Starting a new project!

briggs182 · Post by **briggs182** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:23 am

Hi,
I have been looking for a new desk and shelves for sometime and have found nothing that is close to what we want. My partner suggested building it as it could work out cheaper and we could control the design and colour. I have included a picture of the type of units I want to create, there may also be some more floating shelves on an opposite wall. I basically need some advice on how I should go about doing this, do I need to get a carpenter involved and is there any documentation anywhere that I could use.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:57 am

you may find this thread handy

http://www.***************.com/forum/f ... ID=5525&KW

petengade · Post by **petengade** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:27 pm

Briggs,
Do you have the tools to do the job? a decent chippie would do the job while you were still thinking about it. it does not look too complicated you should be able to do it if you have the time and tools.

briggs182 · Post by **briggs182** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:25 pm

Hi,
I am a beginner so my tool set is limited. I have the essentials, and would be willing to purchase any extras. Ideally a chippie would be ideal however the funds are limited and I am worried the costs could be high. Also the pleasure of doing the job myself is an added bonus as long as it goes well - hence the search for advice!

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 7:38 am

are you working in an alcove then

briggs182 · Post by **briggs182** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 10:48 am

Hi,
It is an alcove, about 1600mm wide and 1200 deep however I only want the desk to be about half of that and the shelves about 300.

Hitch · Post by **Hitch** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 7:52 am

If you buy your sheet material from B&Q, they will do you 5 cuts for free, and only 50p a cut after that.

Plan it out , and get them to cut the 300mm wide strips. By far easier than you doing it at home.

Corky · Post by **Corky** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 1:24 pm

why not use some worktop - get it cut from where you buy it from. Shelves need to be reasonably thick if you want bookshelves or they will sag.

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 4:37 pm

briggs182 wrote:Hi,
It is an alcove, about 1600mm wide and 1200 deep however I only want the desk to be about half of that and the shelves about 300.

you'd be best to continue to the wall for support take your kitcken table lay out all the components [screen tower printer shreder chair keyboard mouse speakers wifi and any other related components] to see what layout matches your needs best with regaurds to the cable lenghts
plan where all the cables go including holes for wires and plugs to go through

plan to place a socket in the knee well at the top and another tucked away at the back of the desk top this can reduce the spaghetti

look for a bedside cabinate or small chest of drawers that you could possibly use under the desk and support the end