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Thread: Home Office Desk top Advice
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12th March 2019, 08:44 AM #1
Home Office Desk top Advice
Hi Folks,
Bit of advice required... I'm building a double desk into a nook in our spare room for my wife and I and was thinking of using this: https://www.bunnings.com.au/marquee-...chtop_p2667635
Now unfortunately, i don't have the time, money or tools required to make my own benchtop, so i thought this would be a good option even if i swap it out for something nicer down the track.
It will be "floating" as in i'll screw batons into the studs and sit the benchtop on top, the length is perfect already so my questions are:
- Would i need to put a leg half way along the front edge for support? I eventually want to put drawers under it so was going to use those as support, but won't have them for a while
- Does this cut well? I'll have to lob a corner off one side to avoid obstructing the entry into the room
- What type of finish works well? I was thinking a dark stain...
I'm aiming for something along these lines...
Home office.jpgComing Up With Complex Solutions to Non-Existent Problems Since 1985
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12th March 2019 08:44 AM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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12th March 2019, 10:57 AM #2
Hi,
At 2m long and 25mm thick it will require some support to prevent sagging. If you are having a drawer unit in the center then a temporary leg would do. Place it on 2 saw horses or something to get an idea of how flexy it is before you start. Another support method would be an apron but then that can cost you some clearance height for seating. I have not used those rubber wood tops but it should cut like most other woods.
Regards
John
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12th March 2019, 12:32 PM #3SENIOR MEMBER
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Rubberwood in this case is just a name for a SE Asian tropical hardwood. It's not overly hard and will cut and machine ok. Staining it shouldn't present any problems either, it's very commonly used for commercial furniture and stained a myriad of colors.
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12th March 2019, 01:34 PM #4
As mention you will need some sort of middle support.
If this is the exact length that you require then all the better.
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12th March 2019, 02:47 PM #5
Thanks for the responses everyone.
I kind of figured i'd need a middle support, just thought i'd check anyway. I'll just put in something temporary till i can get some drawers under there as support.Coming Up With Complex Solutions to Non-Existent Problems Since 1985
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12th March 2019, 06:51 PM #6
I used two of these laminated together for my woodwork bench top. It cuts & sands well, no chipping or splintering. I finished my benchtop with BLO & turps, but used another type of those laminated tops for a craft bench for SWMBO & just gave it a few coats of Wipe On Poly, which came up great. pesonally I wouldn't use a dark stain on a desk top, I prefer a lighter shade.
Alkahestic, these are made from old rubber trees, that are no longer viable for producing latex. In the past they were just bulldozed into piles & burnt, so these are an environmentally friendly product.
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12th March 2019, 09:07 PM #7Visit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.
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13th March 2019, 12:43 PM #8
Good Morning Dibbers
I made a desk very similar to the one in your illustration and it has been in daily use since 1985. It is simply a wooden top sitting on three 2-drawer Namco steel filing cabinets. Works fine.
Made the top myself - it is 2300 x 750 x 32 mm celery top pine. No sagging after 34 years, but it sits on the cabinet tops and only actually spans the two knee holes which are 500 mm wide.
Desk.jpg
If you are worried about sag, then the cheapest and easiest solution might be just to stack two of those rubberwood panels on top of each other.
Cheers
Graeme
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17th March 2019, 01:54 PM #9Senior Member
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If you plan to use an optical computer mouse you may find some wood will require a mat on top of the wood. I haven't used a mouse for ages, mainly working on a laptop, but it's something to consider as the wood grain can confuse the mouse. Maybe mice (?) are more sophisticated now.
On the bright side, the cat will appreciate that.
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17th March 2019, 07:52 PM #10GOLD MEMBER
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I have built 5 different desks. Three of them are 32" x 72" tops, 5/8" G1S. The others are 32" x 96" tops.
They are all #1 A-Grade Douglas fir plywood (about as good as it gets).
There's a 2x4 ladder frame under each and a center leg for the 96" desks. I weigh 90kg and I can stand on them.
No rails, they hurt my knees. Nothing sags with 3 or 4 tower computers on it.
Gravity holds the tops down so that they do not float away (no screws).
GraemeCook has the right idea. Do up a fancy desk when you can. In the mean time, make some money.
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18th March 2019, 11:48 AM #11
Thanks for all the tips folks.
I think ill go a temporary leg for now. The intention is to put drawers in eventually so a rail might make it more difficult than it needs to be
Sent from my SM-G950F using TapatalkComing Up With Complex Solutions to Non-Existent Problems Since 1985
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18th March 2019, 12:53 PM #12
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18th March 2019, 01:36 PM #13Senior Member
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My old mouse caused the cursor to jump around on wood grain so I had to use a mouse pad. The new mouse doesn't. Maybe I should have said 'Some mice require a pad on top of woodgrain (or other strong patterns)' rather than 'some woods'.
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