Building PC Desk

[Statik]

Hey guys. So I'm looking at building a custom desk for my rig (I'm moving my bedroom and all my stuff down there to a sweet setup). I'm not looking for anything special, just something fairly deep and long enough to fit my triple 27" monitors, and maybe my rig as well, etc. Had anyone here build a desk before? Do you have photos? I'm just looking for some inspiration.

[Extingquish]

@ttam had a guide here: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/63380-the-easy-option-for-a-computer-desk/

[corbetto]

Here is @ClownFace1511 's one that i thought looked nice http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/390225-scratch-build-project-ravage-custom-watercooled-computer-table-build-by-17-yr-old/

[SeanAngelo]

Hey guys. So I'm looking at building a custom desk for my rig (I'm moving my bedroom and all my stuff down there to a sweet setup). I'm not looking for anything special, just something fairly deep and long enough to fit my triple 27" monitors, and maybe my rig as well, etc. Had anyone here build a desk before? Do you have photos? I'm just looking for some inspiration.

Ikea has some good desks

[KemoKa]

I built this desk extension/workbench out of seven wood studs and about five billion screws. I wanted it for a space to do my soldering/tinkering projects without damaging my computer setup. The whole thing cost me about $22 in wood, and that's only because I didn't use the shitty stuff. Plain old wood studs would have worked just fine too.

 

Took me, a basement-dwelling nerd/fox loli with no trace of redneck in him/her, a single evening with a drill and a mitre saw. Honestly, most of the time was taken up by just sifting through the wood stack at Lowes looking for good studs.

[Statik]

Ikea has some good desks

They don't seem to have very big ones, and they're fucking STUPIDLY expensive. I drive a truck for a big hardware store, so I can get some decent deals on G1S ply.

[SeanAngelo]

They don't seem to have very big ones, and they're fucking STUPIDLY expensive. I drive a truck for a big hardware store, so I can get some decent deals on G1S ply.

You can build your own table, it's cheaper than buying a standard built table

[Statik]

You can build your own table, it's cheaper than buying a standard built table

..that's what this thread is about...

[KemoKa]

..that's what this thread is about...

The one I made isn't the sturdiest, but really that owes to me being lazy and only holding it together with screws at the top of the legs. If you do it right with some struts or something along those lines you can make it really solid. The main slab of wood of my table at least feels very sturdy indeed.

 

I think it's totally worth it, if you have the time to spend building it. Honestly, you'd probably spend less time on it than having to walk ALL THE WAY through IKEA, dithering about which to buy, and then drive all the way back home. You'll spend far less money on it, at any rate, And it's solid wood, none of this MDF nonsense. As long as the cross braces aren't skewed to hell, you'll be grand.

[Statik]

The one I made isn't the sturdiest, but really that owes to me being lazy and only holding it together with screws at the top of the legs. If you do it right with some struts or something along those lines you can make it really solid. The main slab of wood of my table at least feels very sturdy indeed.

 

I think it's totally worth it, if you have the time to spend building it. Honestly, you'd probably spend less time on it than having to walk ALL THE WAY through IKEA, dithering about which to buy, and then drive all the way back home. You'll spend far less money on it, at any rate, And it's solid wood, none of this MDF nonsense. As long as the cross braces aren't skewed to hell, you'll be grand.

Yeah, I'm thinking about getting some fir good one side from work, then maybe look for some sleek metal legs from home depot or something, then if it's not sturdy enough brace it with some 2x4 or 2x6.

[zool]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yxmi14ru10

 

this is a great build to give you ideas. It's quite long and in 3 parts. 

 

Hope it helps

[Statik]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yxmi14ru10

 

this is a great build to give you ideas. It's quite long and in 3 parts. 

 

Hope it helps

Thanks man, I had ZERO idea what I wanted the top to look like, but I came across this gem on the ikea website! For only $40 CAD

 

http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/80251358/

 

Then I found these legs! 

 

http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/90217972/#/10217971

 

 

I think if I do 1 leg in each corner, then one in the middle at the back, the desk should be quite strong and sturdy. Opinions? And it will only be $60!!

[ttam]

They don't seem to have very big ones, and they're fucking STUPIDLY expensive. I drive a truck for a big hardware store, so I can get some decent deals on G1S ply.

$60 is cheap for that big of a desk with legs.

[Statik]

$60 is cheap for that big of a desk with legs.

I actually JUST looked into a review of a combo with those legs and that desk, and it's VERY unsturdy.  So I'm not on the hunt for a new desk. Any suggestions?

 

I want as long as possible (a MINIMUM of like 5-5.5ft. But ideally would like more), sturdy, and ideally sub $250 CAD.

[AlanTheEmu]

I'm also in the planning stages for the desk I want to build. I'm looking at walnut veneered MDF for mine with a couple of cupboards built in. I'm choosing the lazy option of having the wood cut to size and then just putting it together since I have no room to be cutting large sheets of MDF.

[Statik]

I'm also in the planning stages for the desk I want to build. I'm looking at walnut veneered MDF for mine with a couple of cupboards built in. I'm choosing the lazy option of having the wood cut to size and then just putting it together since I have no room to be cutting large sheets of MDF.

If you give somewhere like Home Depot (I know RONA in Canada does) non retarded dimensions, they'll cut them for you.

[AlanTheEmu]

If you give somewhere like Home Depot (I know RONA in Canada does) non retarded dimensions, they'll cut them for you.

We don't have Home Depot in the UK. The only major hardware stores we have are B&Q and Wickes, they will also make the cuts for you free of charge but they only supply normal MDF the place I'm buying from has it already vennered so saves me having to do it. The other option is plywood as I can just stain it with walnut stain. Regular plywood is more expensive than the pre-vennered MDF though.

[Statik]

We don't have Home Depot in the UK. The only major hardware stores we have are B&Q and Wickes, they will also make the cuts for you free of charge but they only supply normal MDF the place I'm buying from has it already vennered so saves me having to do it. The other option is plywood as I can just stain it with walnut stain. Regular plywood is more expensive than the pre-vennered MDF though.

Well all I got to say is I bought a kickass kitchen table from Ikea yesterday. It had 2 removable leaves (I only have one in), and it fits my rig perfectly. Here's a quick photo of it (I'm going to post a full room rebuild thread when I get my TV this week and finish it.)

 

http://imgur.com/wfVPvuL

 

http://imgur.com/twDkOJq

[NiteStyle]

I am in the process of designing a desk in SketchUp. Still has plenty of work to do -- any feedback would be appreciated. I am unsure how tall the cabinet should be to future proof it for upgrades.

[Statik]

I am in the process of designing a desk in SketchUp. Still has plenty of work to do -- any feedback would be appreciated. I am unsure how tall the cabinet should be to future proof it for upgrades.

Do you're doing the whole "pc in the desk" thing?

[NiteStyle]

Do you're doing the whole "pc in the desk" thing?

I am, yes, not sure about OP.

[Statik]

I am, yes, not sure about OP.

I am OP. I've already gotten my desk, like I stated above.

 

What are your specs? And why do you want to do this?

[NiteStyle]

I am OP. I've already gotten my desk, like I stated above.

 

What are your specs? And why do you want to do this?

I updated the desk. Right now, I have an i5-4590, GTX 960, ASUS H97M-Plus, and one 8GB Crucial Sport, powered by an Antec BP550. That may be subject to change before I get the desk however -- esp the mobo. I am doing this because I like creating unique things to own and I think it'll be a cool part of my living room.

[Statik]

I updated the desk. Right now, I have an i5-4590, GTX 960, ASUS H97M-Plus, and one 8GB Crucial Sport, powered by an Antec BP550. That may be subject to change before I get the desk however -- esp the mobo. I am doing this because I like creating unique things to own and I think it'll be a cool part of my living room.

I suppose it's cool

 

IMO the PC in your desk thing is starting to become cliche and common, and IMO it's only really good with a beastlyr rig and custom water cooling