At Solid Wood Tops we have the pleasure of seeing all sorts of weird and wonderful desk/table top designs and ideas. Some do not fit within the common 1200-1800 width bracket, or 600-800 depth bracket that most desk frames cater for. This post goes though some of the ways our customers fit their desk tops to both height adjustable frames and fixed desk frames.
Sit/stand desk frames for unique desk tops
Standing desks are definitely the most tricky option in this category. There are many concerns for manufacturers, like wobble at height and unbalanced loads, which is why they generally just build frames for basic rectangle desk tops. Most sit/stand frames are imported from China and retailed, customising a desk frame to support a shallower depth or increased length is generally not an option.
One way around this to use desk frame manufactures based in your country of residence. They may retail frames on their websites at specific sizes, as that is what the market dictates, or perhaps there are technology limitations which mean it is difficult to allow purchase of custom frames.
Tip: One desk frame manufacturer (not just importer) here in the UK is HeightAdjustableDesks.com – we reached out to them to discuss this issue and they confirmed they fabricate the E:Lift series right here in the UK, and will accept orders for frames with a custom length or depth, within reason. We have even managed to secure a discount code: SWT20 which gives you £20 off any E:lift frame. They offer all E:lift sit/stand desks ‘frame only’, and they pair nicely with our custom sized solid wood tops (fixed with wood screws). Why not talk to their team to see if they can undersize or oversize on of their frames to be suitable for your use?
Supported unique desk tops by attaching to the walls
Finding a way to support some tops with legs can be a challenge. Desk tops can be raised to the correct height by using walls to the side(s) and back. This could be by means of brackets or battens attached to the walls.
Both brackets and battens will need fixing securely, and a maximum weight for the top will need considering. For best results, you will want to be attaching to brick walls (rather than stud walls, regardless of what claims a plaster board wall fixing might make).
Some sit/stand manufactures, i.e. Conset 501 19 series, make height adjustable brackets which can be fixed to the wall. These are ideal for small desk tops. We would not recommend attempting to use multiple units to support a desk top, they are not generally calibrated to work in conjunction with another and can cause damage to the top, or worse, if they are raised/lowered unequally.
Tip: Make sure the wood is thick enough to span the unsupported length. A batten at the back can provide some support, but potentially there could be no support at the front. More reading: How thick does a solid wood desk top need to be?
Fabricated frames or pedestals made to support the size of the top
Some tops, or spaces, require having a custom frame built to support the desk properly. The image below shows a frame for a long top (3000x750mm), that would be used in an education environment with children, so the desk being well supported was paramount.
Using a pedestal and supporting the top from the centre may also be suitable for your desktop, especially if it is symmetrical and/or small. Be aware of tipping, and over extending.
Tip: One of the most expensive parts of custom made fabricated steel frames is the powder coating. If your aesthetic allows, leaving the frame as steel only, a little more rustic, could save £££s.
‘Karlby & Alex’ style support for variable length tops
‘Karlby & Alex’ comes from 2 Ikea lines: Karlby is a laminated composite top (primarily for use in Kitchens) with a thickness of 38mm and Alex are drawers that happen to be 700mm tall, combined they are just about an acceptable height for a sitting desk (most desks are 700-730mm when seated. Creating a desk setup from these 2 components became popular around 2018, but using the exact products has some limitations…
Strength: The Karbly top needs a lot of support in the middle to prevent bowing; and cannot be used with camera clamps or monitor mounts.
Length: The Karlby top can be cut and re-edged, but cannot be made longer, or shaped.
Height: The Alex drawers are a little high for most people whilst seated.
Tip: A custom sized/shaped solid wood top combined with a custom height/width/depth drawer pack to create a perfect desk in this style.
Custom placed legs or wood legs built for the desk top size and shape
If you cannot find a desk frame to support your custom top, you might be able to provide the stability with strategically placed individual legs. This needed cost the earth, with ADILS legs at Ikea starting at about £10, other sites customers frequently use are Heritage Components and The Hairpin Leg Company. You might also consider industrial box legs, our customers have reported good results from Taylor’s Collection.
If you have specific requirements for the height of the top, we can help with Solid oak removable legs, made to any style and height.
Tip: Choose Ikea Legs in the compatibility drop down on our Custom Size Solid Wood Desk Top product for extra help from the workshop with leg placement and pilot holes.
Configure a custom size/shape solid wood desk top
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