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Cheap Modern DeskThis weekend I actually found the time to build a small desk. I will try to make a long story short. My computer went down hard a few weeks ago, and to no avail It was not fixable. I found out my wife and kids were on it more than I had thought. I bought a new used computer for myself and an older imac for the kids and wife to beat on. That left me with needing another desk. The company I work for was cleaning out the warehouse and were going to throw away this aluminum erector set. I thought hummm I could use this for something. I built a simple frame, three sheets of maple plywood some polyurethane and there we have it, my simple modern desk. More pics after the jump
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Comments ( 18 )
Eeyore: Jan 10 09 at 11:02 pmNeat! I would remove the brace across the back, though, and replace it *above* the side braces so that it clears the electrical outlet.
…and ain’t it amazing what a couple coats of polyurethane can do? It’s like magic how even a simple finish can turn humble materials into furniture.
Chris @ The New Utah House: Jan 15 09 at 5:33 pmI love that desk. Any ideas where one could find these aluminum “erector sets” for sale?
Tyler: Jan 15 09 at 5:39 pmThanks Chris, Maybe try ebay? New they may not be cheap.
Merik: Jan 29 09 at 1:22 pmIt’s pretty darn ugly though.
Bruce Schaller: Jun 17 09 at 11:49 amI like it! Who manufactures that aluminum tubing/clamp?? Is it listed on the pieces?
Tyler: Jun 17 09 at 11:53 amBruce, I will check it out tonight and let you know
Tyler: Jun 19 09 at 9:12 amBruce, I don’t see any markings at all. Sorry about that
Bryce Hudson: Jul 30 09 at 2:11 pmHey there. Great idea! I recently made a desk the same way with the Ikeawooden trestle bases. Stained them to match the plywood top. How did you glue the 3 pieces of plywood together? I was going to try wood glue and clamps and then sanding all the edges to make it uniform? I’d like to know how you accomplished a great look when you have time;-)
Bryce
Tyler: Jul 30 09 at 2:30 pmBryce, I did use wood glue and clamps but before I did that I roughed up the surfaces that were to be glued together. I used the roughest grain sandpaper I could find. After they were all glued I ran the edges through my table saw so they would appear as one thick piece of maple. Hope this helps
oo: Sep 17 09 at 12:43 amThe closest thing I could find to the steel parts used here are “Kee Klamps”, here: http://www.simplifiedbuilding.com/index.php?cPath=1
emilime75: Dec 01 09 at 10:42 amThis should not be labeled as “cheap”. While it may have been “cheap” for the original poster considering they got the hardware for free, if you price the pieces needed to duplicate it it would cost 2-3 hundred dollars. There’s nothing cheap for such a simple, small desk at that price. I will say, however, that it does look cool and modern. I had the idea to do the exact same thing for a recording desk, but cost was prohibitive when I actually priced all of the components.
Nick: Feb 06 10 at 5:45 pmNice desk, awesome find with aluminum. For the future, no need to rough up the surface for the wood glue. Wood is already porous, better bond with a smooth wood surfaces, unless the surface is burnished the a light scuff with 220 will improve bond. Like your site by the way.
Tyler: Feb 06 10 at 5:58 pmThanks Nick!
AmyR: May 08 10 at 11:17 amYou are truly talented, I have alot of ideas but can never seem to get them to come out as great as your look!
dannyb: Dec 05 10 at 8:54 pmemeleme75: 300 bucks for some plywood and plumbing pipe. where do you shop?
Nice desk. think i’ll try something similar.
