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DIY hight-adjustable electric standing desk upgrade - SLRPNK
example.comI had a pretty sturdy wooden desk, top just polished and waxed, nice drawers
too… but I wanted it to be a standing/sitting desk. These “laptop hight
adjusters” didnt do it for me, also I wonder how it would work as for me the
difference is pretty big. I searched for a matching frame and made a post in
[email protected] [/c/[email protected]]. ## 1. Cleanup
[https://slrpnk.net/pictrs/image/db3e7548-868c-472f-aedc-1bf5605cbab9.jpeg] I
removed the legs and drawes from the table, made space in the area ## 2. Frame I
got a 160kg one from Flexispot, which sounds overkill but this should hold me +
the table + some stuff. You never stand on your desk to do stuff?
[https://slrpnk.net/pictrs/image/0f2c2c96-c1f2-402d-abf9-37f62d22e548.jpeg] The
package was heavy, poor delivery guy. Should have gotten him a snack to go.
Assembly wasn’t hard, maybe 40min? The rest was way more ## 3. Issues The screws
connecting legs and top frame didn’t really match, as the holes on the inside
were shorter. I swapped the 4 with 4 shorter screws used to screw the “feet”
onto the legs, which could only use the longer ones. No big deal but an
oversight.
[https://slrpnk.net/pictrs/image/931db95e-2b62-475e-a5df-a3381cc3ba7e.jpeg] The
frame was also too long to tightly match my tabletop, so I disassembled one part
and shortened the metal tubes just the right amount so they fit exactly next to
the boards on the outside of the drawers (you will see).
[https://slrpnk.net/pictrs/image/16976690-0d8f-48d5-96a4-aee9d560a25f.jpeg] ##
4. Tabletop adapter This frame is made for flat tabletops, so I took one leg of
the table, shortened it as much as possible and sawed it in half (Less useless
weight at the tabletop is always good). This is why the frame needed to be
shortened to tightly match.
[https://slrpnk.net/pictrs/image/51fc64f4-4d6a-41a6-85fd-fae4a3dfc24d.jpeg]
[https://slrpnk.net/pictrs/image/4b741bd9-dc3c-4e1c-b340-0631f22cfcb4.jpeg] I
attached the “adapters” to the outside of the “drawer holders”, with 2 screws
into them, and 2 short brackets to the tabletop. Of course, for each hole I
pre-drilled with a smaller drill to reduce force on the wood and avoid ruptures.
[https://slrpnk.net/pictrs/image/69c7e438-9dcb-43f2-a6cc-6dc8c682876b.jpeg]
Looking at it, a few more brackets could be good. But in the other hand, I dont
really apply horizontal force? ## 5. Assembly I screwed the frame onto the
adapter, which made a tight connection to the tabletop. Now the 2 motors at the
top of the frame needed their cables connected to a controller, which was
connected to a charging brick. The manual meant them to be inside the frame,
screwed onto the tabletop, but this didnt work with the drawers. So instead I
used the nice fiber-enhanced tape (used in packaging of the cables on the
motors) and guided the cables to the back of the tabletop, screwed the
controller on there. The charging brick is held with a velcro strap for some
reason, which was glued to the tabletop as well.
[https://slrpnk.net/pictrs/image/19f9dae0-ca42-4a47-8b52-470e53904509.jpeg] Now
the little control interface (which looks nice and pretty high quality (but
plastic of course) needs to be placed somewhere in front of the tabletop. It is
connected to the controller via ethernet and a power cable. The power cables
look similar to the ones on a PC. I guided it alonside one side, tied the cable
down with some tape, used a hook and a screw to hold it in place nicely, used
the metal plastic-covered-wire thingy from packaging to attach the cable to the
hook gently. ## 6. Result
[https://slrpnk.net/pictrs/image/d0132057-1afb-40e9-89ca-c1a104fbcfeb.jpeg] Even
though the cutting of the leg wasn’t perfectly clean, it works and is very
sturdy but not too heavy. I turned it around, connected the power, and it
worked! > ### ℹ️ Note > Always test the motors and stuff before sawing off
random parts XD The control is easy, I was able to set a sitting and a standing
hight which can be switched with a button press now.
[https://slrpnk.net/pictrs/image/582cf1f5-b74c-45af-a001-22d27b434023.jpeg] The
controller seems to go into sleep mode when not used, meaning a low power draw.
I could test this further though. It is rock stable, which tells me it was a
good idea to get the powerful variant (2 motors, 2 moving elements instead of
1). The motors are reasonably silent, I already assembled everything, glued my
plug strip onto the table (to leave room to the wall while preventing it from
falling down). Noice! I also need to find a solution for the corners (where the
legs were). I may not care anough to put something there though. ::: spoiler
Easter eggs On the table you can see my pen holder made from a cool piece of
log. On the bottom there is also my bin with 3 segments for paper, plastic and
litter, made with cardboard and tape. ::: ## 7. Oversights The screws didnt
match the actual length, luckily I could just switch them without needing to
manually shorten them. There is a metal sheet meant to be a cover of the frame.
But while the frame is adjustable, the sheet only has 2 holes and only fits in a
very wide position, not even the minimum without me shortening it. I may shorten
it or may not, it is kinda useless.
The Post
Very slight woodworking to fit the frame to the tabletop involved ;)
I love this standing desk, can highly recommend!
No it shows a post preview so it is a link.
You need to click it, not the image
Yes, it works like that for me. Now I’m confused.