Building a solid wood desk with metal legs from scratch | DIY

In this video I'm building an insanely strong computer desk from scratch!
Tools used:
Circular saw
Angle grinder with a flapdisc
Metal cutting saw
Matte black spray paint
Drill + accessories
Paint brush/roller
White furniture paint
Some wood screws
MIG welder
Acetone and a rag
Belt sander
Orbital sander
4x 100cm wood clamps
4x 25cm wood clamps
Dimensions:
Material used for desktop: 30x48mm planks (24 pieces of 2 meters)
Materials used for legs: 40x40mm steel tubes + 20x20mm steel tubes.
Leg height 750mm (Though this turned out to be a little high so if I were to do it again I would make them 700mm)
Leg depth 650mm
TABLETOP SIZE: 180x72 centimeters
Wood screw size used: 4.5x30mm
(The dimensions for height and lengths are from the furthest corners on the angled cuts.)
Music | Sappheiros - Lights
fanlink.to/QY3

[@bikdav]

I like the wood-glue and sawdust technique.

[@makerunit]

Thank you! 😁 glad you liked it!

[@mikkobawej4765]

Nice man, clean and simple, love the look

[@makerunit]

Thanks! 😁

[@notsynteh]

Soo clean and so simple, i'm about to make desk like this and i was looking trough youtube for ideas, good job man!

[@makerunit]

Hey! Thanks I appreciate the positive feedback!

[@AaPerm]

Quite a cool build. I’ve been watching a few of your videos and really enjoy the DIY vibe.

[@makerunit]

Thank you! I’m glad you enjoy my videos, hopefully I’ll get around to post some more projects in not too long!

[@randomher089]

Cool build! Two tips, for a cleaner weld you should clean the area you're welding with acetone before welding, and beveling the edges you are going to weld will give you better penetration and stronger welds :D

[@makerunit]

Thanks! I mean that does make sense, I’m very new to welding at this stage, using the cheapest welder I could find used online😅

[@randomher089]

@@makerunit Acetone removes contaminants that otherwise would "boil" in the welding process, making the welds uglier and weaker than a clean welding surface. Bevelling the edges makes sure that the heat reaches all the way through the metal and gives you a larger surface area to work with. Looking great for a beginner, at least as good as I was when I started out. Technique will trumpf equipment every day, but it's really nice with good equipment. I have the Kemppi Min-arc 200 myself and I love it!

[@makerunit]

@@randomher089 Biltema MIG 90 here 😂

[@randomher089]

@@makerunit Everybody has to start somewhere. I knew I would need a good welder, so I bought the best one for the best price in my opinion. The Minarc 200 basically does all the hard stuff for you. You just "point and shoot"

[@makerunit]

@@randomher089 sounds like a dream to just point and weld and it just works👍😅

[@ayondas-g2s]

😍 just loking like a wowwwwww.........

[@makerunit]

Thank you!

[@Splincir]

150 bucks and some elbow grease nets you a quality desk that will last you forever, that would easily cost you 600 to 1200 buck if you bought it. Super worth it and you can always say ou built it too. There is something about pride and satisfaction from doing something yourself. I'm planning on something like this. Unfortunately I dont have a welder or planar currently. So I am rather limited on what I can do. Nice and simple build though man. I'd take it over the Ikea desks I have. Theyve been good for the 80 bucks or so each i paid for them but they are showing their age. The coating is pealing and humidity is causing them to swell. I really want a new desk but dont have the time to do a project like this. I need a vacation.

[@makerunit]

Exactly! There are definitely things I could do differently on this build as well but it’s rock solid, at least the wood surface feels so extremely strong but comes at the cost of high weight, the legs on the other hand feel quite sturdy but not rock solid like you’d want, so for my next build I’d try to build the legs more sturdy definitely, though it isn’t a problem as desks usually are stationary anyways 😊

[@fa-ajn9881]

@@makerunitaluminum extrusion? Then you could use that to mount things

[@MetalWorksProjectMWP]

Thank you for this idea ka-Metal it will really help me so much at this tuitorials lalabs shout out frm phils always

[@makerunit]

You’re welcome 😊 I’m glad you enjoyed!

[@丁丁-w4g]

good job！

[@makerunit]

Thank you!

[@davidkong9617]

With the L brackets at the back, is there any noticeable side to side wobble ?

[@makerunit]

With some force like if you bump into it yeah it will wobble slightly a little bit but it doesn’t feel unstable. Stronger plates or a 45 degree brace in the back may lock it down even better but thats up to personal preference.

[@paulgonzales1829]

Is this galvanized metal? What type of metal tubulars is used usually for tables. Ive been reading galvanized metal needs to be soaked with vinegar to etch the surface and promote better adhesion for the epoxy primr then paint from the removed zinc coating

[@makerunit]

I actually think this was just regular steel square tubing with only an oil coating to prevent rust. Which I had to clean off before painting.

[@amnjswl9822]

Really Loved it bro, but I'm confused with the dimensions (table leg) both What are the size for the both legsin length & breadth?

[@makerunit]

The height was 75cm on mine but if felt a little too tall, but I recommend going closer to 70-72cm for a better feel. The depth depends on the width of your wood panel. The legs were made out of 40mm square steel tubes.

[@amnjswl9822]

@@makerunit how to measure it? What was the size of your depth bro, Like If I want a table 3.5 feet breadth and 6 feet length what should be the size? I'll leave 5-5 cm for the clamp as in video (or you tell me I'll do it)

[@makerunit]

@@amnjswl9822 my depth was about 80cm. I would make the legs a little bit less deep, maybe 5cm / or 2 inches less than the tabletop. Just looks cleaner that way. And height from the floor to the underside of the tabletop should be 70-72cm I recommend. You can also make just the tabletop and add your own pre-built legs from the store if that’s easier.

[@ckmmaderazo]

nice mann!!

[@makerunit]

Thank you! 😊

[@biketraintaxland]

make the table thinner and the edge more grounded to reduce the weight of the table

[@makerunit]

Yeah it may have gotten a little heavy there 😅 first attempt though, my next in the future will definitely be more lightweight.

[@biketraintaxland]

@@makerunit i think u can support the thinner wood surface by adding perpendicularly a wood below the surface to support it not to break

[@biketraintaxland]

@@makerunit the support wood then get screwed to the support standing metals

[@makerunit]

@@biketraintaxland yeah initially my plan was actually to make a simple frame from 1x2’’ planks like a grid of rectangles kind of, then to use regular flooring as the tabletop, I figured it’d make a durable and cool finish, but that might be for my next table when that time comes around.😁

[@makerunit]

@@biketraintaxland custom furniture would also be fun to do in the future, like this channel isn’t mainly intended on pc builds it’s intended as like a anything cool you can DIY really 😁

[@Snikur]

Where did you get the steel? Tried looking at my local store in Norway but can't find any.

[@makerunit]

40x40x1.5mm Steel Tubes from Biltema 👍 Search for «Stålrør» on Bitema page and you should find it! 😄

[@Snikur]

@@makerunit Thanks 😊 I was only able to find the circular ones while searching for "stålrør" but it turns out they got multiple "stålrør" categories on biltema 😅

[@makerunit]

@@Snikur yeah, I think they’re all under the same one product. You gotta scroll down to see all the options! 👍

[@powerpointprov1074]

What are the dimensions?

[@makerunit]

Width of the tabletop is 200cm, and about 60cm deep. My legs were a little too high at 75cm but I recomment about 70-72cm tall legs.

[@sonjeux]

Muy bueno

[@makerunit]

Thank you! 😊

[@lesh1986]

For that table top.can I buy a wood already made.which wood can I use

[@makerunit]

You can, but most store bought tabletops won’t be as strong. I used Pine wood planks, but the strength comes from the fact that so many planks are glued together locking it all together rather than allowing them to flex. Most store bought ones might have some flex to it. But for regular office use it’s usually not a big deal 😊 for example my current personal setup now actually uses a kitchen countertop as the tabletop. Works pretty well too but they tend to sag a bit over time. 👌