Build Your Own Desk!

A while back, I got the idea to make my own desk--because no desk I've ever had has ever 'fit' right, and I think you know what I mean--when I read this article by some awesome guy. But I knew that his desk wouldn't 'fit' me either, so I measured and designed my own.

What I didn't realize when I started is how easy building a desk could be.

To start, I bought a nice big oaken board (4' x 8' x 3/4") from Home Depot and had them cut it for me, for free, into a 3' x 8' piece and a 1' x 8' piece (for the shelf). I also bought a Polyurethane/Stain mix, a wood primer, and some sand paper (coarse and just fine). Total, this cost me $80.

I sanded, primed, and stained, then sanded and stained again. Not counting drying time, it took me about 3 hours total.

Next, I was going to make a frame of PVC pipes to hearken back to the second greatest toys I had as a kid, Playskool Pipeworks:

I would have built the whole damn thing out of Lego (the most inspiring toy ever), but PVC pipe only costs 30 cents per foot.

Anyway, that idea went out the window when I discovered that IKEA sells extendable desk legs. "The better to reach you with, my dear." I went with the VIKA RORKA in black, which, for four legs, cost me $90. And, I can turn this into a stand up desk when I finally get that workstation treadmill.

Finally, as you can see, instead of using PVC pipe to support the shelf (or using the four for $8 legs from IKEA), instead I bought three of those plastic drawer sets from Staples. Thus, I improved the support (because those speakers are heavy) and gave myself some much-needed organization. The draws fit 8.5" x 11" paper perfectly. Those cost $55 total.

Thus, I ended up spending a lot more than I expected ($225), but ended up with a gigantic desk that is robust, flexible, more stable than any of that pressed wood crap, and the kicker, it's completely improvable! I used not one screw in the entire procedure (I could/can, obviously, but since the legs are designed for a glass top, the rubber treads hold the desk secure). Someday, I might get around to adding the shiny-white marker board top, or I might want to add a second shelf, or I might need to move this behemoth, and I can!

Did you build something? Will you? Post about it in the comments. We support the <img> tag.