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Affordable, automatic sit-to-stand desk

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Re: Affordable, automatic sit-to-stand desk

#101

To those snarky people how say something equivalent to "just use a box", if your desk setup includes three 24" monitors, that is not a practical solution. Even if you only changed between sitting and standing once a day it would not be practical. [Edit: Some are pointing out cheaper and alternative ways without any snark or smugness, which is great. I wasn't aiming at them and appreciate their input.] With one trifli…

I'm not sure people are being snarky - more pointing out that there are much cheaper ways to create an alternative. Plus, it's often a whole lot easier to add a DIY platform to an existing desk than to get your company to shell out for a mechanised adjustable height desk.

FWIW, I have a 27" and 2 24"s.

Re: Affordable, automatic sit-to-stand desk

#102

To those snarky people how say something equivalent to "just use a box", if your desk setup includes three 24" monitors, that is not a practical solution. Even if you only changed between sitting and standing once a day it would not be practical. [Edit: Some are pointing out cheaper and alternative ways without any snark or smugness, which is great. I wasn't aiming at them and appreciate their input.] With one trifli…

I'm not sure people are being snarky - more pointing out that there are much cheaper ways to create an alternative. Plus, it's often a whole lot easier to add a DIY platform to an existing desk than to get your company to shell out for a mechanised adjustable height desk. FWIW, I have a 27" and 2 24"s.

Some are pointing out cheaper and alternative ways without any snark or smugness, which is great. I wasn't aiming at them and appreciate their input.

Re: Affordable, automatic sit-to-stand desk

#103
post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is BMI really the same for males/females? I always assumed that what is obese/overweight for a 5'9 woman would be different than a 5'9 man.

Bmi is mostly bullshit. Much better indicators for overall health is the amount of belly fat and the fat around the internals organs. Having a lot of fat on the butt/thighs is much less damning than lets say fatty lever.

Thanks. I am curious about "lever." Was that a typo or a english-locale dependent noun? I am not trying to be a typo jerk, I produce them constantly, I am just curious what the word is.

Re: Affordable, automatic sit-to-stand desk

#104
post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Simple just don't let anybody overweight/obese get on the desk. Or do it in the morning and if it collapses it will make it easier for them to choose what to have for lunch. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/bmi_tbl.pdf

Is BMI really the same for males/females? I always assumed that what is obese/overweight for a 5'9 woman would be different than a 5'9 man.

There have been suggestions that slight differences should be allowed depending on one's race and age, too:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_mass_index

Re: Affordable, automatic sit-to-stand desk

#105
I use a standing desk. When I first started out, I spent a lot of time thinking about how I could make a standing desk that I could raise and lower. I looked at taking apart office chairs and using the hydraulics, I looked at possible crank methods, weight and pulley systems, etc.

A friend of mine listened to my brainstorming and said "why don't you just get a taller chair?". He was right.

This $140 drafting chair is what I have now. It has a padded seat, back, armrests, and is just as comfy as any other office chair I've tried. http://www.amazon.com/Boss-Multi-Function-Leatherplus-Drafti...

There are cheaper ones that are more like a stool, more expensive ones, and even some weird (but expensive) saddle type chairs that are designed to mimic standing while you're sitting down. But basically, if you want a standing desk and the ability to sit, ie if you're going to be buying a chair anyways, just buy a taller chair.

It takes a week or two for your feet to get used to it, and if you slouche or lean, you'll find yourself with sore hips at the end of the day. But once you get used to it, you'll find yourself standing much more than sitting. For me, I mostly only sit if I'm eating at my desk, or maybe for a bit after lunch. I have a standing desk at work and one at home. It's a different experience just walking up to your computer and start typing. Most people have to sit down first or stand up when they walk away. This lends to a sort of reluctance to switch from one state to another. Standing, I can lock my screen and walk away at any time.

Re: Affordable, automatic sit-to-stand desk

#106
post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bmi is mostly bullshit. Much better indicators for overall health is the amount of belly fat and the fat around the internals organs. Having a lot of fat on the butt/thighs is much less damning than lets say fatty lever.

Thanks. I am curious about "lever." Was that a typo or a english-locale dependent noun? I am not trying to be a typo jerk, I produce them constantly, I am just curious what the word is.

Its liver ...

Re: Affordable, automatic sit-to-stand desk

#107
post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks. I am curious about "lever." Was that a typo or a english-locale dependent noun? I am not trying to be a typo jerk, I produce them constantly, I am just curious what the word is.

Its liver ...

Thanks for following up. I dont know why liver did not occur to me and I stared at the keyboard before replying.

Re: Affordable, automatic sit-to-stand desk

#108

When I was researching building my own standing desk, the biggest cost seemed to be getting quality actuators with a long throw at a low price. Compare this to the a similar looking Ikea Galant workstation at $180-$200. You're getting the motor(s), electronics, actuators, and slide bearings for an additional $200 more. I'm curious as to how they managed to do away with the horizontal stabilizing bar (this is mentione…

I think there is some trick that stone masons used where you stand on a brick, and keep changing which foot is on it- somehow it helps

Sounds like it might help, thanks!
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