Materials: Expedite shelving units
Description:
Overview:
A large standing desk using Expedite shelving parts. At 48" high, it's high enough for a tall person to rest their elbows on. At 73" width, it's large enough to hold a bunch of gear AND eat meals on. At ~$250 in parts, it's a great value for the size.
Ikea items:
2 x 2x2 Expedit shelving unit (801.352.98, $40 each)
2 x 5x1 Expedit shelving unit (201.162.74, $60 each)
1 x 73"x10" Lack shelf (601.037.50 $30)
Hardware store items:
- 8 x metal braces
- 96" 4x1.5" board cut up for shelf supports (can substitute for Capital legs for class).
Instructions:
1) Lay both fully constructed 2x2 units across from each other.
2) Lay fully constructed 1x5 unit across back of top (one step ahead of construction photo 2)
3) Lay partially constructed 1x5 on front of top. This partially constructed shelf should only include three pieces: two short sides and one long side. This leaves enough space underneath to slide a high chair or bar stool underneath.
4) Bolt pieces together using braces and screws.
5) Attach lack shelf, supported by Capita brackets or cut up boards.
See more of the Expedit standing desk.
~ Peter Marks, Portland, OR
Wow, great construction here.
ReplyDeleteThats beautiful. That lack shelf, is that the hallowed/cardboarded out shelf, or is it solid. If it's not solid, you can pickup a solid smooth flat door from Home depot for $52, and where the door nob would go, you could run the wires through.
ReplyDeleteVery nice job and brilliant idea, I think I am definitely going to steal/build this myself.
ReplyDeleteI like that a great deal.
ReplyDeleteMAGNIFIQUE !!!!!
ReplyDeleteWEll done, a perfect stand and workplace
ReplyDeletethe front part doesn't seem very solid, I am talking about the part you describe at point 3.
ReplyDeleteSure not solid enough to risk 2000$ Dj/music gear on it!!!
maybe ok for a laptop ;)
Ordering parts this week!! Do you all see the space where my 88 key Korg keyboard is going to go..... Oh, and talk about the perfect height. I set up a test desk surface today and have been working from it. I'm pumped.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that the poster above and I are both thinking about how great this layout will be for MIDI keyboards!
ReplyDeleteGreat desk. I made a few modifications on your original design.
ReplyDelete1. I bolted the desk together rather than using screws and a brace. Since the parts in this set are hollow it made more sense to me to bolt it together rather than use screws that may come out later.
2. I took your suggestion and used the Capita legs which definitely classed up the look.
3. I did use a brace, but I used it to bolt the two pieces that form the top of the desk together. That way the entire desk moves (or ideally, doesn't move) as one piece. Plus by using bolts and a bolt/post system I can easily break the desk down when it's time to move.
4. I put to grommets in the desk to feed the wires through to the plugs. I used a 2 3/8 inch bore and then used some grommets I got from the hardware store.
5. I think I'll add some type of support structure under the front piece (the bookcase that's only composed of three sides (described in the original post point #3). The reason being that when I lean on it I can see it sag in the middle and I'm not sure how stable it will remain. Of course I have the other long side that I didn't use, so if I need to replace it at some point I can do so without spending more money.
All in all it came out great. Thanks for the idea. I'd been looking for a standing desk, but couldn't find anything nice under $600. I pulled this entire project together for around $300.
Did you ever figure out a way to stabilize the front piece? I love this desk in theory, but I'm afraid the particleboard unsupported for 73 inches wouldn't stand up to my abuse. Anyone have any thoughts on how to strengthen it?
DeleteI took a cue from this idea and attempted to make it. Downside at 5'10...this was a tad bit tall for my taste. Instead I kept one side of the second 5x1 and taylored the back shelf to work as a nice turntable/utility shelf. This allowed me to turn this into both table tall enough to stand up and "play" music and sit down and "make" music. Here are some pics :)
ReplyDeletehttps://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Bfz5P_8n1ds/Ti82Uob6sMI/AAAAAAAAAFc/_vZ47MUWZoU/s800/2011-07-26+17.47.35.jpg
If I did my math correctly, this desk is 48.5 inches high and 72.875 inches wide. I love that it is so wide but it is too tall for me at 5'9. My optimal height (at my elbow) is around 43-45 inches. Anyone building this otherwise awesome desk should keep that in mind. In the meantime, this is my temporary setup. http://flic.kr/p/adDCVX As you can see, I need a permanent solution badly!
ReplyDeleteWhat did you come up with to fix the height issue?
DeleteMy husband did a take on this! We even made it so you can use an exercise bike underneath it! I LOVE it! Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteCheck it out here at my blog:
http://bridgettenicole.blogspot.com/2011/12/double-tasking-desk.html
nice post
ReplyDeleteRegarding the too-tall aspect, what if instead of the front 5x1 expedit, you put a lack shelf on top of some capita legs? or a lack shelf across the whole thing, then 4 6" capita legs, topped off with a second shelf? This would make a height of 39" or 41".
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of something like this myself, and but trying to figure out how to access/rethink the back 5x1 expedit.
its a bit high for a desk you almost need a bar stool to reach the computer
ReplyDeleteThat's the point... it is called a STANDING desk for a reason...
DeleteI am wondering if this could be used as a treadmill desk?
ReplyDeleteI have compressed spinal disks and needed a standing desk solution. I made this desk this weekend and absolutely love it! I'm 6-1 and the working surface is a bit tall, but it makes me stand up straight and I haven't had any back pain at all so mission accomplished.
ReplyDeleteI made a few modifications to the design for my build.
1. I didn't do the top-most lack shelf and instead prefer a solid flat surface on top. My computer monitor stand extends upwards anyhow.
2. I added an additional Expedit 2x2 bookshelf on the right side and then attached an Expedit Desk perpendicular to the standing desk.
This allows me to work standing up or simply turn to the right and sit down with a colleague across from each other.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.443778808985255.116022.100000594206568&type=3
Sounds good. But you picture link isn't working.
DeleteI'd love to see what you're talking about for the perpendicular sitting desk.
I made this! I love it! I'm 6" tall and it's PERFECT for a standing sewing/project space. Thanks so much - this is exactly what I needed :)
ReplyDeleteFor my version, I made it 2 inches shorter by removing the bottom piece of the 2x2.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I thought the desk was too big and deep. So I got rid of the second 1x5 and returned it to Ikea.
It is also just the right height to use the 1x5 as a sitting desk for Macbook.
Here are pics:
http://instagram.com/p/PF6kbvoOJD/
http://instagram.com/p/PF795LoOKf/
I wonder if you could remove the middle support from the back bookshelf to have a wider area for when you are sitting...I think I like this idea better. My mind is going crazy seeing all these cool options...
DeleteThis thing is absurdly large in person. The photo was taken from a really high angle that makes it look normal sized, but it is not!
ReplyDelete