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?

Quartz · 20 Sep 2020 at 23:08

mid_gen said:
Couple of legs, I used these.

Those look great.

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

Quartz · 21 Sep 2020 at 13:58

alexakasloth said:
What sort of weight would you be placing on it?

Mainly three monitors, a HOTAS, and such.

Quartz · 21 Sep 2020 at 19:32

Good idea. If I inset a timber a little it will hide the cable management trays.

Quartz · 22 Sep 2020 at 09:00

Excellent!

Quartz · 22 Sep 2020 at 16:37

Vince said:
I have the Mokka Executive as does the wife only hers is smaller...

Thanks but despite having a L-shaped desk now, I don't want my new desk to be L-shaped.

I've ordered a 2m oak top and the industrial legs. I've also orderd an oak strip which I'll use as a modesty board behind which to hide the cabing. Plus it will also hide the angle iron I'll be using to brace the desk. Now I just need to get some furniture polish.

Quartz · 25 Sep 2020 at 19:26

The wood has arrived; I'm just waiting on the legs.

{SAS}TB said:
Worktop express oak worktop here - works a dream

That's the one I ordered. I ordered a 3m splash panel which I'm going to divide to make a modesty panel for the cable management and to possibly raise the desk.

Quartz · 28 Sep 2020 at 09:27

stuie said:
How deep is that?

That's going to be 62 cm deep.

I'm just waiting on the delivery of the slotted angle iron and the purchase of screws before building mine.

Quartz · 28 Sep 2020 at 11:13

{SAS}TB said:
Also make sure you pre-drill the screw holes.

Oh yes, very good spot. What length of screws did you use?

stuie said:
do you find 620 deep enough?

I will have my monitors mounted on arms, not the huge stands with which they come. That saves a lot of depth: the arms only require 10 cm.

The angle iron has just arrived and it seems I also need to buy washers as the holes are so large. Off to B&Q and / or Screwfix this afternoon!

Quartz · 28 Sep 2020 at 11:36

{SAS}TB said:
@Quartz they were 30mm IIRC (they came with the legs I bought)

Heh. I better check the packaging again! Nope. No screws. I did find some rubber pads, though.

Quartz · 28 Sep 2020 at 19:12

JohnG7 said:
my case would not fit on a desk only 620mm deep,

My case is in a cupboard.

JohnG7 said:
My desk is 800mm deep,

The long side of the L on my current desk is about that deep and it's too deep. The room is only 8' x 10'. My current desk is far too large for the room. It was absolute hell to get it in, and it's going to be a right pain to extract.

Quartz · 30 Sep 2020 at 16:34

So the old desk is out and the new one in. Only I forgot to wax it. So there's nothing on it right now apart from half a pot of beeswax polish.

Quartz · 4 Oct 2020 at 22:14

The desk is in and my monitors are set up. I still have cable management to finish. With so many cables - I have three monitors - it's a right sod. It's strange having to slide over to game on my 4k monitor when previously I just had to turn around, but I'm mainly playing Star Wars Squadrons on my 3440x1440 monitor, though the 4k monitor may be better for the Tie fighters. One thing I do want to do is round off the front edge of the desk. Any tips?

The monitors take up about 10cm of desk space apart from the one I have at an angle and that can be pushed back. That leaves about 50cm and my eyes are a further 10 cm or so away, so I'm viewing the screens from around 60 cm - just under two feet.

Quartz · 5 Oct 2020 at 10:39

{SAS}TB said:
I sanded the edges with three descending grades of sandpaper before oiling

mid_gen said:
I just used my sheet sander to take the edge off mine.

Something to do later this week.