As technology evolves, more and more businesses have steered away from doing their paperwork manually and have geared toward doing tasks digitally. That’s why most office employees nowadays spend the greater part of their days sitting at their desks and working on their computers. However, employees are not the only people who use computers on a regular basis. In fact, it is estimated that almost half of all households around the world own computers. The sales on gaming laptops alone have reached over 12 billion U.S. dollars’ worth of revenue.
In spite of the growing popularity and usage of smartphones and tablets, many people continue to use computers for a variety of reasons, be it for work, gaming, or social media. Because of this, furniture design has also drastically changed to support the weight, size, and overall design of computers. At times, however, it’s hard to find the right computer desk. Some desks have surfaces that do not have sufficient workspace, while others have short legs that make it difficult to use computers comfortably. For this problem, the best solution is to build your own computer desk according to your preferred specifications.
Advantages of a DIY Mobile Computer Desk
Building your own computer desk can yield a number of benefits, but the most important one is your well-being. Poor ergonomics in desk design can result in repetitive strain injuries, such as back pains, carpal tunnel syndrome, eye strain, and shoulder pain. An example of a computer desk with poor ergonomics is a desk on which you need to reach out for your keyboard to type. Another sign of poor ergonomics in desk design is when you have to bend your head downward to view the monitor. Both of these scenarios can cause bad posture, which leads to discomfort and repetitive strain injuries.
Custom-building your own computer desk can maximize your comfort, which, in turn, can protect you against repetitive strain injuries. You can cut the legs of your computer desk to your desired height, or you can even add extra components like a keyboard tray for comfortable typing.
Apart from the benefits to one’s health, building a customized computer desk can boost productivity when it comes to doing work. When you’re comfortable working on your desk, chances are that you’ll be looking forward to getting the job done. Good ergonomics might seem like a superfluous factor in productivity, but it does help with motivation and efficiency.
Another advantage of building your own computer desk is that you can customize it to your liking. You can choose the finish you want on your computer desk. You can even put in shelves or whatever accessories you need for your equipment and supplies. If you use a lot of devices and supplies, you can build a computer desk with a wider surface or with extra drawers and shelves.
Probably the most obvious advantage of building a computer desk yourself is it will save you some cash. The price of a store-bought computer desk today ranges from $200 to $2,000. Depending on the materials you will use, a do-it-yourself computer desk will only cost you $50 up to a little over $200. Additionally, since you are not buying a whole new desk from a store, you can always add components to your custom-made desk. The options for modification are endless. If you do not want to shell out too much cash for a new desk at present, you can make your own desk and install extra accessories on it in the future.
Making your own computer desk seems daunting at first, but it is relatively easy. Even those with zero woodworking experience can do this project themselves. Unlike other do-it-yourself projects, building a mobile computer desk does not require many tools, years of experience, or technical expertise.
A mobile computer desk might sound like something you won’t need, but in reality, it can significantly help you optimize your space. Compared to a stationary desk, a desk with wheels will be easier to tuck away. People who use their living areas as their office spaces will love having a computer desk that can be easily wheeled off the room. Other than this, a mobile computer desk enables you to work in whichever part of your office or home. If you’re in the mood for some sunlight, you can easily move the desk toward the window. If you need to multitask, you won’t have to run back and forth since you can move your workstation next to the place where you’re doing another task. With a mobile computer desk, there are no limits to how you can set up your workstation.
Having a mobile computer desk that perfectly suits your needs and preferences can go a long way. It allows you more flexibility in modifying and setting up your workstation, and it optimizes your comfort as well. It also helps save space, perfect for those with limited working spaces. Moreover, it helps boost the efficiency and productivity of tasks.
Tips for Building a Mobile Computer Desk
Before starting your mobile computer desk project, there are a few things that you have to consider. One of these things is that you should build a desk at which you can comfortably sit. Your feet should be flat on the ground, while your knees should be bent at 90 degrees. You should also build a desk at a height that allows you to type without having to stretch your arms out too much. A comfortable desk height allows your elbows to be comfortably positioned at the sides of your waist. If you build your desk higher than your comfortable typing position, you can always add a compatible keyboard tray to your desk.
Legroom is a key factor in good ergonomics. That’s why your desk should have enough space for all of the devices, components, and supplies that you need to use regularly. For additional storage space, it’s best to install shelves or drawers on your workstation. With these components, you can stow away your flash drives, notes, and other miscellaneous supplies and keep them out of sight for a more organized workspace. If you do plan to put shelves or drawers under your desk, then you have to factor those components in when measuring the height of your desk. These components should neither prevent you from sitting comfortably nor take up your legroom.
Another important thing to consider before building a computer desk is the height of your monitor. If you have to bend your neck to view your screen, then you might want to add a monitor mount or a monitor riser. These accessories will enable you to view your monitor at eye level, which eliminates the need for you to strain your eyes, neck, or back.
It’s also worth considering what type of chair you plan to use with your computer desk. When you design your desk with good ergonomics, it will make little or no improvements to your posture and comfort if your chair is poorly designed.
Aside from all this, you should build your computer desk according to your needs and preferences. Ultimately, you will be the primary user of your desk, which is why you need to love using it. When it comes to choosing materials and extra accessories, it all boils down to what you want and need. Moreover, expenses might be an important factor to consider when choosing materials, but it’s better not to spend less than necessary. This is because you’ll be using the desk on a regular basis. After all, the cost savings of building a desk yourself are already huge compared to buying a computer desk at a store.
Materials
As was previously mentioned, some of the best advantages of custom-making a mobile computer desk are ease of modification and flexible configuration. You can add extra components to your mobile computer desk as you please. For this reason, the materials that will be used for this project will only serve as your skeleton frame or the bones of your build.
1. Desktop
The problem with buying computer desks from stores is that they are only 60 inches long or even less. On the other hand, when custom-making a computer desk, you can go crazy with the size of your desktop.
For an easier project, you can buy a ready-made desktop from a furniture store. For a more customizable option, you can purchase plywood or lumber from hardware stores. The latter entails cutting, sanding, staining, and finishing—a process that calls for the use of more tools.
2. Legs
Some people will opt for standard desk legs, but for this project, you will be using industrial pipes. These pipes will then be assembled to make an H frame, which provides the desk with stable and balanced support. In total, you need to have seven 3/4-inch threaded pipes cut to different lengths: four 14-inch long pipes for the legs, two 16-inch long pipes for the leg supports, and one 50-inch long pipe for the horizontal support. In spite of these specific dimensions, you can have the legs cut to your preferred height. You can also have the horizontal and leg supports cut to certain lengths so that they can fit the size of your desktop.
3.Casters
Casters will turn your computer desk into a mobile one. You’ll have to make use of stem-mount casters that will fit 3/4-inch pipes. These casters should have expanding rubber stems or rubber adapters. They should also have brakes so that you can keep your desk stationary while you use your computer. Additionally, you need to make sure that the casters you use can withstand the weight of your computer desk, along with the things you’ll put on your desk. Casters with a diameter of at least 4 inches, for instance, can withstand loads weighing over 200 pounds.
4. Flanges and Tees
Securing the legs to the desktop requires four flanges. These flanges should have a diameter that can fit 3/4-inch pipes. On the other hand, six single-socket tees are needed to secure the pipes together. Like the flanges, the tees should also fit 3/4-inch pipes.
5. Optional Components
You can add any component you like to your mobile computer desk, but it’s best that your desk has a cable manager or organizer and a power cord. A cable manager can keep your cables neat and organized. This way, your workspace will be free of messy cables and trip hazards. A power cord, meanwhile, allows you to conveniently work on your computer and other devices without the need to work near an electrical outlet.
Building the Mobile Computer Desk
After having your pipes cut and preparing the rest of the materials, you’re all set to build your mobile computer desk. The project will only take more or less than an hour.
First, connect the 50-inch long horizontal support to the two 16-inch long leg supports using two tees. This will serve as the base or H frame for your desk. Then, attach four tees to the ends of the two 16-inch long leg supports. After that, check if this H frame can perfectly fit the underside of your desktop.
After ensuring that your H frame and desktop can fit together, insert all four 14-inch long leg pipes into the four tees of the H frame. The H frame should be placed around an inch high from the bottom of the legs. Next, attach the four flanges to the top ends of the four 14-inch long leg pipes. Then, screw these flanges to the corners of the desktop’s underside to secure the legs to the desktop.
To secure the four casters to the bottom ends of the four 14-inch long leg pipes, tighten the casters’ nuts to make their rubber adapters expand. The rubber adapters should be thick enough to fit in the leg pipes’ holes snugly. After that, tighten the bolts of the casters using a wrench.
After ensuring that the casters are tightly secured to the leg pipes, flip the computer desk over. With the use of a tape measure and a level, check if everything is level. Then, tighten the screws of the tees. Finally, make sure that all of the screws are tightened and that everything is in place. You are now ready to put your computer in place and enjoy your new workstation.
Completing Your Mobile Computer Desk
From height-adjustable tables to sit/stand desks, there are many computer desks out there with specific features that can boost comfort and productivity. A mobile computer desk, in particular, allows you to have a flexible workspace. It makes moving your workstation from one place to another easy. Moreover, this do-it-yourself project will not only provide you with a rolling desk, but it will also give you an aesthetically pleasing computer desk with a touch of industrial style. It’s the perfect desk for any modern interiors.
If you need accessories for your new custom-made computer desk, look no further than Engineer Warehouse. We have carefully collected IT furniture pieces and accessories from the best brands. We have keyboard trays, CPU brackets, accessory bars, and many more. Whatever you need for your desk, you can surely find the right one from our wide assortment of high-quality accessories, components, and other products.
