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Need a new desk. Where to look?

ZimFreak

I need a new desk, mine is bowed in the middle because it's thin cheap particle board. I need a new desk, preferably with a sliding keyboard tray and no hutch or any nonsense on top. I initially started looking on Craigslist but everything is either old as hell and too small or way too expensive. Anything around the $100 range that's any good? I don't need solid mahogany hardwood but something sturdy and attractive at least. And where should I even start shopping? Furniture stores? Best Buy? Walmart? Amazon? Craigslist/Ebay? No Ikea near me unfortunately.

 

I've never shopped for a desk before. 

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there's no general answer -  ikea offers solid tables, craigslist is also a good place to look for used stuff. I'm not from the US so i can't tell you exactly where to look elsewhere. But you also can find offerings at furniture stores i guess.

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Now I dont normally comment on stuff outside of the odd floatplane thing... But this made me curious if anyone does what I do for a desk, especially since I do all kinds of stuff on my desk - like stuff that might catch fire all kinds of stuff and heavy stuff.

 

So my "desk" is actually a cheap, plain wood fire door (not the super thick ones), they're <£30 at times from wickes/B&Q in the UK. Prop that up on a filing cabinet (one of the 3 door ones) or one of the ikea desk things (the alex(?) is actually pretty sturdy for the hate ikea stuff gets) and on the other side I have a truss type thing that holds my tower made from a bunch of screws and some cheap wood I bought along with the door.

 

Result: 180x60cm of fireproof, solid, plain wood surface (that can be sanded is you ever mess up with epoxy or whatever) that has drawers and space to hold my machine for under £50 (I had the filing cabinet).

 

Of course, given that much space its a total mess so no pictures, but its a door on a wood frame type thing and a filing cabinet so...

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6 minutes ago, 19_blackie_73 said:

there's no general answer -  ikea offers solid tables, craigslist is also a good place to look for used stuff. I'm not from the US so i can't tell you exactly where to look elsewhere. But you also can find offerings at furniture stores i guess.

Unfortunately I live in the only place in the world that doesn't have an Ikea nearby, New York (not NYC)

4 minutes ago, code_glitch said:

...

So my "desk" is actually a cheap, plain wood fire door (not the super thick ones), they're <£30 at times from wickes/B&Q in the UK. Prop that up on a filing cabinet (one of the 3 door ones) or one of the ikea desk things (the alex(?) is actually pretty sturdy for the hate ikea stuff gets) and on the other side I have a truss type thing that holds my tower made from a bunch of screws and some cheap wood I bought along with the door.

...

That's fascinating and actually not a terrible idea. What do you do about the hinges and door handle though? 

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"we" got right now two different desks from Ikea, my wife wanted a Hemnes due to the containers it has and it is a comfy size. I went for Arkelstorp and am quite happy with that. Though both haven't got a keyboard tray to pull out. Arkelstorp is right now around 180€ but it's worth it from what I can tell from using it many hours per day.

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2 minutes ago, ZimFreak said:

Unfortunately I live in the only place in the world that doesn't have an Ikea nearby, New York (not NYC)

That's fascinating and actually not a terrible idea. What do you do about the hinges and door handle though? 

Remove hinges, built in cupholder!

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office depot has sales pretty frequently, for example, about a month ago they had an L shaped desk on sale for around 180$, after the sale was over it went back up to $300, this week its down to around $280, I'm going to wait till it goes back down to 180. but I'm sure they have smaller desks for cheaper. this is the desk I'm currently using http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/891544/Realspace-Dawson-60-Computer-Desk-Brushed/   its on sale for 140, and its decent, its still composite fiber board or whatever but it does not sag with weight on it, I have a dg-87 x99 2x1080sli rig and 3x 24" on a tri monitor mount on it.

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Just now, ZimFreak said:

That's fascinating and actually not a terrible idea. What do you do about the hinges and door handle though? 

Okay so this a plain door and by plain I mean like *plaaaain*. So no detail, no holes, hinges, handles or anything. Its pretty much just a slab of wood *stuff* (wood frame and panels filled with what appears to be some fire-retardant wood-material like stuff). Exhibit A: http://www.diy.com/departments/flush-ply-veneer-internal-unglazed-door-h1981mm-w762mm/42692_BQ.prd
 

Not the exact one I got since I had just moved in and needed a door so I popped down to the local wickes and found this one on sale but it gives you an idea of what you can find.

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2 minutes ago, Aelar_Nailo said:

Remove hinges, built in cupholder!

lol cup holder is unique didn't think of that. good one.

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4 minutes ago, ZimFreak said:

Unfortunately I live in the only place in the world that doesn't have an Ikea nearby, New York (not NYC)

afaik they do ship their stuff too, at least where I live ;)

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1 minute ago, 19_blackie_73 said:

afaik they do ship their stuff too, at least where I live ;)

How have I never thought of that? Looks like you're right though. That's amazing, Ikea has so much great cheap stuff. Definitely checking them out now.  Thanks

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3 minutes ago, shawnhovde said:

lol cup holder is unique didn't think of that. good one.

Thanks, I try.

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Side note on using a door: Check if you want one thats hollow or has an internal frame. Hollow is obviously less strong, but should usually be fine for actual normal desk stuff. Just had a skim on that link and its a hollow door so theres that. For what its worth, mine is 1.8-2m tall, is not framed and only has some MDF type stuff inside and I can stand on it (I weigh about 80kg) provided I dont have all my weight in the middle. Though I don't test it too often given my machine is under it and my screens and things on top. But whenever I need to get a spider/change a bulb I have no reservations standing near the ends instead of getting the stepladder (lazy)

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I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE AN IKEA NEARBY, HEAR ME OUT

 

My desk is the (not sure if I'm spelling this correctly) Ikea Linnmon table top (the big one, can't remember the exact measurements) with a pair of Alex Drawer units. This will cost around $200 but if you don't need the drawers, you can get just the table top and some (Adils?) legs for it for around $80. Also, I believe that Ikea does shipping, but I don't remember where to and prices.

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I bought some plywood and had my carpenter cut it for me, my setup looks like this:

Spoiler

 

pc.png.fa2d807f8fdada1a1d374b1ef4da2c1b.png

 

(Middle) Space below the monitor is for my keyboard and mouse when I want to store them while I use my drawing tablet or for when I'm eating

(Right) Space below the printer is for my notebooks, pen, paper and the area in front of it is where I draw/write (which reminds me, I need to buy a lamp)

(Left) Space below the router and avr is for my extension and cables

 

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5 minutes ago, Mirdon said:

I bought some plywood and had my carpenter cut it for me, my setup looks like this:

  Hide contents

 

pc.png.fa2d807f8fdada1a1d374b1ef4da2c1b.png

 

(Middle) Space below the monitor is for my keyboard and mouse when I want to store them while I use my drawing tablet or for when I'm eating

(Right) Space below the printer is for my notebooks, pen, paper and the area in front of it is where I draw/write (which reminds me, I need to buy a lamp)

(Left) Space below the router and avr is for my extension and cables

 

Look cool. What did you use to seal or finish the plywood top?

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I actually did a similar thing to Mirdon.

Because I'm cheap and ghetto, I ended up doing a similar thing with some odd bits and bobs from ikea to raise mine up since I spend waay to much time at my desk and it was taking it's toll on shoulders/neck. I know some people hate ikea, and this shelf is probably why, but one Lack shelf and some of those metal cabinet feet later and you get the thing described here: http://www.ikeahackers.net/2015/12/10cm-lift-desk-shelf-monitor-stand.html
 

Its not built into the desk, or very high but it works well enough and looks un-offensive and almost decent. Its an ikea 'hack' thats pretty cheap and minimal effort if people want to duplicate it however they like (you get matte/gloss shelves in that line of varying lengths and colours) and its basically just a bit of measuring plus 16 screws.

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For reference, this is the only part of my desk that is socially acceptable to post a picture of right now. Usually has more beer in view, and I know (unity peasant here, I am not getting into why). Part of strut for stand visible. Dust is a problem, cable management too but Im equal parts OCD and lazy so there...



IMG_20170513_171121.thumb.jpg.a64a45ae005bd4f1fb6ef64a487ac710.jpg

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Just now, ZimFreak said:

Look cool. What did you use to seal or finish the plywood top?

There are two screws underneath for each leg to connect them to the base. For the connection between the legs and the top surface, I think my carpenter either used a strong glue or nails, I'm not sure since I wasn't present while he was doing it and got back when the entire table and surface were already laminated. This is what it looks like disassembled:

Spoiler

 

59173233d8178_pcdisassembled.png.b30743243b1bc5002d800d36304ea69f.png

 

 

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1 hour ago, Mirdon said:

There are two screws underneath for each leg to connect them to the base. For the connection between the legs and the top surface, I think my carpenter either used a strong glue or nails, I'm not sure since I wasn't present while he was doing it and got back when the entire table and surface were already laminated. This is what it looks like disassembled:

  Hide contents

 

59173233d8178_pcdisassembled.png.b30743243b1bc5002d800d36304ea69f.png

 

 

I was more concerned about using plywood as a desk surface. I guess if it's a thick laminate it would be fine but how does the finish look?

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10 hours ago, ZimFreak said:

I was more concerned about using plywood as a desk surface. I guess if it's a thick laminate it would be fine but how does the finish look?

Unfortunately I wanted to stay anonymously as possible (hence me trying to evade your first question :D), I don't want any photo on the internet that can be associated with me (reason I went to the trouble of modeling my setup).

 

The plywood is 2cm thick, the surface is very smooth and there's no dents, lumps or any other deformities, it looks like a regular laminated computer table.

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13 hours ago, kelvinhall05 said:

I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE AN IKEA NEARBY, HEAR ME OUT

 

My desk is the (not sure if I'm spelling this correctly) Ikea Linnmon table top (the big one, can't remember the exact measurements) with a pair of Alex Drawer units. This will cost around $200 but if you don't need the drawers, you can get just the table top and some (Adils?) legs for it for around $80. Also, I believe that Ikea does shipping, but I don't remember where to and prices.

The Linmom requires freight shipping which is something like $200, it's not worth ordering directly from IKEA since the tabletop itself is so cheap.

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