ya MDF is very weak. i used plywood for my desk and the top surface i couldnt think of what it was but it seems to me its MDF. if you do that it'll work well. plywood for everythign then put a 1/4" layer of MDF on top. actually it was supposedly called somethign like Masonite or something. it cost me $20 for a 4x8 sheet 1/4" thick. or get arbrite (spelling) that you glue on with iron. its like edging but can be used for a top too.
I see some problems with this supporting much weight. You will need bracing under the front edge or the whole thing will bow. You can build a much stronger and lighter table with plywood and pine. Gluing a top on it is also good, (I forget what they call the stuff that is used on kitchen countertops, but it's cheap and easy to work with.) Mdf will swell if you put a drink on it. Something else to keep in mind...Make sure you can get it in/out of the room once you build it. If it's too big you will need to make it modular.
that stuff used on counter tops is what i mentioned that you use heat to glue it on i think and im pretty sure its called something like arbrite. (pronouced are-bright) maybe not the same. i dunno. but its real cheap. for my desk im staining the whole thing then a clear coat.
I like your Sketch up. the printer shelf is a good idea i don't like having the desk area crowded. Were would you be sitting your tower at tho? I'd suggest a shelf for that as well, or something of that nature. but if you like me you'll have 2-3 towers at all times. so then that's defeat the purpose of a shelf for the tower. or maby you just like to have your sit on the desk? The "L" desk are really nice if you have the room.
ya having an L desk or ultimately a U is nice. lots of space for doing work and storing junk. why not make it out of 1" lexan that'd be cool. lol
my current desk bought from argos is basically the same design but only about 4ft wide, the top doesn't bow but that's because it's a freaking huge piece of wood over 1.5" thick.
i have decided against mdf. i have to go the the hardware store tomorrow to see what they have for countertop and plywood. one option i am considering is plywood topped with showerboard for a whiteboard desk surface. i really want deeper than 2', and i think that is what non-custom (cheap) countertop maxes out at. also i will definitely brace the underside with 2x2 or 2x4 spruce. as i said above, the printer shelf under the desk has been scrapped in favour of buying a small file cabinet. and i wish i could afford a sheet of 1" lexan for the surface. that would be so sweet.
It must be hellishly expensive compared to wood though... right? Or maybe it's just that nice granite look without that not-so-nice granite price...
@firehed: at the bigger stores they custom-cut in store for the contractors, sometimes you can pick up ends for real cheap.
I spent £50 on my desk, that included a 3m long section of worktop, the wooden braces I used to attach it to the wall, a secondary mdf shelf well above the desk, and the fixings I needed. It can be suprisingly cheap if you shop around, and if you build it yourself, you get exactly what you want. Plus, I never ever liked the small computer hutches everyone insists on selling....
i used a Ikea desk very good material cheap and easy to assemble then i made the plan for securing the monitors to the wall. Il latter post a photo of the finished one, cause im also building this! Before Now When completed il post a shot so u can see the gain in space!
