Live data from Hacker News

The Easiest Way to Make an Industrial-Style Standing Desk

justagirlandherblog.com

31–40 of 52 posts

Re: The Easiest Way to Make an Industrial-Style Standing Desk

#31
post #3

For under $500, a better solution would be the new IKea Bekant motorized standing desk. We just got them for all our developers and they are great. And given that it's an Ikea product, you still get a similar DIY experience when assembling it.

Were you able to find these in the US?

There are Ikeas in the US.

If you are not near an Ikea and can't think of an excuse to do a day road trip to the nearest one, you might consider some of the motorized/adjustable desks on Amazon (just search for those terms).

Re: The Easiest Way to Make an Industrial-Style Standing Desk

#32
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm always baffled by people who go to the trouble of making a standing desk, often at great expense, and then set a laptop on it and call it good. Aside from the ergonomic issues you describe, there's the issue of screen real estate. It's like trying to shoot competitive pool using a tree branch you found in the road.

Not only that, but many of these setups trade an ergonomic chair for a hard floor. I'm surprised that more consideration does not go into floor mats as seen in other jobs requiring long periods of standing.

Well, they did include a footrest. It's a start

Re: The Easiest Way to Make an Industrial-Style Standing Desk

#33
post #3

For under $500, a better solution would be the new IKea Bekant motorized standing desk. We just got them for all our developers and they are great. And given that it's an Ikea product, you still get a similar DIY experience when assembling it.

Were you able to find these in the US?

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S19022530/ - It looks like they are available in the US

Re: The Easiest Way to Make an Industrial-Style Standing Desk

#34
Even easier is using sawhorse brackets and 2"x4" lumber. For the cost of a top (Ikea solid wood, etc.) and Since it uses sawhorses, a desk built this way can support hundreds of pounds and is easily portable.

I recently built my girlfriend a desk this way[2] (2x bracket packs, and five 2"x4"x8's), and we moved it using a small Prius. I ended up using the wooden top from an old electronics workbench after sanding off the glue blobs, filling holes with water putty, and sealing it with polyurethane. If you do build a desk this way, miter the leg ends to ~30º.

1. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Workforce-10-Compartment-Sawhorse...

2. http://i.imgur.com/b0QxSII.jpg

Re: The Easiest Way to Make an Industrial-Style Standing Desk

#35

Even easier is using sawhorse brackets and 2"x4" lumber. For the cost of a top (Ikea solid wood, etc.) and Since it uses sawhorses, a desk built this way can support hundreds of pounds and is easily portable. I recently built my girlfriend a desk this way[2] (2x bracket packs, and five 2"x4"x8's), and we moved it using a small Prius. I ended up using the wooden top from an old electronics workbench after sanding off…

Great job on the desk!

Re: The Easiest Way to Make an Industrial-Style Standing Desk

#36
post #27

Other commenters have noted that the desk isn't adjustable. I bought a Varidesk ( http://www.varidesk.com/ ); doesn't need any motors, adjusts quickly, fits on existing desks, cost is under $US400. [No, I don't work for them nor am I an investor in the company. I just like the product. A lot.] Edit to fix link.

FYI: Your link has ); appended to it. http://varidesk.com I also had a varidesk and wasn't too fond of it. There was no real good way to place a keyboard/mouse on the tray and it was a bit wobbly for my tastes. The product itself was well built, and it was very easy to move up and down though.

Another worth consideration is the Winston: http://www.lcdarms.com/winston-sit-stand-workstation.php

Of the sit-stand converters I've been looking into, the Varidesk and Winston seem better than products like the Kangaroo Pro, ReadyDesk, etc.

Re: The Easiest Way to Make an Industrial-Style Standing Desk

#37
post #21

I see lots of diy cheap standing desks on here. Is there a market for high end standing desks? I work for a small casegoods manufacturer that builds wood furniture to order. I'm just curious if I should bother taking a shot at designing something? Sourcing a flexible electric sit/stand leg seems like a tall order.

This is the base we use http://www.amazon.com/Jarvis-Electric-Adjustable-Height-Stan... We installed Lyptus tops. Works & looks great.

Also noteworthy, the IKEA Bekant motorized base can be purchased without a table top.

Re: The Easiest Way to Make an Industrial-Style Standing Desk

#38

Even easier is using sawhorse brackets and 2"x4" lumber. For the cost of a top (Ikea solid wood, etc.) and Since it uses sawhorses, a desk built this way can support hundreds of pounds and is easily portable. I recently built my girlfriend a desk this way[2] (2x bracket packs, and five 2"x4"x8's), and we moved it using a small Prius. I ended up using the wooden top from an old electronics workbench after sanding off…

Nice!

I'm curious to know if you could get those front inside legs out of the way without sacrificing support. Maybe rig it so that they go across and connect to each other, forming a keyboard tray or shelf or something. I see a lot of toe hitting, especially while wearing those flip-flops in the corner.

Also, don't forget the standing mat. You wouldn't want her to get varicose veins now, would you?

Re: The Easiest Way to Make an Industrial-Style Standing Desk

#39
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm always baffled by people who go to the trouble of making a standing desk, often at great expense, and then set a laptop on it and call it good. Aside from the ergonomic issues you describe, there's the issue of screen real estate. It's like trying to shoot competitive pool using a tree branch you found in the road.

Not only that, but many of these setups trade an ergonomic chair for a hard floor. I'm surprised that more consideration does not go into floor mats as seen in other jobs requiring long periods of standing.

If anyone's looking for a recommendation, I've found industrial antifatigue mats (found in machine shops and the like, mcmaster-carr sells some as would most industrial suppliers) surprisingly comfortable for standing on all day.
Post reply on HN