Building a PC desk

[Kasyx]

I've been toying with the idea of building a new desk for my PC - something purely functional. I'm sick of having my PC on a regular desk, only to have the work space covered in miscellaneous crap. I already have a miscellaneous crap desk, and so it gets annoying when said miscellaneous crap ends up on my PC desk. I figure the best way to get around this is to build a new desk (well, not "desk", really more of a "structure") purely for my PC. I would prefer it to be made of metal (possibly scaffolding, or something similar), allowing space for several LCD monitors, as well as a largish surface for a keyboard and mouse. I'd obviously like there to be additional spacing for shelves, and I am considering building the desk in a L-shape to go in a corner.

I realise the easiest way to do this would be to weld it myself, but if you have any suggestions for stuff I could pick up at the store (possibly metal shelving that I could convert to suit my needs), I would really appreciate it.

 

[rrh]

Go to Lifehacker.com, then search on the tag 'featured workspace'.

This will return a list of the reader's workspaces: many include great (and inexpensive) ideas for e.g. getting rid of cables.

 

[profpanda]

I have had that same thought and I want to use perforated cable tray easy to cut and bend and if you work in IT you might know of someone that has extra.
You can put Electro-Luminescent Cable in your table and mount a small littel PSU in it.
OR combine your PC and table in to 1...... its like PC Macano.

 

[Kasyx]

Any clue where else I might be able to get hold of that stuff?

 

[AnomalyNexus]

Make sure there is something solid between your ears and the PC. I've recently moved my PC from the desk to a DIY aluminium stand sitting below the desk. Noticeably quieter since then even though the distance ear-PC is the same.

Also, attach some form of cable channel to the bottom of the desk. Sort of like this, but not quite that hardcore.

I don't think a metal desk will be comfortable, but that is personal preference.

Welded metal might be a bit of an overkill. Aluminium + Pop rivets works just fine as long as the design is structurally sound.

Add a centimeter or 2 tolerances to allow for a different shaped PC case in the future.

Spend a few second thinking about access to DVD drive and USB ports.

 

[Kasyx]

Make sure there is something solid between your ears and the PC. I've recently moved my PC from the desk to a DIY aluminium stand sitting below the desk. Noticeably quieter since then even though the distance ear-PC is the same.

Also, attach some form of cable channel to the bottom of the desk. Sort of like this, but not quite that hardcore.

I don't think a metal desk will be comfortable, but that is personal preference.

Welded metal might be a bit of an overkill. Aluminium + Pop rivets works just fine as long as the design is structurally sound.

Add a centimeter or 2 tolerances to allow for a different shaped PC case in the future.

Spend a few second thinking about access to DVD drive and USB ports.

Thanks for the advice. I'm looking at going with a metal structure with a wooden overlay for my keyboard and mouse to sit on so it will still be somewhat comfy. Currently, I have my PC on a shelf above my desk at eye-level. I do not mind the noise at all (you could say I sort of enjoy it, considering I find it difficult to sleep without the gentle whirring of my PC), so I will be keeping a similar system with the new design. I'm trying to avoid going with something like vertical-split shelving, more of a sort of bare-bones look so I won't necessarily have my case enclosed in a small area, more like having it sit on a shelf. This is all just theory at the moment, I'm just trying to find out what the best sort of material would be to use. Once I get a chance to check it out, I will see what the best plan of action would be.