OT:? Building a desk, need suggestions.

[wishbone]

I'm trying to build a desk for my computer room/office at home and I was looking for ideas or suggestions.

My goals are to have a large, versatile, clean and level work area that I can put PCs, sewing machines, puzzles or pretty much anything else on. It needs to be big enough for 3 people to use 3 different PCs at the same time and strong enough for me (250 lbs) to lean or sit on.

http://home.comcast.net/~minidon/ (111k)has a top-down diagram I've scanned in. The plan is to use 2" x 4"s screwed into the studs around the room to support a 3/4" plywood top (probably birch or oak). In the diagram the red lines represent the 2" x 4"s around the room and the black lines represent a possible frame to prevent the top from sagging or worse.

Questions:

Will the desk sag if built as shown in the diagram?
Are brackets available to hold the large angled frame piece to the walls?
Are brackets available to hold the leg frame pieces to the large angled piece?
Am I crazy?

Any suggestions are appreciated, thanks.

[Eaglesfan27]

I have no idea, but I want to see pics of the results after you are done.

[moriarty]

I'm having a hard time understanding your design.

But if you're using 2x4's as the back support for heavy material, I would suggest using lag bolts (2 -1/2 to 3") to attach them to the studs.

I'm hoping you're not planning on moving that desk anytime soon (and if you ever move out/sell the place, you're gonna have a hell of a patch up job).

[Joe]

why do you want to sit on the desk?

[Desnudo]

Yoga.

[rkmsuf]

why do you want to sit on the desk?

I think we all know the answer to this. Sit may not be an all encompassing term.

[Castlerock]

The design is not very detailed but it looks like you are crazy. That thing is going to be very heavy and you WILL need to re-inforce the plywood with a frame under the top or it will sag. Is the top only attached to the room at the red lines? Are there any legs? If yes, where are they?

[Joe]

I think we all know the answer to this. Sit may not be an all encompassing term.

Oh... you mean jerk off while looking at the computers, right?

[rkmsuf]

something like that

[Draft Dodger]

we actually did build such a desk, but quite a bit smaller.

it's about 6 feet wide, and is kind of a T, giving 2 sort of sections to it. there's 2x4's on the back, screwed into studs (KEY - make sure you leave holes in the back for your electrical cords, big enough to feed a block style AC Adapter). The front is propped up with 4 vertical 2x4s, screwed into the floor, and the botton of the T has two additional ones. On top of those sits a 2x4 brace, and the top of the table sits on that (it's a particle board, but has some sort of "kitchen counter" like finish on it - sorry, can't remember the name of it). Really seems similar to how a workbench would be built, I would think - the wood is all painted black to match the trim in the room and the built-in bookshelves we built, so it all kind of goes together. We wanted to have the top be one piece, but because of the T, we ended up having to cut it from 3 pieces, so there is 2 seems that are visible if you look. This thing is extremely sturdy - I can sit on it easily, and right now it's holding a CRT, LCD and a printer, along with various other stuff (the 3 computers were up there too, but now they are underneath to cut down on noise).

If you want, I can take a pic tomorrow and post it.

[moriarty]

... (it's a particle board, but has some sort of "kitchen counter" like finish on it - sorry, can't remember the name of it). .

You mean 'Formica' or plastic laminate by it's non-brand name?

[wishbone]

I've edited the picture, all red lines indicate 2"x4"s. I think that the area close to the wall will be well supported, but the inside corner of the "L" may not have enough support with just that. I'd like it to have no legs, simply to avoid bumping my knees and to make it easier to vacuum/clean. For pictures of a finished project look here: http://www.simplebits.com/notebook/2004/03/25/particle_board_desk.html. Not me but something I ran across while looking for a desk that would fit my needs.

Moriarty: Would a 1/4" - 1/2" lag bolt be better than a wood screw of the same size? We plan on living here for some time and I am much more skilled in deconstruction than construction so I'm not too worried about that.
George W Bush, Desnudo & rkmsuf: : Sitting on the desk is only to be used as a measure of sturdiness, not desire. At the same time, I don't want to warn people when they come over not too lean or stand to near to the desk for fear of it collapsing.
Castlerock: I think the weight will be under 200 pounds for the desktop, the frame underneath should be less than 50 pounds. I could do a vertical 4"x4" leg in the inside corner of the "L" and attach 2" x 4" s similar to a fence. That should hold i pretty well, right?
Draft Dodger: How did you do the seams? Are they butted up to each or other or attached somehow?