Super-Huge Computer Desk

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neozenkai

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Joined
Jun 25, 2005
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Hello all. I have been looking at the gallery of all the computer setups, and I've gotten some ideas, and now I plan to build a computer desk. I want a simple table-like desk, only huge, like 3' by 8' (that's feet, FEET). The top will be covered in Formica (probably a black or blue-gray) and the sides will be stained oak. I also plan to do some type of cable management rack at the back, like a box of some sort. I also want a huge keyboard tray, like three feet wide and a foot deep. I have attached a scan of some plans I drew up, so please, if you have any suggestions/comments/tips/whatever, please feel free to reply. Also, I don't mind if you want to use these plans. So, wish me luck!

deskplan.jpg
 
Well other than the fact that those images are bigger than my 21" monitor can view (please re-size for the rest of us), It looks like a good, simple design. You may want to look into using a solid door for the desk surface though. Depending on your material prices, It may bet a cheaper way of getting a decently flat piece of desk surface to put your formica on. I'd also love to hear the opinions of others here though.

Good luck!
 
jmroberts70 said:
Well other than the fact that those images are bigger than my 21" monitor can view (please re-size for the rest of us), It looks like a good, simple design. You may want to look into using a solid door for the desk surface though. Depending on your material prices, It may bet a cheaper way of getting a decently flat piece of desk surface to put your formica on. I'd also love to hear the opinions of others here though.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Sorry about that, GIMP was being gay and crashed, so there ya go. I was going to do a solid door, but it's not exactly what I want/need I chose MDF because it's the best price for the durability. That employee discount a Lowe's really helps! Thanks for your input!
 
very nice, someone over on ocforums is making an "octagon" desk, that would be ideal, but would take up alot more room/.
 
mota bought a 6' conference table (by Sauder, I believe) similar in style to this for ~$300 and added a 3M reticulating keyboard tray. You can get longer tables, they are very simple but elegant and quite sturdy. :)
 
When I saw the name of this thread I couldn't help think of Lantec :D .

manddeskref.jpg


Would love to see some pics of the finished desk, looks like its gunna be pretty sweet.
 
neozenkai said:
. I want a simple table-like desk, only huge, like 3" by 8".
Click to expand...

Damned, that wouldn't even hold my mouse pad, let alone a monitor ;)
 
Zxcs said:
When I saw the name of this thread I couldn't help think of Lantec :D .

manddeskref.jpg


Would love to see some pics of the finished desk, looks like its gunna be pretty sweet.
Click to expand...


man that was the funniest thing,, way back
 
Design looks good. :)

You may want to put some 2x4s parallel with the longer dimension of the top to stiffen it up to prevent sagging.
 
no, no, seriously, 3 inches by 8 inches! Sorry about that :)

Thanks for all the input, I'll post pics as I build it. I'll be getting materials in about a week or so, then I'll begin.
 
You might want to look into kitchen tops. Yes, yes. I know it sounds crazy, but trust me on this one. A long time ago my dad got me a new desk for Christmas, and this thing was huge. I couldn't quite figure out where he had gotten it because its just a really long, rounded-edge top with a bunch of stands. It turns out he had just purchased the stands from another desk and used those as the base for the kitchen table top. Its a beast to move but its got so much room it makes me weep. It's built pretty tough too, and when I went to college I swapped out the old bases for some bases from Ikea that gives me a bunch more space to put junk.

Something to consider :)
 
The desk looks fine structurally, but you forgot a couple items on your shopping list.

Items:

1. Iron-on laminate edging, optionally you could use solid oak strips; I would!
2. Rubber contact cement
3. Wooden dowels (to apply the laminate)
4. Wood glue
5. Screws
6. Finishing nails
7. Masking tape (used this to prevent the veneer from chipping while cutting)
8. Sandpaper
9. Tack cloths
10. Stain
11. Varnish
12 Paint thinner
13. Hardware for shelves

Tools:

1. Panel/Table saw
2. Drill
3. Router with flush cut bit
4. Screw driver
5. Sanding block
6. Paint brushes and sponges
7. Iron
8. Utility knife
9. Laminate trimmer/cutter
10. Laminate roller
 
I would just buy a jerker from ikea, or an 8' folding table. Your depth is too much. 28" should be the maximum. MDF is sooo heavy and hard to cut, it's murder on your tools. I would build a frame out of 1 X 2 stock (you can rip some 2 X 4's) and use a thin oak or birch ply to cover it and put a nice hardwood edge to it. Come to think of it, that's quite a span, 8". You should consider two of those shelf units or four legs across the back. Lowes has premade table legs, use those.
 
OregonLAN said:
The desk looks fine structurally, but you forgot a couple items on your shopping list.

Items:

1. Iron-on laminate edging, optionally you could use solid oak strips; I would!
2. Rubber contact cement
3. Wooden dowels (to apply the laminate)
4. Wood glue
5. Screws
6. Finishing nails
7. Masking tape (used this to prevent the veneer from chipping while cutting)
8. Sandpaper
9. Tack cloths
10. Stain
11. Varnish
12 Paint thinner
13. Hardware for shelves

Tools:

1. Panel/Table saw
2. Drill
3. Router with flush cut bit
4. Screw driver
5. Sanding block
6. Paint brushes and sponges
7. Iron
8. Utility knife
9. Laminate trimmer/cutter
10. Laminate roller
Click to expand...

Yep, I have all the tools necessary, and instead of the laminate strips I'm going to use 1x1 oak stained the same color as the legs, with finishing nails to hold them on, or something like that.

Gibrani said:
I would just buy a jerker from ikea, or an 8' folding table. Your depth is too much. 28" should be the maximum. MDF is sooo heavy and hard to cut, it's murder on your tools. I would build a frame out of 1 X 2 stock (you can rip some 2 X 4's) and use a thin oak or birch ply to cover it and put a nice hardwood edge to it. Come to think of it, that's quite a span, 8". You should consider two of those shelf units or four legs across the back. Lowes has premade table legs, use those.
Click to expand...

Yeah, 3' is HUGE, but that's what I want. I'm going to have a 7.1 speaker system, which means a center speaker, two CRT monitors, about three towers, and all the peripherals that go along with them. Lowe's also has those big saws and they cut the wood for you, so that'll save me trouble. You do have a point about the leg units. I do have a cross-beam 12" tall that will go along the back, but maybe won't be enough??? I'll have to play around with the dimensions as I build it.

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys.
 
On second thought, that's a good idea: framing it instead of a huge piece of MDF. Probably stronger, lighter, and most importantly, cheaper. Good idea! :cool:
 
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