Bench / Desk Source

Question

I'm finally upgrading my computer desk from a folding table (hey, it was free!!)

I'd like to keep it fairly small, but include room for books (shelves) and 2 pcs and monitors and a printer.

I've read several comments suggesting the Ikea "Jerker" (now Fredrik) desk. When I looked it up, I found that it's only rated for 110 lbs. That seems "wimpy". A shelf of books can weigh more than that!

We have benches at work rated for more than 500 lbs. but the manufacturer is no longer operating under the same name and I cannot find them anywhere.

Does anyone have a suggestion for sourcing semi-professional computer furniture?

Answer 1

The IKEA solution might work. However, I would suggest HERGO furniture for this. It is modular, so you can specify a configuration you like, and has shelving, monitor mounting, places for CPU, and various ways to deal with the keyboard(s). I have bought some of there stuff and have been happy with it.

Note: You seem to have already figured that standard office supply and/or furniture store desks won't cut it. But I thought it worth mentioning for those who might read this.

As an aside .. Joel Spolsky wrote a couple of interesting articles (here and here) about the FogCreek offices, and each of them has sections devoted to the workstations he built for his (pampered) developers.

Answer 2

I got my desk at csnfurniture, I got a Bush WC24436 - Series C. There are lots of optional components you can get for shelving and drawers.

As an alternative, one person I know purchased a sturdy matched pair of 2 drawer file-cabinets and an unfinished solid exterior door. A solid door should be able to handle a lot of weight, and you can take a saw too it and make it be whatever size you need.

Answer 3

I bought a 4'x8' piece of coated 3/4" sheet from a home improvement store and cut it to 3'x8'. I had a processing and drive unit from a AS400 I set it on top of to form the desk. I built a frame of 2x4s to raise the surface to the right height and provide some support. If I had it to do over again (and didn't have an AS400 laying around =)) I would do the same thing, using file cabinets for the supports. The whole thing cost less that $20, the surface is great for writing, is water (cough coffee cough) proof and even works as a dry erase board in a pinch. The large surface allows for a couple of work stations (too close for two people to work at simultaneously, but nice as two distinctive work areas for me), a cat bed, and a nice area to do writing, drafting, physical work in the remaining area. The only down side is lack of drawers but I have other solutions for that and the huge, cheap work surface is worth it for me.

Answer 4

Hey, I'm still using a board on top of cinder blocks! It works!

-JFV