Making a Fold-Out Desk

I made a desk that folds out from the wall so that I can have a home office in a small room. The frame is steel painted with Krylon Fusion All-In-One Spray paint in Flat White. The wood parts are made from 3/4" walnut veneer europly. This fold out desk or folding desk is a prototype for the shipping container hotel I am working on which will have rooms that are pretty narrow. I am using it now and getting a sense of how I want to work in cord management holes but let me know what you think in the description.
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The walnut plywood is Europly from Columbia Forest Products:
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Links
Magswitch Clamps
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Ryobi Angle Grinder:
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to the spray paint I used:
Kreg Portable CrossCut
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Kreg Straight Edge Guide
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Krylon Fusion All-In-One Spray Paint
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Ryobi Orbital Sander
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Follow us on Instagram: / benjaminuyeda
For additional projects and information check out our website:
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[@granjmy]

Absolutely WOW!!!

[@giononnik]

Good idea, I think the folding desk could easily have double function. When closed the underside of the table could be used as sort of a whiteboard by adding a thin white glossy sheet of metal to the underside of the table. It could be used as a chalkboard as well if you paint it as such. One problem is I don't know how that would work practically because I'm thinking if your knees could get dirty from the marker or the chalk if you move around a lot while sitting. That's why another option I'm thinking of is to display art that's printed on a metal sheet (like darkplates for reference) so that touching it while sitting wouldn't wear out or damage the art significantly.

[@garagemonkeysan]

Great video. Slick design. Love the use of metal. "Welding is easier than sewing." Mahalo for sharing! 🙂🤙

[@HomeMadeModern]

thank you!

[@wortheffort]

In a hotel I'd be worried about weight capacity because you know someone will sit on it. I'm not talking about wall holding weight but leverage on the desk.

[@HomeMadeModern]

yes! I am considering through bolts on the hinges or a steel pipe hinge welded in.

[@Maleick]

Good design, this has changed my perspective. Hope to see the next iteration in the future shipping container hotel.

[@meloD30]

GUESTS WILL STEAL THE MAGNETS. Beware of anything detachable. Also, great design as usual.

[@HomeMadeModern]

solid point!

[@raynoladominguez4730]

You know I really crush on this design. Mine is going to have a loose desktop with dowel handles and brackets at the interior; along the sides to hang the desktop ; making it a drawing table. I also will probably add a fold lamp. I will have cabinet/capsules on either side, that have deep doors for hiding the art supplies stored there. I like the desk depth that you have used here and the overall design concept. This is wonderful.

[@Xboxers]

cool desk! i would keep this depth. I personally hate to shallow desks. It's in my opinion more important then width. Also a built in monitor system would be nice to add :)

[@jonglass]

Speaking as somebody who is 6'2" tall, I don't think the desk is too deep. I hate shallow desks that back up against a wall, and make my legs feel cramped. It may be ok for a few minutes, but start spending any extended time (over 15 min, IMO) 18" or 20" would feel way too shallow. 30" would be even more comfortable for me (actually, I would never consider buying a desk with less than 30", personally). 🙂

[@HomeMadeModern]

great point! I have been tailoring lounge chairs for clients of different heights. so many color and material options but too much one size fits all!

[@ianrickey208]

+1 for the 30". I -like to- always use a second monitor and prefer to use a mouse rather than the trackpad. I would also love to see a mounted power strip.

[@necrojoe]

I think almost just as important as appropriate desk space, in regards to the depth, is knee/toe kick space. When I had a 24" desk at work, I was constantly kicking the wall behind the desk. I have a 28" now, and no longer kick the wall.

[@sherryuyeda5159]

Love how it can double as a bar with snacks and a desk.

[@alexaben6849]

Realy realy love the functionality, possibility and look. Need to learn basic welding asap!

[@HomeMadeModern]

its so fun

[@safinjr]

Functional and great looking design, nice work!

[@MichaelKieweg]

First thing that came to my mind was light. It should light up, whenn you open it. May be with a lightsensor, that shuts the lights down again, if the desk is opened in bright daylight.

[@HomeMadeModern]

good idea!

[@DanielNisbet]

Seems like the space where you were sticking the magnets to at the end would be a perfect spot for a nice LED strip to light up your workspace!

[@BigKeith510]

This is amazing!!!! My son's room is in need of this for sure. And I have a lot of this material... Amazing design thank you

[@HomeMadeModern]

thank you!

[@julietphillips1991]

Nice concept. The magnets are the key ingredient.

[@jackknows6509]

Great project. Consider a cork or light weight metal back inside the void of the table covey. Also, you might consider a hydraulic arm for raising and lowering. This is a safety idea just so the table top cannot just drop on a person should it get dislodged from the magnet. Just some ideas. Jack

[@Hidy_Ho]

I would be interested to know if those brass hinges are strong enough to keep the desk flat after some time of real use. I tend to really lean on the desk. If not, perhaps add adjustable steel cable supports for the desktop?

[@EdwardIglesias]

Great design. I'm surprised the desk is sturdy enough hanging in the air like that without additional support.

[@danthemakerman]

So clean! I've been wanting to make something like this for the garage but have yet to pull the trigger on it.

[@Dufffaaa93]

Another great design. Ben, you are a true artist.

[@mclovin6537]

Oh wow, I’ve been looking to make a foldout desk and you’ve just given me some great ideas.

[@lindacsmith13]

That is a great idea. I think it would work in small houses or apartments. I hope you do a follow up on the final design.

[@michaelcristofano5863]

Great Job! Can't wait until it's available. I am down sizing. In a small place it's good to keep furniture off the floor. But I do like the deeper desk.

[@christopherarciniega7393]

Liking this for a small finishing spot in shop. All the finishes on one side, maybe add a light bar too.

[@SpriteHide]

Just what we needed!

[@VictoriaRobertson]

Im also looking to purchase or make something similar (which is how I found this video) but not metal because I do not have the welding skills or metal working skills. For yours I would suggest a mirror underneath the desk so when you fold it up there is a nice mirror to make the room look even better and bounce around lights. What do you think?

[@levidbateman5174]

I really dig it… I might try something like this with a “one sheet method” of 3/4 ply…

[@stevewoodw]

You could add shallow shelves in the space behind the desktop when it's up (maybe with perspex sliding doors) to keep everything in place and have space for pens, post-its, USBs and whatever else you can fit in it. Some speakers may also fit in that you could have at the perfect head height that you can plug in to improve your sound quality. LED strip lights could also be worth thinking about - maybe a recessed socket in the wall space behind the desk as well. A lock would also be good as another comment said. If it's just for a hotel room, the speakers being fixed and possible for guests to plug in their laptops would be good and the LED strips.

[@ourjourneytohope]

Consider covering the underside of the desk with whiteboard material for presentations…just an idea.

[@MattSchneidergolo]

Having the same outer profile with the higher shelf extend across to fill the space no longer taken up by the larger desktop would be cool. You could try and hide some lighting underneath it. That rail you mentioned to hide the hinges might also be great for hiding cable management.

[@tammy5666]

Nice, thank you 😊

[@RamChickPig]

Hey Ben you can attached the piece of wood with the magnet to the fold out table so you don't have to constantly move it in and out.

[@GJRandom]

I love the idea 💡

[@bleargh22]

Another really good use for this would be a workshop - as long as it's pretty dust-proof the laptop etc can be protected when not in use

[@justinrabo5795]

I think the overall size is great, I would chop the table at the height of the self on the left, use that piece of the table for a continuous self over the table for more storage.

[@tayred81]

Like your easy and nice design. Very nice man 👍

[@StephenTimperley]

Bob from I Like To Make Stuff just recently posted a video of a large cabinet with a hidden 4-player arcade setup inside, and he used these little hidden hinges that he really likes. You could use those for your main hinge if you want those hinges to be less visible.

[@izored]

If you could leave more space behind the desk panel to hide a wall mounted monitor? or mounted within the product? Like a narrow reinforced steel plate comes down from the inside, the top (middle) with a VESA mount, welded?) that you could screw in or off? Has an option when buying the product?, that very narrow reinforced steel plate with the vesa could be on a rails system preferably a quiet one, then to add power we could add a tiny box below or on the side to hold a power hub, i have drawings if my english is too broken (being french) :) i'll take 1% of the sales thank you haha (or just one product i really need one )

[@nopetuber]

I've been looking for something like this but they all look and probably work like crap! This one seems very neat. I would definitely consider buying one.

[@carlosguzman4505]

Pretty sure you can make it look better, but it's really great just like it is! Great job!

[@julianugentarchitect]

The lower frame would be a good place for a power strip, hidden shelf for chargers, wire mangement, etc.

[@SchysCraftCo.]

Keep making. God bless.

[@youlikeanh]

if the magnet is strong enough to hold the desk...you could possibly mount a lightweight TV on the underside. So when it's folded up it's a media center and all business when it's down. Maybe try a Samsung Frame for a really clean look that mounts flush

[@reubenbradleydrums]

Amazing! On the bar side, you could have two smaller flip down tables - one for glasses and one for Whiskey 🥃

[@nickables4224]

Very nice. How well is the 8” of wood under the hinges supporting the desk top?

[@trace_minerals]

I would buy those for my art studio.

[@5432carmen]

Cool, but for long term use, may add a hole to charge pc or phone.

[@4.094]

For save your cost just using a plywood. And add a little angle like 15 degree for the folding desk.

[@oscarbarda]

Hi Ben, long time fan, are we sure on the strength of these screws? I mean arm weight + computer + maybe pushing when you stand up seems a lot of weigh for these short screws and cheap hinges :x

[@glumGlumm]

Minimalist love that stuff

[@MultiPJoys]

If the desk is placed more forward on the shelve so it is flush with the frame when closed (I hope this makes any sense) than there is much more space behind the desk when closed to store things. Perhaps like camera gear an iMac, second monitor or whatever else one prefers to store. You might even want to have it properly locked.

[@FujitheChef]

The desk top looks like it bows still quite a bit under arm weight. Maybe have arms that rotate out from the underside of the frame to add more strength to the underside of the desk. Could also use those same arms as cord management/power supply pieces? 🤷🏻‍♂️ Anyway cool idea

[@timjohnson4904]

Maybe some art, either canvas or an xcarve design for the underside of the desk

[@timjohnson4904]

Hey is this legit?

[@bleargh22]

Could also add a folding platform that hangs on the wall adjacent that turns it into standing desk

[@bleargh22]

Or cooler but prob more expensive option, the whole box slides up and down rails on the wall to adjust the height

[@ACoustaDC]

neat

[@YegresAL]

Living room?... What about TV set under the table? Only issue I can see - usually there's some sort of shelves on the floor below TV that will affect work comfort. Or just some painting on the bottom surface)

[@iammessina]

Hi Ben, where did you source the letter? Looks nice.

[@zakarymeakin6673]

I want to build something like this, but I want to mount a monitor against the wall as a laptop screen is too small.

[@fedegoeswoods3142]

If you also find a way to make the desk's height adjustable.. then it's perfect

[@zenmaster24]

keep the size, make the desk shorter and in the new space put another shelf. also, maybe put a metal backing on it (doesnt have to be the same grade steel - just something magnetic) so you could use magnets everywhere inside

[@mahirestate]

Can you make manual adjustable height Computer table

[@ccthundercustomcycles2608]

Do you have the measurements available? Thank you

[@c.a.g.1977]

Sleek design, sort of IKEA-clever! Why not route pockets in the desktop, put the magnets in there and add that leather? Old desk sometimes have a leather inlay, so it would be fitting, I guess.

[@tlc12070]

Is this on your website?

[@elokjerside8680]

Goood work but how about making it as an sit and stand desk......🙃

[@HomeMadeModern]

I think its doable!

[@elokjerside8680]

@@HomeMadeModern maybe you make it in version 2....

[@woodmakethecut5973]

Simple but as always, a practical project. Thinking of making one for my son, to pair with my DIY Laptop Stand made from scrap wood as I think it fits your table's style (vid on my channel). :)

[@jimseah]

is it for sale?

[@lurleanhunt9335]

LED light strip?

[@AyandaGumede]

Brilliant, you just forgot cable management for the laptop and phone charger.

[@JamesWelbes]

I'm concerned about the strength of the desk. Probably don't want to lean on it much

[@jackieconway8095]

Love the idea good job be blessed 0:)

[@icristi-naDIY]

Hallo lieber Freund, ich schätze deine Arbeit auf diesem Kanal. Deine Videos sind sehr interessant! Ich erwarte, dass Sie meine Videos auf KZbin mögen. Vielen Dank! Ich warte darauf, dass du neue Videos postest!

[@salmanzaheer5060]

👍🏻

[@fleurdelune5240]

❤️

[@descoiatorul]

Magnets are cool, but not near electronics.... Imagine placing an external hard drive near a magnet. Sheesh...

[@surfacingcom]

What, no cement? MEDIOCRE!

[@HomeMadeModern]

lol