is the main one). I also just generally use all the space I have - it's always strewn with paperwork. Given where my desk is situated I can't make up in width what I'd lose in depth, either.

This is proving more difficult than I'd thought it would. I just spent some time searching around to see if I could find a reasonably priced pre-finished piece of wood like a timber door that would just need cutting to size.

Either that, take a punt on the Klimpen top or bite the bullet and get ready to do some prep for the Gerton...