Build Your Own Custom Ergnomic Desk

@Lagertop: Great point. I've always thought built-in desks looked good and that would be cheaper. A little more handy work to make it look good, but the end result would be great.

Ergnomic Desk?
Ergonomic

finny388

Call me cynical, but what's so ergonomic about this desk? It's just an normal L-shaped desk with a custom keyboard tray shape. There's no consideration to lighting, chair, desk height (I love my standing desk), or most other ergonomic features.

Total lack of shelving or any other storage makes it also very space-inefficient.

reachjer

Very nice but expensive to the point of overkill.

If he was custom building it for a particular space it would have made far more sense to attach the desk to the wall for stability rather than spend money on the legs.

Lagertop

@eyeverve: PVC piping would most definitely be cheaper than the steel...and lighter. It would probably take a larger diameter to get the same stability, but the end effect would be the same.

made my own desk and not regretting it at all :)

KhaiJB

@gilt1234: Why not?

Go with real wood instead of mdf. It's better to work with and will last much longer. You could also ditch the slide-out keyboard unit to save some money and just put that stuff on the desk. The piping they used was more expensive than I thought it would be. I would probably just make an all wood desk with some shelving on the side.

nice desk but I really dont like the idea of the computer and printer on the floor

oh and AWESOME speakers

gilt1234

That is some insaniac DIY-ing. I'm inspired.

There are definitely ways of making one of those desks for less than $350. It may not look as good, but it will definitely still be ergonomic.

I love it - this sparks new interest in an ongoing workstation project I've been thinking about but haven't gotten off my butt yet to do. Thanks :)

I_have_something_to_say

Hmm....My father has the tools nessisary to build a desk in the garage and my friends and I are not unfamiliar to construction...

Janglesatwest

Any idea on the cost of hiring someone to DIY for me? ;) That truly is an awesome desk.

Looks good, is likely fulfilling because you put your own sweat into it, but ultimately overkill in my opinion. On the other hand, I go through a new desk every couple of years because I'm constantly moving, so it could just be overkill to me.

Sean Masters

The reason why the real ergonomic desks and chairs are expensive is that they actually put money into research to prove that the forms are good for your body, like how don't build a mesh chair yourself and think it is an Aeron.

These are only instructions to build a curved desk with keyboard drawer, and it might not even fit the owner in the end.

@wickedcupofjoe: There should be lots of out of work carpenters right now looking for a job. :)

Cool build, some nice ideas in there.

The polycrylic looks like it makes a good finish for a painted finish.

I like the clean look it has, I mean aside from it actually being clean.

Jake712

I think this is pretty cool - if nothing other than to get ideas for building my own desk. I've had problems with my current one giving me backaches.

Not sure about the MDF vs real wood as well as mounting it more into the wall like @Lagertop.

Nice article LH!

Tyrun101

@one of these.

i am pretty sure that is the opposite of DIY.

BondGlabrio

Wow! Many thanks to life hacker for featuring my post on their site. I've had people contacting me from everywhere saying that they saw it.

chrispollock

only 350 because everyone has a router to smooth out those edges...

Keyboard tray is going to be shaky.. very long for the single arm holding it.

Denver80203

Woah, Joel over at Boing Boing Gadgets, at only four minutes prior this morning, posted a similar query about making DIY desks and the possibility of outsourcing the large custom wood cutting needed.

[gadgets.boingboing.net]

Just order one of these:
[www.hardwoodfurniture.com]

The price is OVERKILL. Although the design is VERY nice $350 is really not a well thought out use of materials.

Why would someone need expensive galvanized fence posts and fixtures? However, the MDF is cheap and a good choice unless you want the stained wood tone.

Make it for under $100 -
Replace all the Fence materials with equally good (better?) looking materials from Ikea:
* Ikea Vika Curry desk legs - $5 each
* Ikea SUMMERA pull-out keyboard tray - $9.99 each
* Box of wood screws - $3 each

cyberwise

Am I missing something? What part is so ergonomic? There is nothing for me to rest my elbows on? It will make my shoulders tense. Can't say that the printer is ergonomically placed either :P
Feel free to let me know if you think I am wrong. Cheers.

DiraVersal

This is pretty awesome. Unfortunately, being a college student, space is an issue (even in an apartment - moving a desk around is not easy, nor is fitting it into that space). I'd love to see an article about maximizing desk space/ergonomics given a small room and a small desk - tips to make it work as best as it can for you. Especially for us tech geeks with multiple monitors and the like ;-).

P.S. Is that mousepad upside-down? I have one just like it, and I always thought that pad went toward you, for resting your wrist as you moused around. Avoiding carpal tunnel and all that. Am I using it wrong...?

@Gyroscope352: actually the mouse pad is upside down because I'm using and ergonomic mouse that twists your hand so that you don't need a wrist rest.

@Gyroscope352: The mousepad in the picture is wicked. You have done the right thing.

PorterHizanyous

What is that wood flooring in his office? It looks like it moves around and it also looks like his office is carpet throughout except for what looks to be a hardwood rug? Anyone have any thoughts on that? I have carpet in my home office currently getting torn up from my chair and something like that would be nice but I'm not sure where to buy/build one, or how exactly it would work i.e. not buckle under the chair.

AltonThymoetes

I was thinking the same thing. It is very cool and could be done for much cheaper, but I don't see where it is all that ergonomic.

LarsLolzordz

I like the design, but the colour actually looked pale.

Wood is quite expensive right now, haven't the fee to hire someone to make it for you.

Well prepared one like Ikea, I use to choose

This is relevant to my interests.

rabiddachshund

@wickedcupofjoe: PFIY?

Dilpickle1

@Gyroscope352: This was on the front page from today, merely posts down from this very article:

[lifehacker.com]

Tiny and in a corner.

Richard Foshee

@eyeverve: Having the keyboard lower than the desk is part of ergonomics. So by placing the keyboard on the desk itself, you actually have to make the desk lower, which affects ergonomics. I had to look all this up last year when I built my own desk from a solid core oak door and some 2x8s.

It was a hell of a lot cheaper than $350 and is a lot sturdier than this too.

Richard Foshee

@Janglesatwest: You might want to look into using HDF in place of MDF.

Being taller than average, I like the ability to make the desk MY HEIGHT. And I always wondered what those "kee klamps" were called.

jrocknyc

Well done. That's a great looking workspace and a fine reflection of the time an effort that went into it. The one thing that I would like to add is that in my opinin the most important part of a usable, ergonpmic workspace is the chair. I'm not going to goi nto all the specifics but, spend the bulk of your money on a GOOD chair, one that's comfortable, adjustable and fits your body size. You can work all day at a door on sawhorses but if your chair is junk you're not going to make it. Period. My job is designing cubicles and workspaces and I know what matters more than anything else and.....it's your chair. second is your keyboard tray and 3rd is your monitor support. Anything beyond that is gravy.

ChalmersOdysseus

I'm with you, I needed to maximize what little space I already have. Found an awesome walk through/tutorial at http://www.ergostar.com that shows you how to correct your existing set-up. It was super easy and really helpful to understand how you should be sitting. @Gyroscope352:

GiovanniGoogle

@reachjer: Because ergonomic is cool, and healthy, and this desk is... cool and trendy and healthy and.... ergonomic... or.. something. THE KEYBOARD TRAY RAISES UP AND DOWN... yes! There's your ergonomic right there!! (?)

@TommySez: Haha, wow...that's ghastly.

The Bigger Unit

my desk = 100euro http://www.flickr.com/photos/der_makabere/3441694775/

DeniseTrypticon