Desk build questions.

VaderDSL

VaderDSL

VaderDSL

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Joined
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Manchester
Just mocked up a desk I am thinking of building in sketchup. Have a couple of questions.

10fpedk.jpg


  1. Reckon I'll need extra supports underneath the tower? The span is just over 60cm from the left hand piece of wood to the middle legs.
  2. Will 3cm thick wood (depending on type, MDF etc.) be a reasonable thickness?
  3. Any other thoughts or things I appear to have missed?

Cheers, The box bottom left is the top of the stairs so it's enclosed and can't be moved/used.
I'll install some cable trunking to the underneath of the desk to carry cables/power strips.
The cutouts to the rear are to route cables to/from the tower/monitor etc.
 
Use worktop (wood not that cheap chipboard and laminate stuff)
What's the height? I have adjustable legs as when I moved my chair, the arms would hit it.
The main part is supported, are those supports that sit above the stair boxing? If so, you won't need supports for case as well
 
One major thing I see wrong is that the tower is sitting on the desk.

Also 600m is not deep enough. Work with 750 to 800.
 
teaboy5 said:
One major thing I see wrong is that the tower is sitting on the desk.

Also 600m is not deep enough. Work with 750 to 800.
Click to expand...

Cheers, I'll have a look at moving the tower under the desk to the right hand side, might be able to get it in-between the legs of the desk.

Sadly the layout of the room limits me to 60cm deep, I should be able to buy a few CM by wall mounting my monitor though.

Bickaxe said:
Use worktop (wood not that cheap chipboard and laminate stuff)
What's the height? I have adjustable legs as when I moved my chair, the arms would hit it.
The main part is supported, are those supports that sit above the stair boxing? If so, you won't need supports for case as well
Click to expand...

Yeah, will probably look at a worktop surface as you say. Height will be 67cm for the legs and support and I figure another 3cm or so for the desk thickness.

So from the floor I reckon the desk top surface will be 70cm, which works out in a good range for my height and seat layout.

If I move the tower to the floor and have it lifted off the floor on some sort of tray I will have a large worktop area to the left which will be useful.
 
Cheers for the feedback, only my first time using ketchup so this is incredibly rushed/poor. But this should give a better view of the area I can work with.

vdiohw.jpg
 
VaderDSL said:
Cheers for the feedback, only my first time using ketchup so this is incredibly rushed/poor. But this should give a better view of the area I can work with.

vdiohw.jpg
Click to expand...

For height I would go with something between 72 - 75 cm and the work top on top of that.
 
teaboy5 said:
One major thing I see wrong is that the tower is sitting on the desk.
Click to expand...

What's the problem with the tower being on top?

There is a lot of unusable space on top of the desk (at the left where you cant sit with your legs under it)
It's also going to pick up more dust being at floor level.
 
touch said:
What's the problem with the tower being on top?

There is a lot of unusable space on top of the desk (at the left where you cant sit with your legs under it)
It's also going to pick up more dust being at floor level.
Click to expand...

I simply can't stand a tower on top of a desk, it just looks awful and is a massive waste of space.

Filter the intakes and clean it every now and again. A little dust won't kill a machine.
 
As much as I would like my tower on the floor out of the way, I'd rather reduce the amount of dust it picks up so it sits on the desk to the side which would be wasted otherwise.

And seeing as I can see it, I made it look prettier by throwing in some water and lights.

Have extended my desk legs to 80cm so the chair arms can pass under it. Elbows are level with the desk, feet flat on the floor and its comfortable.

Most people sit wrong so work out your ideal desk height from how you sit. Where will your monitor be? at an angle or directly in front of you?

Your 2nd plan looks better but I would position the tower to the far right on the desk over the legs giving you the rest of the space.
 
Tower on top every time. Its a real pain in the ass when you need to get around the back or pop the side off etc.
 
SPG said:
Tower on top every time. Its a real pain in the ass when you need to get around the back or pop the side off etc.
Click to expand...

What can you possibly be doing that you need to be around the back or popping the side off all the time.

Build computer - ensure it works - plug it in - leave it until you get a new one???

Computer on the floor every time. Sits out of the way and what case doesn't have some USB's on the top for easy access.
 
VaderDSL said:
Cheers for the feedback, only my first time using ketchup so this is incredibly rushed/poor. But this should give a better view of the area I can work with.

vdiohw.jpg
Click to expand...

Are there actually walls to the left and right? If so then don't bother with the legs on the right hand end, and the blocks at the left, just baton to the wall around all 3 sides - should be more than strong enough.

Wouldn't necessarily put anything on top of the stairs boxing, as depending on construction it might not be as solid as you think.

Laminate worktop is fine (especially if both ends are enclosed as you won't have to worry about finishing them), and is plenty strong enough for a desk.

Real wood would be nicer, but at the cheaper end it is normally made of strips that can bow over time. MDF you have the issue of how to finish it to a decent standard.

I wouldn't bother with complicated cuts for cable management, much easier to do round holes with a holesaw, which you can then get the cable covers for as used on bought desks e.g.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/80mm-Comp...-Surface-Outlet-Wire-Hole-Cover-/320932030606
 
Pulling out the audio out when i want to use speakers instead of head set. OCUk need to sell a simple 3.5mm switch plugging usb3 as it only works on the back in mu 700d. Upgrades now and then, topup the water..... Clean the fans.

Floor sucks for a PC ;)
 
Unless you have loads of desk space then put PC alongside the desk underneath out the way. You see some comedy big towers on top of tiny desks all crampted in the desk/case thread :p
 
I have a 2mx750mm oak worktop desk and only have a leg in each corner. 40mm thick oak is incredibly strong and being laminated it will be very stable, so shouldn't dip over time.

If thats an alcove you could get away with just running a baton around the wall with no legs needed.

Personally i like the look of a nice windowed case on the desk.
 
Cheers guys! Never had an area I could baton to the walls before so wasn't sure how much support it would offer.

Will pop down the local timber merchants at some point and see what they have.

In terms of having desk on the top, it will only be a NZXT S340 so only 45cm high but I'll have a play around to see what to looks like on the floor.

I might even make a small wheel base for the tower if it goes on the floor.
 
Well it's complete, almost.

Paid someone to put the battens on the wall though, I had no tools/skill etc. as the walls weren't perfectly straight/flat.

I got a 30mm thick laminated melamine worktop from a kitchen place and ditched the idea of legs in favour of one support let using the existing area above the stairs.

Just finished off a bit of cable management, next step once parts come is to build the PC.

nvabye.jpg

2wfv7kn.jpg


Cheers for all the suggestions on here, much appreciated!
 
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