Simple and spacious desk

[robchin]

This huge desk was built in just one hour using a SpecRite Teak Panel and RapidMesh Furniture Legs.

• The project
• How to build a desk
• Popular desk projects

The project

I have been working at home now for about 15 months and my home office was very difficult to work in with two smaller desks.

I finally got sick of it and bought a SpecRite Teak panel from Bunnings and a couple of RapidMesh furniture legs.

In an hour, I transformed the space. Simple, easy and ended up being very good value compared with buying a desk this size. It's 2.4m long and over a metre wide. 

How to build a desk

Create your own dedicated workspace with Experienced Workshop member Rob's step-by-step guide to building your own desk.

Popular desk projects

Creating a dedicated workspace or updating an existing one can be simple and affordable, and you'll have everything you need to be more productive when working from home. For more easy D.I.Y. desk projects, check out our Top 10 most popular desk projects.

[vikasb]

Hi

Nice looking table!

Can you please share the specifications of screws you used?

[MitchellMc]

Hi @vikasb,

The maximum length of screw you can use depends on what top you choose. As the tops in different projects are different thicknesses, no one screw can be used for the RapidMesh 70 x 73.2 x 6cm Black Santos Steel Tube Table Furniture Legs. The Zenith 10G x 30mm Gold Passivated Type 17 Countersunk Head Timber Screws will be a fairly safe choice if the timber you choose is at least 30mm thick.

Mitchell

[thushar]

Hi,

Great looking desk. With those finger jointed panels, did you feel the need to reinforce them with a cross beam running on the underside?

[EricL]

Hello @thushar

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. Thank you so much for joining us and many thanks for sharing your question.

Let me tag @robchin so that he is made aware of your kind comments and question. Due to the construction and fitting arrangement of the legs, it's strong enough to stand without a crossbeam. However, if you wish to put a crossbeam, you'll have to drill into the steel and mount it on the back end so that you can still put your legs under the table.

If you have any other questions about this project, please let us know.

Eric

[robchin]

Hi @thushar  - no need for any additional support bars underneath. 

[kip]

Hi all,

Great work, @robchin . I bet you’re enjoying all the space around the desktop!

I recently got a similar inspiration for a dining table—similar legs but a 2100x900x30 slab of pine. Wondering if I should brace it, like @thushar, and how stable you find the teak slab? 
Cheers!

[EricL]

Hello @kip

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's marvellous to have you join us, and thank you for sharing your question about your D.I.Y. dining table.

Let me tag @robchin to make them aware of your kind words and question. I believe the desk was built with a SpecRite 2400 x 900mm 33mm Timber Panel Teak FJ Laminated. This benchtop has a weight of 50kg and has been used for quite some time now. It would be good to get an update from Rob to see how it's going.

Please keep us updated with your progress, we look forward to seeing your dining table.

Eric

[robchin]

Sorry for the late response @thushar. 

The teak panel has been excellent. Pleased with the choice. No additional supports were required and no hint of any buckling or bowing. It's very strong and the laminated construction with the pieces of wood means I don't expect any issues in the long-term. 

[DaveB]

Hey mate, did you join a couple of those panels for it to be over a metre wide?

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @DaveB. It's terrific to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about this wonderful project.

I'm sure @robchin would be more than happy to fill us in on those details. However, it appears he's used a SpecRite 2400 x 900mm 33mm Timber Panel Teak FJ Laminated, which is 900mm wide. I can see the reference to the table being "over a metre wide". We might need to double-check with Rob and edit as required.

If 2100mm was long enough, you could join two Red Oak or Spotted Gum 600mm wide panels together with biscuit joints or dowels.

Mitchell

[toughgamer]

Good work! Just 2 cents though, you may want to add some dressed pine timber underneath to support the panel - it's finger jointed panel and it will bend when under load, especially when it's over 2 meters wide - consider getting this: https://www.bunnings.com.au/porta-42-x-42mm-1-8m-moulding-pine-dar-standard_p0021182 and build a frame under the table like this: |---| that'll make it much stronger (you will be able to stand on it).

[EricL]

Hi @toughgamer

Thank you very much for those suggestions. Let me tag @robchin to make him aware of your kind words and recommendations. Have you run into this particular condition before? Do you have a similar table that's bowed due to heavy loads? It sounds like you've worked with finger-jointed panels before. 

Eric

[toughgamer]

@EricL Not a table, but I used similar panel (1.8m) for a shelf and it bent under load so I added another bracket to hold it. Since then I always add a frame is the panel is too wide.

[EricL]

Hi @toughgamer

Thank you for that extra information about your build. It's certainly handy to know that these panels still need support despite looking very sturdy.

Eric