desk.

[ixiboneheadixi]

ok i want to make a large l shaped desk in my extra room, i was originally planning on doing 3 of the ikea desks there because i need to cover a lot of space but ikea is too far away and with shipping it would be too much.

 

so could anyone find me on a site like lowes or home depot some desk or table tops or slabs of wood that would work and some legs so i can make a few desks cheaply? for the life of me all i can find is like hollowcore doors lol

[Rem!X`]

Personally, I have Ikea desks so I'm no help.  However, a buddy of mine checked with his local ACE Hardware, 84 Lumber, etc and ended up finding some laminate kitchen counter top that got slightly wet so they couldn't sell them.  They let him have them for free and he was able to make a MASSIVE L-desk that worked quite well and even drilled holes for cable management.  The only visible damaged was where some of the particle board was hanging down and the laminate was kinda bubbled.  He didn't care though, it was free. The only problem is that he got his legs at Ikea lol.  I would shop around your area and see if you can luck out as well.

[Hikaru12]

What's your budget? I've seen a good tutorial on LifeHacker using Tee fittings and pipes for the legs which is actually what I'm going to be using for my new desk (I've looked all over for all sorts of desks - steel, aluminum, prebuilt wood, building my own wood desk, etc. and decided on this option as the most sturdiest and best option).

[ixiboneheadixi]

What's your budget? I've seen a good tutorial on LifeHacker using Tee fittings and pipes for the legs which is actually what I'm going to be using for my new desk (I've looked all over for all sorts of desks - steel, aluminum, prebuilt wood, building my own wood desk, etc. and decided on this option as the most sturdiest and best option).

id prefer to have my budget be as close to as 100 bucks as possible lol kind of spent all my budget on my PC. also if it requires a lot of effort the only tool i own is a screwdriver lol

[W-L]

If you want something that just needs some assembly out of the box this may do but it's a bit over the budget.

 

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=424863-45571-OFD-TM-BITDBL+W&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=4640987&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=rel&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1

[brazilianloser]

Some solid core wood doors from (lowes, home depot...), then purchase something to hold them up. Legs are also available from such locations and you can also use: file cabinets, ikea legs and many other things.

[ixiboneheadixi]

Some solid core wood doors from (lowes, home depot...), then purchase something to hold them up. Legs are also available from such locations and you can also use: file cabinets, ikea legs and many other things.

haven't been able to find solid core wood doors without some sort of design of panels in it atlesst online, will look in store though

[brazilianloser]

haven't been able to find solid core wood doors without some sort of design of panels in it atlesst online, will look in store though

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Steves-Sons-36-in-x-80-in-Composite-Unfinished-Flush-Interior-Door-Slab-Q68FHFCNAC99/100086151

[iconic jamie]

Get on eBay and find an office clearance place lots of desks going cheap

[TheProfosist]

Lol II built mine out of 2x4's, screw, bolts, and all different kinds of things on top. I was actually going too do a build log for my latest desk which is 4ft long by 2ft deep.

[TheProfosist]

Oh and you dont need a very tick top as long as you support it properly.

[ixiboneheadixi]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Steves-Sons-36-in-x-80-in-Composite-Unfinished-Flush-Interior-Door-Slab-Q68FHFCNAC99/100086151

so I could just drill some table legs into it and I'd be good?

[TheProfosist]

so I could just drill some table legs into it and I'd be good?

I would at some additional support or bracing so you dont get sag over time with heavy components on top.

[ixiboneheadixi]

I would at some additional support or bracing so you dont get sag over time with heavy components on top.

how would I go about that? I don't exactly have access to many tools or lumber or anything lol

[brazilianloser]

You would have to put some good weight on it to make a solid core door sag... Ikea offers a variety of desk legs that you can use no problem. Now it would take some work though since you would have to stain the door, drill wholes and all. If you look at my album you can opt for some 6ft plastic desks from Office Depot as well, but these will sag like mentioned by the other poster for use if you place a lot of weight on the middle.

[TheProfosist]

Ill post a few pick of my desks shortly here.

 

how would I go about that? I don't exactly have access to many tools or lumber or anything lol

Put something along it length wise, preferably vertially as it woould contribute more support. Good places would be along the back edge and middle. You could also do the front but you may run out of thigh room.

 

You would have to put some good weight on it to make a solid core door sag... Ikea offers a variety of desk legs that you can use no problem. Now it would take some work though since you would have to stain the door, drill wholes and all. If you look at my album you can opt for some 6ft plastic desks from Office Depot as well, but these will sag like mentioned by the other poster for use if you place a lot of weight on the middle.

For legs just remember that standard US desk height is 28.5in. If you plan to put the desk on carpet and have a chair mat you can go up to 29in without issue.

Also for sag umm depends what your putting on it and even something stiff can sag especially over time if not properly supported.

[TheProfosist]

The first one actually has a hollow core closet door as the top and is the first one I built which was actually originally built as a standing desk, I have two of these, my desktop setup is actually on the other.

The second two pictures are actually of a work bench I made for mall electronics, soldering, and PC repair stuff. I have two of these and the top is high density fiber board with some sort of coating. The coating reminds me of what you would see on a high school or college chemistry lab table and seems be as resilient. I have no clue what it actually is because I my Grandpa found it in some stuff his friend was throwing out. I ended up cutting it in half and cutting off the bad bits resulting in 2 7ft by 20in pieces.

The last to pics are of my latest desk that is the the side desk for the main one my desktop is on for stuff im working on paper wise and what not. The top is a board my Grandpa (once again) found at Menards. I think its possibly a shelf board because of how its laminated and that it was also available in white. Either way its 4ft by 2ft size fit my needs perfectly. This was also the first desk/work bench that I tried single 2x4 legs. Doing the bolts ended up being a bit tricky but it worked out and is plenty strong for what I need it for.

Here also a workbench that I built with/for my grandpa out of wood my mother managed to salvage from a shed that was getting torn down at her work. We only had to buy the 2x6 that is on the front and the two side 2x4's were from previous projects.

[Scheer]

My in-law's home office has a 16' x 12' "L" desk that is simply laminate counter top supported by file cabinets and a 2x4 mounted horizontally to the wall. Oddly I cannot find any good pictures of something similar online, but this is pretty close...

 

 

So you would need two of these:

 

 

Two of these:

 

 

And a length of 2x4 lumber, handsaw (or see if they sell ~3' lengths of 2x4), handful of screws, a screwgun, and two 1/2" wrenches to tighten the splice bolts for the counter top joint.

 

You then screw the 2x4 to the wall, a screw on each stud will do, at the same height as the file cabinet (so make sure it is one of the taller style files, I believe 28 1/4" is what you want). Shove the files against the wall and throw the counter top down, preferably then putting a couple screws thru the counter top into the 2x4s on the wall to keep it sliding around.

 

Menard's commonly has very cheap counter top that was declined special orders, or damaged pieces. My grandfather routinely finds $10 sections to put in his rental houses since they get destroyed anyways... and then just watch craigslist or local auctions for a pair of old file cabinets.

 

You COULD skip the 2x4 on the wall and the files by simply screwing 2x4 legs on it, but it would require more time and tools. Also, it won't be as functional, look as good, nor as solid.