Making the ultimate low budget work from home desk

2011

Like many others since Covid I find myself working from home a lot. Trying to work on the kitchen table was a short lived disaster so I threw together a cheap and cheerful solution. When it became apparent that WFH more often than not would continue for a very long time I decided to make the ultimate (budget) desk. This started by getting an old desk from work delivered to my home, this desk was due to be thrown out. The only part worth saving was the solid box section frame.

When stripped back it looked like this:

2011

The next step was to buy some nice hardwood marine ply for the top and sides:

Next holes has to be drilled to allow cables to pass through:

2011

6mm bolts with domed heads are used to secure the sides to the box section frame:

Flinty997

Are you going to have a hidden drawer underneath or cable channel? To hide the clutter?

10-10-20

Sweet. It's going to be heavy-as-hell with that 18mm ply, but it should last a lifetime.

I was actually in Woodworkers there last week and was quite surprised by their selection of edge veneers. Some nice options there if you want to improve that ply-edge. The one thing to note if you're a keyboard/mouser is that you'll need a good solid edge on the area around where your hands lie so that you don't catch skin or fabric on any rough edges.

I installed wire-cages under my desk where I pop all of the PSU's and network cables so that they aren't around my knees, I also have installed a good protected power-strip (12 outlets!!) and a small network switch.

Rows Grower

It looks like you got the ultimate low budget desk for free and then splashed out on a sheet of Marine plywood for no reason at all.

Akrasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121410610#Comment_121410610

Or something like this

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121410610#Comment_121410610

Ooooh, snarky matron!

Function over form - he's getting far more now than what that original table-top was offering. Plus, it's a good DIY project.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121410639#Comment_121410639

Brutalist meets Arts & Crafts. Love it.

DC999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121410639#Comment_121410639

I love that, but wouldn't fly with my other half :)

Flinty997

Love it too. But I know how sharp those blocks are. You'd be covered in cuts from it.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121410610#Comment_121410610

Maybe :)

Though some of these desks have quite a bit of flex. Makes the screen wobble. So a heavier stiffer top would improve things considerably.

2011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121410610#Comment_121410610

LOL!

True but wouldn’t be allowed in the house by management. It would have to look a bit more respectable.

2011

A shelf is required for the laptop. Just one USB C cable plugs into this laptop. Once this lead is plugged in it instantly connects to the following devices to the laptop:

• Wireless keyboard
• Wireless mouse
• 2 external display screens
• Web cam for Teams calls
• Desk speaker phone
• Bluetooth headset
• Wired Ethernet connection
• In addition it charges the laptop

A single power cable plugs the desk into a local socket, this powers all desk mounted devices. In addition to the above this also includes a Wifi point, desk lamp and induction charger for a smart phone.

@Flinty997 I have installed "finger trunking" under the desktop for cable management. This is the grey boxing that can be seen behind the laptop.

2011

The finished varnished desk. The monitor on the left is an "ultra wide" screen.

2011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121410597#Comment_121410597

Yes, it is very heavy.

Can you post a picture or two of your setup?