Appropriate thickness for a desktop

**quick-eze** · 14th February 2007, 11:50 AM

I'm not sure what panel to use for a desktop. I was thinking either MDF or chipboard, veneered in tassie oak, then edged with hardwood. What thickness/what material would you guys recommend?

It's for approximately 1600 * 900 desk size. 2nd question, if i was to make it out of actual tasmanian oak, what width/thickness of board should I use, I'd be interested to see the price difference between the wood and veneered board.

Thanks very much

**snowyskiesau** · 14th February 2007, 11:58 AM

My desk is 3600 x 800 with supports at each 1200mm. It's made of 25mm MDF.
It has no bow in the top after about 5 years heavy use.

**Cabbie** · 14th February 2007, 05:05 PM

Usually we use 26mm Veneer Board or 25mm Melamine for desk you will be working at. Benches such as kitchen benches ect are quite often thicker using 33mm. As for the substrate you would take into consideration of whether its in a wet area or not. If so then you are better off going HMR chipboard but if not then normal chipboard or MDF is fie. MDF is better if you want to mitre it ect as it leaves a cleaner smoorther edge. If you want to use solid timber ask for it to be 35mm or 30mm thick undressed and you can dress it to 25mm. 25mm is good as it won't be as likely to bow or sag in the middle. It might bow a very small amount at about 1600x900 but you should be fine I wouldn't think it would bow much at all. Remember the density of MDF means that it is much heavier than Particle Board and if you want to move it around you might want to consider that also. At that size it won't be too bad. Hopefully that helps ya out
Cheers
Tristan

**quick-eze** · 14th February 2007, 05:41 PM

Thanks very much for your help guys,

legends!

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