Home DIY

Been looking at options for desk tops for our study. Need a few and various sizes, would rather they match. Cut to size Egger MFC is one option, a little spendy, I'm wondering if phenolic ply would be a nice surface to work on? Never seen the stuff IRL so hard to judge. Any opinions here?

This may be a bit mad but have a look on Gumtree etc for desks or office equipment . I sold an office desk a few years ago for next to nothing. Really couldn't give it away. Use the tops and bin the rest.

yeah, been checking intermittently, it's getting 2 or 3 matching in the sizes I want is the tricky bit.

Fire door blanks

presumably they have a fairly un-aesthetic core though so can't be cut to size? Need one desk at 1400 wide which is a pretty tiny door.

You’re right, but they can be lipped fairly easily so as to hide the core.
Just a thought, they’re a budget-friendly way of getting table/desk tops.

If you figure it out, do post an update - I want a surface between 4 and 8mm thick to attach to my desk with magnets so I can bury some stuff inside it. But the kicker is I want it to be wipeable for coffee spills and also double as a mouse surface.

So far I'm looking at valchromat and xylocleaf but the latter is tricky to get thin enough and the former I worry has a texture too much like sugar paper and won't wipe well or be useful as a mouse pad alternative.

https://www.slhardwoods.co.uk/product-category/sheet-material/moisture-resistant-valchromat-mdf-2440-x-1220mm/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJIrAMzEB0Q

https://www.xylosurfaces.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o30ioOdjN_0

Another somewhat odd suggestion is IKEA. I've bought an L-shaped desk for my daughter from it. You could get matching stuff from there. I should say that the desk I got rid of was 1000% better quality than IKEA - heavier and better quality but you get what you pay for - sometimes!

wipeable for coffee spills and also double as a mouse surface

Stick desk lino to plywood?

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Looks good.

Re the photos, how did you fit them to the wall?

Builder Depot - New Southgate
020 8920 0800

https://g.co/kgs/2hukrpH

What about laminating a sheet like all the cool YouTubers are doing with their workbenches and mitre stations?

That way you can put it on top of whatever sheet works best for you other criteria. I feel like MR MDF would have a better weight to it and having a perfectly smooth side down would give a vacuum effect and keep it flat.

That looks great, well done!

They’re Mixtiles.

They have a small adhesive strip. Been there for a few years now and none have moved one mm

Sweet.

Wish I'd seen these 4 years ago..

Maaaybe? Not really sure what finishes are possible with lino-esque products. Although I'd like it wipeable I want a bit of texture/friction for the mouse. I know some people use glass/alu for mouse surfaces (with little glass feet on the underside of the mouse in place of the pads to slide around better/last longer) but I actually move the mouse all of about 5cm in any direction so need a bit of friction to keep it in place. Currently use a 100cm x 50cm cordura pad but I'm pretty done with it.

This is my desk equivalent of switching to an induction hob.

Is this similar to what @hoefla was saying?

Something like this: https://www.hm-wood-shop.co.uk/shop/standard-laminate-2604c1.html?

MR MDF (moisture resistant?) sounds like valchromat which is one of the materials I'm currently looking at but just worry it's not super durable and I'd be rubbing off fibers with the mouse that would affect the optical sensor. Or that the material would be a bit too stubbly and again, optical sensor would be impacted. I guess the answer is to ask them for a sample and have a go.

Couldn't spot any 1800 rectangles when I looked, which is what I need.

That's fair. My daughters desk is quite narrow.

Forbo do a desktop lino product which seems pretty straightforward to use. Glue and trim. Could get some bog standard MDF/Ply and cover?

Forbo do a desktop lino product

This was my plan for an alcove desk. And, I suppose it still is, but I haven't got round to it yet. Been using the naked block laminated pine for a few years which is also ok.

@hoefla Thanks - think I'm gonna order a bunch of different mousepad-sized options and see where I land, scoring on mousepad responsiveness, cleanability and how well the wireless charger reaches through it.

Next to leather I think true Linoleum is my favourite material for a desk top.
You can use the flooring version too, might even be cheaper if you can find offcuts.