Laminex Desk Design?

**subaruliberty4l** · 3rd October 2006, 01:36 AM

Hi all,

I'm in Perth and planning to build a large, all-purpose desk for the study. Large enough for computer+printer and space enough to do paperwork.

Initial two designs were a bit unrealistic, and the third revision is dimensioned as follows:

2200x760x760mm
(2.2M long, 76cm deep, 76cm high)

See these images for a rough CAD mockup:
http://members.iinet.com.au/~lynch1/benchdesk1.png
http://members.iinet.com.au/~lynch1/benchdesk2.png

The idea is to use made up Laminated chipboard (not sure what or where, my dad used to use it all the time cabinet-making at TAFE) as the material, and a 2220x40x40x2.5 metal bar supporting the desk on the 'open' side.

Is this design feasible? Will the weight be supported?

Where can i buy 2400x900 sheets of Laminex coated chipboard? Rough prices?
What about edging? That plastic edging would be ideal, but i'm fairly sure you'd need a specialised bit to cut the groove on the edge of the chipboard.

Any advice would be appreciated, and thanks in advance!

**woodsprite** · 3rd October 2006, 01:59 AM

May not be of much help here, but my 6 penneth worth anyway. I have never seen laminex topped chip board as an off-the-shelf item. However going on your CAD drawings, I reckon you could laminate the board yourself as it seems like your desk is all flat panels. If you don't feel comfortable doing this, maybe one of your local kitchen makers would laminate the panels for you if you take in your board and your laminex - they may even do the edge trims for you for a few dollars.

Do a Yellow Pages for your area and see if there is a local kitchen maker or cabinet maker.

As for the bar - I reckon it might still get a bit bendy after a bit - that is a fair span and a fair slab of chipboard. But I might be wrong - maybe a rectangular section on edge might be better?? Dunno.

Happy laminating.
Jeff

**TommyC** · 3rd October 2006, 09:02 AM

Go direct to Laminex, they should have a distribution centre in Perth. The one in Melbourne is MASSIVE and sells prelaminated board. You can get Particle board or MDF, depending on what substrate you want.

Gotta love the Liberty!! (I'm on my 3rd)

**Chesand** · 3rd October 2006, 09:34 AM

I am on my third Subaru as well - currently the Outback.
Previous Liberty handed down to daughter - over 250,000Km and still going strong. They are bomb proof

**DJ’s Timber** · 3rd October 2006, 10:03 AM

I would change the metal bar which is normally called SHS, to 50x25x3mm and stand it on its edge. Get a welder to weld some tags on the back edge so that you can put some screws in

**subaruliberty4l** · 3rd October 2006, 11:55 AM

4 replies in under 12 hours!

I'm fairly sure the Perth Laminex showroom is in Osbourne Park - I'll give them a call. I'd much prefer to get pre-laminated board.

A rectangular length of steel? 50x25, with the tall edge vetical... Good idea. I just assumed a 40x40x2.5mm wouldn't bow over 2.2metres.

Thanks very much to those that have responded thus far, greatly appreciated!

BTW: 92 Subaru Liberty Wagon GX, awd and 194k kms. 14 years old and still absolutely fantastic car. my first car, just wish it was manual!

**Harry72** · 3rd October 2006, 07:03 PM

I'd be making the outside legs into drawers or ladder style shelfs, your current design would be very weak it would only take a small kick to bend them in or out at the lower front.
Unless the substrate is very thick it doest not have much bending resistance in this situation, box sectioning it will increase its strenght very much.

Thread: Laminex Desk Design?

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Laminex Desk Design?

Nice!!

Similar Threads

Computer and Study Desk

Computer Desk design (with Cad models) opinions please

The help desk -- how may I help you?

Modern design vs reproduction

Restoring a Desk

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions