I need a new desk

Quartz · 20 Sep 2020 at 00:54

I currently have an office-style L-shaped desk with 1" steel tubing under the edge and I want something more suitable for my PC. And nicer. Just a straight plank about 5' long with some sturdy uprights and cable management underneath (and with three monitors and umpteen USB devices there are a LOT of cables) and an appropriate depth (help me out here!) for PC use. My monitors will be on monitor arms clamped to the edge, not stands.

I've looked at John Lewis and Ikea and not been impressed, though Ikea's Idasen comes close in style. I don't want veneered chipboard, much less the cardboard that's inside the Idasen.

I'm not afraid of a little carpentry. So I thought of a wood kitchen worktop which I could trim as needed, but are they actually suitable, from where should I buy one, and what about the uprights?

JohnG7 · 20 Sep 2020 at 01:13

I posted here:

Find me the perfect corner desk | Page 2 | Overclockers UK Forums

alexakasloth · 20 Sep 2020 at 06:41

Have a look on the 'show us your desk' thread, many members have used kitchen worktop for a desk.

robj20 · 20 Sep 2020 at 07:43

Took me ages to decide but I have this. Excellent quality really thick wood. They do an L shaped one as well.

https://www.officefurnitureonline.co.uk/next-day-karbon-k2-rectangular-panel-end-office-desks.html

Resistance · 20 Sep 2020 at 08:09

Go to your local hardware shop pick up what you need and make your own it will save you cash and you can make just what you need

JohnG7 · 20 Sep 2020 at 16:24

robj20 said:
Took me ages to decide but I have this. Excellent quality really thick wood. They do an L shaped one as well.

https://www.officefurnitureonline.co.uk/next-day-karbon-k2-rectangular-panel-end-office-desks.html

I originally wanted that but it was out of stock so went with the one I linked to (in black) the underside support is further back so more room for my legs/items but does not drop as near to the floor to hide the skirting/cables a bit more.

mid_gen · 20 Sep 2020 at 21:59

Buy a solid wood kitchen worktop of your choosing, cut to your desired length. Couple of legs, I used these.

https://www.hartleysdirect.com/hartleys-industrial-square-table-legs.html?vat=2&psku=777240159#e&gclid=CjwKCAjw-5v7BRAmEiwAJ3DpuBkvZNguLixbMmWAmTr8WPdlEQZ35_muh0fdN0Evk1MIj8t-GOvnMhoCrdsQAvD_BwE#966=141&967=894

Miles better quality than anything you'll buy premade for the money. Just attach whatever cable management you want to the underside, it's solid wood, so just screw it in.

I had some existing worktop from a kitchen I ripped out. It's 120x60, fits 2x 32" 4k monitors plus speakers, HOTAS, mic boom, lamp etc.

If I was buying the wood new I'd probably go for 70cm depth for a bit more room.

JohnG7 · 20 Sep 2020 at 22:03

I was going to go that route but the desk I got is solid and UK made and looks modern and the dogs b's

Quartz · 20 Sep 2020 at 23:08

mid_gen said:
Couple of legs, I used these.

Those look great.

jpaul · 21 Sep 2020 at 07:58

I don't see where you can get solid wood tops at a reasonble price ? you might stumble on an offcut, but otherwise,
the likes of the ikea (staved) ones, if you want a piece big enough, deep enough, its going to be £200+,
you'll probably still have to join it if you want an L too plus the cutting for a nice curve.
add on the steel feet, and possibly under-support, with it's additional weigh you'rer adding £200. (mid_gens example)

The pre-built veneered ones, melamined ones, are nearer £250.

I currently use an re-purposed pine kitchen table, so I'd say look on gumtree too.

alexakasloth · 21 Sep 2020 at 09:14

jpaul said:
I don't see where you can get solid wood tops at a reasonble price ? you might stumble on an offcut, but otherwise,
the likes of the ikea (staved) ones, if you want a piece big enough, deep enough, its going to be £200+,
you'll probably still have to join it if you want an L too plus the cutting for a nice curve.
add on the steel feet, and possibly under-support, with it's additional weigh you'rer adding £200. (mid_gens example)

The pre-built veneered ones, melamined ones, are nearer £250.

I currently use an re-purposed pine kitchen table, so I'd say look on gumtree too.

A lower cost option that I have used is pine timber-board such as:

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-General-Purpose-Pine-Timberboard---18mm-x-600mm-x-2350mm/p/110150

£51 for 2350 x 600 (18mm thickness), whilst it may not look as nice as oak, ash or beech it's quite nice with a clear varnish.

chippie · 21 Sep 2020 at 09:23

I used a fire door - they are solid core, so won't bow in the middle, and a decent size. Quick sand and a couple of coats of varnish. Previously used worktop, but 600mm wasn't deep enough for me.

Used https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Lisburn-Ply-Flush-Internal-Fire-Door---1981-mm/p/9000152487 - £55

Did have it resting on 2 drawer units, but now got an electric riser desk frame from Amazon that it's mounted on.

413x · 21 Sep 2020 at 09:44

Got a karlby ikea walnut worktop on 2 of thier drawers units.

I need another one to make it an L (too much crap) and just waiting for it to come in stock.

Looks great.

Id post a pic but I'm not finished yet

jpaul · 21 Sep 2020 at 10:21

chippie said:
I used a fire door - they are solid core

thats a good idea

if you wanted to cut a curve (you'd have to create a jig I guess), veneered plywood, would be strong, span well, and present a nice edge
eg . https://www.atlantictimber.co.uk/venply68x4.html ~£100, with mid_gen's ends, say.

Quartz · 21 Sep 2020 at 11:06

I'm looking further at kitchen worktops from Worktop Express like this one

and I'm wondering if they'll support any weight since they're just blocks of wood glued together

413x · 21 Sep 2020 at 11:12

Quartz said:
I'm looking further at kitchen worktops from Worktop Express like this one

and I'm wondering if they'll support any weight since they're just blocks of wood glued together

My ikea karlby is fine so far.
Probably 12kg in the middle where there's no support. Can always add a leg if you're worried?

Reppyboyo · 21 Sep 2020 at 11:28

Funnily enough I was looking at upgrading my current desk to a nice kitchen worktop one.

Seem to find many normal desks are not very deep (typically 60cm like my current ikea one), finding something between 70 to 80cm is somewhat rare.

Any other links to good kitchen worktop sellers?

stuie · 21 Sep 2020 at 11:41

Looking at doing the same, got a 3m span in my study so going to get setup for semi permanent WFH or a homework area for my daughter when she needs it.

just trying to decide if 600 would be deep enough or to spend the extra on 720

jpaul · 21 Sep 2020 at 12:11

413x said:
Probably 12kg in the middle where there's no support. Can always add a leg if you're worried?

resting with fore-arms/elbows is going to massively exceed the monitor, I would think ... sometimes 1/2 sit on work colleagues desks .

- previous discussion https://www.woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator/
so if you do 30kg in middle of a 2m/620 40mm particle board(kalby'esque?) span you get 6mm , or with 19mm plywood , I'd mentioned, 30mm! (only one type of plywood listed)

alexakasloth · 21 Sep 2020 at 13:09

Quartz said:
I'm looking further at kitchen worktops from Worktop Express like this one

and I'm wondering if they'll support any weight since they're just blocks of wood glued together

Yes, adhesives are quite strong (evostik wood glue for example claims to be as strong as the wood itself), whilst I couldn't give an exact figure it would be fine for a desk.

What sort of weight would you be placing on it? My beech worktops support my weight.