Building a New Desk

Halestorm · 5 Jul 2013 at 14:10

Hi Guys

Im building a new PC desk, just wanting to get some ideas/tips for what i can do to make it better/improve my design

Here is my design in sketchup, im planning on using 18mm MDF
and the overall dimension is W 1500mm x H 650mm x D 700mm

Thanks

nick-fury · 5 Jul 2013 at 14:43

Tip #1 - Replace Xbox One with PS4

Not sure how you're planning on connecting them all together but if you want it to look neat without L tags everywhere, you could have a look into pocket hole joinery.

orbit2012 · 5 Jul 2013 at 14:56

The design looks pretty good, if you are using MDF how are you going to finish it?

I built my last desk from MDF and finished it using Ronseal paint 'n' grain and then varnished over the top.

It gave a good finish and looked pretty damn good in the end!

darreny · 5 Jul 2013 at 15:33

You may get some bend on 18mm mdf at that width without bracing it

ci_newman · 5 Jul 2013 at 15:49

Assuming that is a NAS on the left, is that shelf going to be strong enough for something that heavy hanging off of the sides?

The upright for that shelf is also going to have to be mounted to the top of your desk, how are you planning to do that without marking the surface?

darreny · 5 Jul 2013 at 16:30

ci_newman said:
The upright for that shelf is also going to have to be mounted to the top of your desk, how are you planning to do that without marking the surface?

Can do it with right angle or L brackets but again it's more weight pulling the top down

paintguy · 5 Jul 2013 at 20:50

I like the look of it, but I'd agree that you'll need some kind of bracing for that top. It's quite a span and it would probably sag under it's own weight after a while, never mind with the extra weight you're loading on it. The bracing at the back will help a lot, but see if you can add something similar near the front, set back from the front edge a little if you like. Even a thin section would make a difference, preferably timber.

As for the jointing detail, I'd be much happier resting the top onto the side pieces, rather than how you have it on the picture where the top is hanging off the sides with all the weight on the fixings.

Halestorm · 8 Jul 2013 at 13:27

After more thought i'm thinking of making a timber frame with 2x1's and then cladding it with MDF so its rigid and doing the edges with strip-wood, it will get a couple of coats with MDF sealing primer before a colour coat of probably black gloss.

The little shelf on the left is for a HP microserver, and i will more than likley put a single chrome tube leg under it to hold it up

The top will rest on the legs....my sketch up skills are a bit ropey, and joins will more than likley be hidden but be timber to timber rather than just the MDF. My cousin is going to help me out with this as he is a carpenter so it should be in good hands

Thanks for all the input guys

ill get some photos and upload them project log style when i start the building process

paintguy · 8 Jul 2013 at 18:52

Halestorm said:
My cousin is going to help me out with this as he is a carpenter so it should be in good hands

Get some pictures up when you've finished. I might ask him to come around and help me with mine