Not sure this DIY project is still mustacian

[blackfedora]

I'm a software developer at a start up, which requires an average of 10 hours of sitting a day. As a result, I've been really interested in getting a standing desk both to help combat RSI and to stave off the incredibly negative effects of sitting around all day.

Adjustable height standing desks retail for anywhere from $700 to two grand, so I decided to try and design my own instead. I've had a lot of fun working on this project, but now I'm calculating the cost of the desk and my anti-mustacian alarm is starting to go off because the materials are going to cost around $250 to $300, which is significantly more than converting my current desk using some milk crates and a barstool.

I'm in love with the design, but the only logical reason I can think of to build this when a much cheaper (if less elegant) solution exists is that I'm still pretty new to wood-working and this project would help me hone skills that will be useful for money-saving DIY projects in the future.

What do you guys think?

[MissStache]

Do you have a Habitat for Humanity RE-Store near you?  They have all sorts of building/constructions supplies for really cheap, so you may be able to get the materials at a cheaper price.

[GuitarStv]

I think if it's that expensive you need to redesign around cheaper materials.  See if you can make all of the bracing from 2x4s which can be had very cheaply, replace the table top with cheaper veneered plywood or particle board.  Source your stuff from a scrapyard or dump.  If you're still relatively new to wood working this might be a frustrating project, and you'll also need to factor in the cost of replacement materials for the stuff that gets screwed up.

[fodder69]

It looks interesting but overbuilt for what it is. But even so, how are you getting to even $250 in materials? What type of wood, etc?

The only big expense is hardware for what you are doing
I see 12 pulleys, 2.50 - 3.50 apiece: $30-40 bucks (search for sheaves)
Maybe 8 casters for the desk to rid up and down on, may $30 bucks.
Steel cable or rope, $10-20 maybe.

Some screws, bolts, glue, varnish and wood. Maybe $150

And the design is cool but there would certainly be ways to do it cheaper, again looks really complicated and you really don't need the mechanical advantage of all of those pulleys being double like that. It will also still not be all that stable and difficult to get tight. If I were you and you really love the design, I would make the top part fixed to the legs and make the height adjustment part of the lower leg assemblies.

This is getting to look pretty complicated to get right, not from a woodworking standpoint, but from an engineering standpoint.

[Greg]

Back to the drawing board if you want it cheaper. 

While the design is interesting, a length of 3/4 plywood and some 2x4 ripped into tapered legs, with a 1x4 skirtboard would be much cheaper.  I built a workbench-like table for my office out of these kinds of materials.  For my height, over 6', a 38" high surface was the answer.

[_JT]

If you get your materials cost down a bit, I think it's totally mustachian. First of all, it's much better for your health. Second of all, you're building it, so you get valuable DIY experience. Third of all, you own it, so if you change jobs it comes with you (it'll last at least ten years if it's well built, giving you a ridiculous cost/hr of use). Fourth of all, it's for work, so your material expenses are deductible.

[impaire]

Why don't you first convert your current desk before taking the plunge with your own design? First, it'd allow you to test that you can work with a standing desk before investing in it, and second, it'll give you time to try and optimize your design.

[blackfedora]

It looks interesting but overbuilt for what it is. But even so, how are you getting to even $250 in materials? What type of wood, etc?

The only big expense is hardware for what you are doing
I see 12 pulleys, 2.50 - 3.50 apiece: $30-40 bucks (search for sheaves)
Maybe 8 casters for the desk to rid up and down on, may $30 bucks.
Steel cable or rope, $10-20 maybe.

Some screws, bolts, glue, varnish and wood. Maybe $150

If you add those figures up you arrive at around 230 (give or take $10), which is pretty much what I've got when I priced the design. I added 30% to the wood cost for when I screw things up. Other than the desktop itself everything is designed to use 2x4 or 2x6 studs because they're cheap, strong, and it'll give me a ton of experience finishing the wood with a hand planer.

Why don't you first convert your current desk before taking the plunge with your own design? First, it'd allow you to test that you can work with a standing desk before investing in it, and second, it'll give you time to try and optimize your design.

I've experimented with standing while I code by taking over the kitchen counter and using textbooks to get the height just right. I might use some milk crates or something in the meanwhile, but I'm worried that if my normal desk is workable then I'll lose the motivation to finish my wooden desk.

[GuitarStv]

Why is that a worry?  If what you have doesn't need improvement, maybe your woodworking skills would best be tested elsewhere?

[fodder69]

I actually meant $150 total and not $150 for wood and what not.

[AlanStache]

I got a COTS adjustable height desk at work and it is great, but after a month it got stuck in the up position so now I just stand all day and use a stool occasionally for a break.  Standing all day did take some getting use to but I love it now.  WRT your project I would think twice about all that stuff on the sides and how it might get in the way or make you feel confined.

Also I suspended my desktop computer box under the table top, this gave me much more space, something to think about in the design. 

It I were to get a new desk I would not hesitate to get a fixed height one where I could only stand, the adjustment is nice but not really needed and it really takes the cost up.

[OOBER]

That is an awesome idea!

I have been thinking about this a lot lately because ~6mo ago I got a new job and it requires sitting 40hrs/wk. It has been making my read/post time on the computer at home less enjoyable because I have already been sitting all day. I might be building one of these for myself here soon.

I feel that it would be mustacian to build this desk yourself even if it does cost a couple hundred in materials.
1. ~1/3 of each day you will be sitting at this desk, that is a significant amount of time.
2. It is better for your body
3. You are improving your carpentry skills
4. If you build it and it sucks or you have something you would improve, you now have the skills to add/modify/redo anything since you already have those skills.
             (this last one being a "give a man a fish, or teach a man to fish" scenario. I firmly believe in the latter.)

I say do it. The design you posted looks a bit overly complicated, but that is part of the fun. Hit up Harbor Freight for some cheap wheels and pulleys.

[TKE Super Dave]

If you already have a desk and an Ikea near by you can make a standing desk for $22. Here's is a good blog that explains the process. http://iamnotaprogrammer.com/Ikea-Standing-desk-for-22-dollars.html


I know you want to make your own but this is much more musician option that allows you to save a lot of money.

[blackfedora]

Update:
Thanks for suggesting Harbor freight for the pulleys, buying the hardware from not-Lowes brought down the cost a ton. I also got a bunch of scrap wood from Lumber Liquidators (their Bellawood shipments come on nice beams instead of pallets. I've been cutting and refinishing the nicer pieces and using the rest for firewood).

With something like $75 shaved off I'm feeling a bit better about the whole thing. Thanks guys!

[senecando]

While we're on the topic of as cheap as possible standing desks, I'm currently using the work-supplied desk on four (soon to be eight) cinder blocks. Works like a charm. In Dwight Schrute style I've put my monitor on stacks of paper. It's not pretty but it is comfortable.

That said, it's not adjustable and I didn't get much pleasure from "building" it myself.