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General => General Technical Chat => Topic started by: int2str on October 04, 2015, 04:19:45 am

Title: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: int2str on October 04, 2015, 04:19:45 am
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:
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2UPwDghi2fI/VhBHguJj36I/AAAAAAAAXZY/LbCUe9OJw-8/w722-h542-no/IMG_20151003_142025.jpg)

Really like the way it came out.

Also note the retro-fit of the back-lit LCD on the Wavetek 23 :D

 :-DMM
Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: Halcyon on October 04, 2015, 04:54:11 am
Very neat! Can you provide the Ikea item names for those who might want to replicate this?
Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: int2str on October 04, 2015, 05:12:02 am
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/ (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.
Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: German_EE on October 04, 2015, 08:32:11 am
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.
Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: Halcyon on October 04, 2015, 10:27:01 am
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.

Yep, 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.
Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: coppice on October 04, 2015, 10:31:29 am
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.

Yep, 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.
Solid 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.
Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: Halcyon on October 04, 2015, 11:03:34 am
Solid 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.

I'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.
Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: jwm_ on October 04, 2015, 11:10:19 am
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/LackRack

I have one on my workbench!
Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: Halcyon on October 04, 2015, 11:13:56 am
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/LackRack

I have one on my workbench!

 :-+

Perfect when you just don't have enough switch ports in your living/games room. Love it.
Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: coppice on October 04, 2015, 11:18:46 am
Solid 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.

I'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.
Interesting. I can't imagine how a door might be designed to substantially reduce the risk of a trapped hand. What do these look like?
Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: VK5RC on October 04, 2015, 11:26:20 am
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 (http://www.bunnings.com.au/metal-mate-32-x-32-x-1-5mm-0-6m-slotted-black-angle_p1138238)
Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: Halcyon on October 04, 2015, 11:28:09 am
Solid 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.

I'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.
Interesting. I can't imagine how a door might be designed to substantially reduce the risk of a trapped hand. What do these look like?

A door is a door and different materials have different properties. But when have you had 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?  :scared:
Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: Satbeginner on December 20, 2016, 09:01:06 am
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
Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: ZeTeX on December 20, 2016, 11:18:35 am
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?

Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: Muttley Snickers on December 20, 2016, 11:50:35 am
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.
Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: Stupid Beard on December 20, 2016, 11:58:04 am
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?

Simple. They tidy it up before taking a photo of it   :)
Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: Brumby on December 20, 2016, 01:07:45 pm
Simple. They tidy it up before taking a photo of it   :)

... and now you know why I haven't offered a photo.   :-[
Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: ZeTeX on December 20, 2016, 02:04:58 pm
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?

Simple. They tidy it up before taking a photo of it   :)
You can't tidy up workbench table that literally has holes in it & scratch marks :P
Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: ConKbot on December 20, 2016, 05:23:14 pm
CAPITA metal legs, and grab a bookshelf or wall shelf of appropriate size and sturdyness, pretrial and screw them on. :-+
Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: EEVblog on December 20, 2016, 11:01:07 pm
Nice, now mess that bench up, it's disgusting!  ;D
Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: aargee on December 22, 2016, 05:54:20 am
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!

The only product IKEA ever made that I recommend wholeheartedly is the JERKER desk with shelf.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DESK-IKEA-TIMBER-DESK-WITH-SWIVEL-DESK-CHAIR-8r-/201749071048?hash=item2ef92e84c8:g:hmAAAOSw44BYUJDu (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DESK-IKEA-TIMBER-DESK-WITH-SWIVEL-DESK-CHAIR-8r-/201749071048?hash=item2ef92e84c8:g:hmAAAOSw44BYUJDu)

It has a very solid steel frame and very flexible height adjustment. You can get them with a second shelf extension. they're the one to look out for.

Do NOT buy the FREDRIK. It is the cheapo replacement. It might be discontinued now too. I don't try to keep up.

PS. The Billy bookcases are ok too, just not recommending them.
Title: Re: Let's saw an Ikea desk in half!
Post by: R005T3r on December 22, 2016, 11:16:19 am
Simple. They tidy it up before taking a photo of it   :)

... and now you know why I haven't offered a photo.   :-[

The world is evenly split between tidy bench people and messy bench people. You'll only ever offend half the people. The rest will rally to your defence.
I'm generally tidy, but whenever I'm welding, the mess is inevitable....