Let's saw an Ikea desk in half! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: int2str
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2015, 04:19:45 am
content: I've had an Ikea desk for a while. Decided I needed more equipment space. So I bought another table top and legs, cut the old desk in half and shortened the legs.The result:Really like the way it came out.Also note the retro-fit of the back-lit LCD on the Wavetek 23

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 04, 2015, 04:54:11 am
content: Very neat! Can you provide the Ikea item names for those who might want to replicate this?

author: int2str
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2015, 05:12:02 am
content: Yupp, the table tops are "TORNLIDEN", the legs are "ADILS".A single combo is ~$75, of course you need two to get the same setup.http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S29004776/If you saw the legs off, the adjustable feet pop out and you can put them back onto the cut-off ends for a nice clean look.Took far less than an hour to do.

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2015, 08:32:11 am
content: Nice! I've done something similar using kitchen worktops and the man at the saw in Hornbach looked at me as if I was insane when I said I wanted a piece of worktop 35cm deep. It works nice as a shelf though.Be careful sawing desks and doors in half to do this as not all of them are solid all the way through. I have in the past sawn a door to shorten it and the interior was filled with paper 'cells' with wood only around the outside.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 04, 2015, 10:27:01 am
content: Quote from: German_EE on October 04, 2015, 08:32:11 amYep, fairly common in construction. I think they call it "Honeycomb" construction. I just upgraded all my internal doors for my new place to solid core. Added about $100 extra per door. Most builders won't use solid core doors internally unless you ask for it.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2015, 10:31:29 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on October 04, 2015, 10:27:01 amSolid doors are frowned on by a lot of people, because they are so heavy. If you get your fingers caught in one, the results are likely to get far nastier than with a lightweight door.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 04, 2015, 11:03:34 am
content: Quote from: coppice on October 04, 2015, 10:31:29 amI'd rather the noise insulating properties any day. The way door jambs are designed these days minimises any risk to almost zero anyway. Unless you're one of those people who sit there with their hand in the door waiting for a breeze to slam it shut?! In Australia especially they are a selling point to most homes. It's seen as a "luxury" feature.

author: jwm_
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2015, 11:10:19 am
content: Another great Ikea hack is that the lack side tables legs are spaced perfectly for bolting rackmount gear to.https://wiki.eth0.nl/index.php/LackRackI have one on my workbench!

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 04, 2015, 11:13:56 am
content: Quote from: jwm_ on October 04, 2015, 11:10:19 amPerfect when you just don't have enough switch ports in your living/games room. Love it.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2015, 11:18:46 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on October 04, 2015, 11:03:34 amInteresting. I can't imagine how a door might be designed to substantially reduce the risk of a trapped hand. What do these look like?

author: VK5RC
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 04, 2015, 11:26:20 am
content: For desk/shelving additions, I am a fan of this slotted steel angle (example below). Later on you can adjust the height of the shelves really easily and as you add more gear (well who doesn't) it can take a fair load.http://www.bunnings.com.au/metal-mate-32-x-32-x-1-5mm-0-6m-slotted-black-angle_p1138238

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 04, 2015, 11:28:09 am
content: Quote from: coppice on October 04, 2015, 11:18:46 amA door is a door and different materials have different properties. But when haveyouhad your hand jammed in between a door and a jamb let alone suffered serious injury? At least in AU, door frames are designed to be the width of a standard frame with "skirting" around. You would honestly have to sit on the floor, with your hand wrapped around the door frame and just wait... or purposefully pull the door shut on your hand to cause any damage. The pinch point is actually very small. Even as a child I have never had my fingers trapped in a door. Is it just me?! Maybe I just didn't sit around waiting for a door to slam and shoved my hand in the last second?As a concerned parent, you might also consider magnetic "latches" which hold doors open (in lieu of regular rubber door stops) even in the strongest of gusts?Am I using common sense again?

author: Satbeginner
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 09:01:06 am
content: Hi,I like the retrofit Backlight display in your Wavetek 23!!I have one Broken/Powers up/Not Working/As is Model 23 coming from Ebay, this will be one of my winter-repair-projects.It is missing the small strip around the buttons and the internal battery is dead, but it says "Battery Low"Anyway, during this project I would love to upgrade by placing another display with the backlight.Do you remember the type of display you put in?Un saludo,Satbeginnner

author: ZeTeX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 11:18:35 am
content: How do people manage to have their equimpents and desk so clean like they are brand new without a single piece of dust, I mean it seems like a stock pic and not a real workbench, my workbench looks like it has been in WW2 lol.maybe it has to do with the place I live in, there is a lot of dust here, if I don't clean a surface for 7 days there will be a noticeable amount of dust on it. or is it normal?

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 11:50:35 am
content: Very nice work by the OP.My desk looks very similar to the one posted and I will post a picture in the morning, the mezzanine shelves I used matched my desk exactly and are available to purchase somewhere but I forget where I got them now, mine are staggered height so there are 3 pieces or boards with the centre shelf at a slightly lower level than the 2 outside shelves, anyway a picture saves a thousand mouse clicks.

author: Stupid Beard
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 11:58:04 am
content: Quote from: ZeTeX on December 20, 2016, 11:18:35 amSimple. They tidy it up before taking a photo of it

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 01:07:45 pm
content: Quote from: Stupid Beard on December 20, 2016, 11:58:04 am... and now you know why I haven't offered a photo.

author: ZeTeX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 02:04:58 pm
content: Quote from: Stupid Beard on December 20, 2016, 11:58:04 amYou can't tidy up workbench table that literally has holes in it & scratch marks

author: ConKbot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 05:23:14 pm
content: CAPITA metal legs, and grab a bookshelf or wall shelf of appropriate size and sturdyness, pretrial and screw them on.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 11:01:07 pm
content: Nice, now mess that bench up, it's disgusting!

author: aargee
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2016, 05:54:20 am
content: So did a quick search for the Jerker desk, thinking it might be a nice replacement for my decomposing vinyl covered chipboard desk and lo and behold a guy across town was giving one away on Gumtree!Quote from: wilfred on December 20, 2016, 11:37:34 am

author: R005T3r
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2016, 11:16:19 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on December 20, 2016, 10:45:05 pmI'm generally tidy, but whenever I'm welding, the mess is inevitable....