My version of a standing desk, all wood no power cords required! More info here: mechanicallumbe... Questions, and plan requests to scott@mechanicallumber.com Thanks!
Perfect. I love how problems are solved with pure craftsmanship without involving electrical or digital stuff. Things like this never cease to amaze me.
I was thinking about getting a standing desk, but when I saw all the mechanisms, the first thing I concluded is that they were over-engineered with a lot of motors and stuff. I was thinking about a mechanism that locks in position and that can be hand lifted. I googled something just to see if someone had already figured it out and there it is, a very elegant solution with counter weights. Congratulations! You may consider a patent, this is very marketable.
First I want to thank UA-cam for recommending this video to me and second you for doing it. I've been designing a height adjustable workbench in my head for years. This video has changed my idea completely. Great job and thanks again.
4:17 I really enjoyed that proud grin when he lowered the desk back down after putting 250 lbs on it. Something about engineering some great craftsmanship that just fills a man with bubbling pride. 😁
The author does like to from scratch, ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxbnOKZBE4evMO5V2vroHeCjq6d_MV6wJO shaping and trimming wood from large blocks into fine finished products. As another reviewer mentioned, most projects require a lot of high-dollar equipment that most of us don’t have the room or budget for. But, knowing how to do these things, even if we won’t be able to practise the full stack project, is still great.
I was looking for a standing desk recently and wanted something that didn't require electricity. I then figured I would rather make one for a fraction of the price and thought it may be fun to build. This is a great desk design that perfectly meets all the criteria I was looking for!
Great build!!, very medieval & inspiring, i might try build something like this today.. id like to make it compactable though, so think id go with bolts, threadeded inserts and nuts and maybe a few 2kg cast iron dumbell plates.. might even experiment with pulleys.. imo this build is waaayYYYY better than all the automated versions with actuators..
Oh wow! I was looking for something simple for a working desk but for drafting. This is way better than the overpriced antiques people damage and then sell as "vintage" damaged goods. Thank you for this option it's 10x better and unexpected.
That's the thing about wood. It handles weight very well by bowing / flexing. I live near a windy cliff, and its amazing to see how much the trees can bend!
Bravo ! I'm building one on wheels to roll over my bed. The desk top will be 40" from the floor. 3 legs made of 4x4. much like a hospital bed that rolls under the bed. I'll watch your other vids. My kind of thinking & creating !! Keep on Truckin'
I love it. I would make one change though. I would make the counterweight a bit heavier and move it inward (towards the center) a bit. But, I would make them slide along the shaft to different points. That way when a person has the desk loaded they can slide the weights out from center until they have a neutral balance.
That's pretty fantastic. Challenge: Make it desk fold up against the frame for small spaces, or the ability to integrate that into your wall. I'm thinking of tiny houses.
This was great, I have been researching "woodworking projects with plans" for a while now, and I think this has helped. You ever tried - Yanathew Wood Waggler - (Have a quick look on google cant remember the place now ) ? Ive heard some unbelievable things about it and my neighbour got cool success with it.
I really want to build this table...I'd call it a bench or 'taboret' since I'd be using it mostly for paint and palette as well as laptop, but I might use it in some woodworking too, I guess I just want to say great job and I appreciate you & your work. You are a pleasant individual & I enjoy watching you. Your videos are very good and inspirational! God bless you man! oh yeah! 4:01 tells it and sells it for me!!! Definitely a worthy work!!!
He talks about flex. I agree with him. I have a table i made and i fixed 3 boards together side by side with pocket screws. Because i used screws, when i lean on it, it flexes a TON but there is no way i will ever break it.
Most impressive! I didn't expect it to hold the full weight! I thought the locking mechanism would snap. I know feel a bit more secure about making my desk from metal, just needs to hold a lot more weight!
Yes! I was searching for a project such as this! It'll definitely be a HUGE help while I continue to look at Woody Hyezmar's plans which I found on his website.
Very Cool! I created one using a $46 motorcycle jack from Ebay that's rated for 1100 lb's. It does take sometime to crank it up and down but it does the job. It goes up about 12" which is good enough for me :)
Hi Scott, This project was awesome. I did the same thing with the boxes to adjust the height of the 'desk'. But this project will be something I will definitely look into when I have the time. Thanks for the video!
I like your desk idea. It is fast, it is easy, it is silent, and needs no power. Even if you pack 20lbs of stuff on the top (monitors,speakers, a few books, etc.) it would still be pretty easy to lift. In the past I had an AC powered electric raising desk and one thing I did not like about it was just the fact I had to hold a button for 15 seconds to raise/lower it. I like the idea of having to burn our own calories to raise and lower it -just seems more healthy then holding a button 15 seconds 2-4 times a day. Just a thought... - Make it so the weights can be moved up and down the bar - that way it can be adjusted for how much stuff might be on top of the desk? - Instead of sand, how about using water bottles for weight? Maybe removable plastic water container can be used so it can be adjusted or even emptied when moving the desk around. The water can double as disaster preparedness water also. =) Overall, nice work and I like your garage! If I ever build another desk I think I might use your gravity assist idea to balance the desk.
I'm in the process of building from the purchased plans. It would be simpler to simply cut away the ends of the cross piece to make two tenons than is the diagrammed method of making 4 mortises. The top is going to be from an Ikea Lack Coffee Table kit (so not as wide but just as deep)
@@allananonimozeta9345 Good Morning, I am sorry to say I did not build one like yours. I did however build a desk that I love and use every day. It is a simple desk with a top that slides out. This enables me to sit in my recliner chair and then slide the desk top out over the chair. I also built a swivel pad for the recliner to sit on so I can turn 90% to desk and stand up. Here is a link to the desk setup I built: s346.photobucket.com/user/MrCisco/media/IMG_0431_zpsl2fdndt5.jpg.html?o=6 I work in Tech industry where I sit behind a desk all day long so I needed something comfortable. This is my solution. Have a great day.
If you don't want to make your own wheels - something useful to do with offcuts - you could easily use in-line skate or skate board wheels instead - sealed ball bearings, no lubrication required. You could also buy HDPE or similar self lubricating plastic in various sized rods, just cut off slices and drill centre holes as required.
+Bruce Lee I've done this on other projects (see expanding table) with good results. In this case I was going for maximum wood content to make it more accessible. The square edge of a wood wheel is handy too, as I use grooves to maintain alignment.
Great design. The best cheapest densest weights I've found are barbell iron weights. They cost about $1 a pound, but I'll bet the nails were at hand, probably cheaper, and they fit the shape of the boxes. (I wanted to try ballast in a kayak, I'm sure we went through the same process, sand, pricing lead shot.... ) Ikea's desk drops to 27.5". I'm 5'8", in a regular chair the desktop height best for me to type comfortably is about 29" or a little lower. I can see why you have the 'towers'. I guess there's no good way to get to the height without them, unless you have three section legs-which overly complicates. The base and legs are strong, but they're flexing too much. It's just the leg/column. Make'em deeper. (All cantilevers eventually-sag. Just repeat that a thousand times. Still use them, just don't complain about building code requirements for cantilevers, just double everything they require, especially if you're going to live there or own it--unless it's ornamental or minor roof extension.) Springs are an option for the counterweight, you'd want to use really heavy springs but run pulleys and cable. Hooke's Law, as springs get stretched the force increases. Keeping the springs within a short range of movement while using leverage for the distance you need. The table moves up and down a lot , but the springs move less. (I've done this a few times). Look into them. Take a look at pantograph arms (the dentist's light) and especially Garret Brown's Steadicam design. I'll bet you could do some amazing things with these mechanisms. (Be careful though, to lift 50 pounds there might be several hundred pounds of tension.) Not criticism, just another guy with a table saw making widgets just shooting the breeze. I studied your expanding table for hours. Thank goodness I could find no reason to make one, or I'd still be working on it.
Mike Seven The plans are my current focus though production is an option down the road. Let me know and I'll start a list of those interested in a complete product: scott@mechanicallumber.com Thanks!
this is so awesome. can't believe it took me this long to find your video. Incredible work, well done. Just gotta find space to put a desk to give me an excuse to buy the plans and make it :)
Hey Scott. I love this design! I'm curious though, would it be better to have the locking mechanism spring-loaded so that you can never accidentally leave it unlocked? I feel like this would be a relatively small addition that would really refine the design a lot more.
Diction apologize for my writing, I do not even speak English, I write the following message by google translator. Very good your project is that it is very versatile
I was having problems sitting all day, this gives the option to sit / stand, brilliant! Loved the progress videos and the thinking out. Matthias Wandel would be proud. Did you consider finger joints for the feet leg table support joints. What a class job.
Would love to see how it lifts with load on it - e.g. a desktop computer, books, etc. that won't be taken off during raising and lowering. I assume the counterweights would make it *easier* but wouldn't accommodate the extra load inherently.
Perfect. I love how problems are solved with pure craftsmanship without involving electrical or digital stuff. Things like this never cease to amaze me.
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I was thinking about getting a standing desk, but when I saw all the mechanisms, the first thing I concluded is that they were over-engineered with a lot of motors and stuff. I was thinking about a mechanism that locks in position and that can be hand lifted. I googled something just to see if someone had already figured it out and there it is, a very elegant solution with counter weights. Congratulations! You may consider a patent, this is very marketable.
First I want to thank UA-cam for recommending this video to me and second you for doing it. I've been designing a height adjustable workbench in my head for years. This video has changed my idea completely. Great job and thanks again.
Great engineering. Very impressive weight handling capacity for such a simple design. Nice job.
4:17 I really enjoyed that proud grin when he lowered the desk back down after putting 250 lbs on it. Something about engineering some great craftsmanship that just fills a man with bubbling pride. 😁
That is an amazing piece of wooden engineering! Greetings from a Danish cabinetmaker!
The author does like to from scratch, ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxbnOKZBE4evMO5V2vroHeCjq6d_MV6wJO shaping and trimming wood from large blocks into fine finished products. As another reviewer mentioned, most projects require a lot of high-dollar equipment that most of us don’t have the room or budget for. But, knowing how to do these things, even if we won’t be able to practise the full stack project, is still great.
I was looking for a standing desk recently and wanted something that didn't require electricity. I then figured I would rather make one for a fraction of the price and thought it may be fun to build. This is a great desk design that perfectly meets all the criteria I was looking for!
Thanks, glad it was helpful.
@@ScottRumschlag Scott, this channel appears to be stealing your video. Chandra Gevorkian
Great build!!, very medieval & inspiring, i might try build something like this today.. id like to make it compactable though, so think id go with bolts, threadeded inserts and nuts and maybe a few 2kg cast iron dumbell plates.. might even experiment with pulleys.. imo this build is waaayYYYY better than all the automated versions with actuators..
Oh wow! I was looking for something simple for a working desk but for drafting. This is way better than the overpriced antiques people damage and then sell as "vintage" damaged goods. Thank you for this option it's 10x better and unexpected.
That flex, amazed it didn't snap.
hickory is a great material - both strong and flexible
why do you think it flexing would cause snapping. wooden bows flex a lot without breaking.
That's the thing about wood. It handles weight very well by bowing / flexing. I live near a windy cliff, and its amazing to see how much the trees can bend!
@@livewiya Not to mention beautiful. It's got one of my favorite grains of any wood.
Bravo !
I'm building one on wheels to roll over my bed. The desk top will be 40" from the floor. 3 legs made of 4x4. much like a hospital bed that rolls under the bed.
I'll watch your other vids.
My kind of thinking & creating !!
Keep on Truckin'
I love it. I would make one change though. I would make the counterweight a bit heavier and move it inward (towards the center) a bit. But, I would make them slide along the shaft to different points. That way when a person has the desk loaded they can slide the weights out from center until they have a neutral balance.
That's pretty fantastic.
Challenge: Make it desk fold up against the frame for small spaces, or the ability to integrate that into your wall. I'm thinking of tiny houses.
I was looking for motorized desks, but thankfully, youtube also showed my this alternative.
Excellent work.
Great job! I like your creativity.
This was great, I have been researching "woodworking projects with plans" for a while now, and I think this has helped. You ever tried - Yanathew Wood Waggler - (Have a quick look on google cant remember the place now ) ? Ive heard some unbelievable things about it and my neighbour got cool success with it.
I really want to build this table...I'd call it a bench or 'taboret' since I'd be using it mostly for paint and palette as well as laptop, but I might use it in some woodworking too, I guess I just want to say great job and I appreciate you & your work. You are a pleasant individual & I enjoy watching you. Your videos are very good and inspirational! God bless you man!
oh yeah!
4:01 tells it and sells it for me!!! Definitely a worthy work!!!
He talks about flex. I agree with him. I have a table i made and i fixed 3 boards together side by side with pocket screws. Because i used screws, when i lean on it, it flexes a TON but there is no way i will ever break it.
Wow. This is a work of art. Tremendously cool. Bravo.
Most impressive! I didn't expect it to hold the full weight! I thought the locking mechanism would snap.
I know feel a bit more secure about making my desk from metal, just needs to hold a lot more weight!
this desk would be the perfect addition to my production suite
2 years passed & you still got thumbs up from me on this...big toes too!
Skillful Woodworkers can really do mind blowing work.
holy shit, that weight test in full extension, had me nervous. lol
Yes! I was searching for a project such as this! It'll definitely be a HUGE help while I continue to look at Woody Hyezmar's plans which I found on his website.
Very Cool! I created one using a $46 motorcycle jack from Ebay that's rated for 1100 lb's. It does take sometime to crank it up and down but it does the job. It goes up about 12" which is good enough for me :)
Great mechanism and design maybe you can add cover to he back part like a box for cleaner look.
This is stunningly beautiful. I'd love to make one of these.
I wanted to build my own standing desk, and this just about fits the bill!
Hi Scott, This project was awesome. I did the same thing with the boxes to adjust the height of the 'desk'. But this project will be something I will definitely look into when I have the time. Thanks for the video!
I so want one of these. If only I had a workshop.
VERY impressed, Scott (i don't know which end of a hammer to hold). But someone I know might be VERY interested).
Dude this is amazingly creative !
Bro you’re a genius, great video! I’m really interested in counter weights (primitive technology), I love how you’re utilising it here
Now if I wasn't all thumbs I would be building this today. Excellent thanks for the design, build and video.
I like your desk idea. It is fast, it is easy, it is silent, and needs no power. Even if you pack 20lbs of stuff on the top (monitors,speakers, a few books, etc.) it would still be pretty easy to lift. In the past I had an AC powered electric raising desk and one thing I did not like about it was just the fact I had to hold a button for 15 seconds to raise/lower it. I like the idea of having to burn our own calories to raise and lower it -just seems more healthy then holding a button 15 seconds 2-4 times a day.
Just a thought...
- Make it so the weights can be moved up and down the bar - that way it can be adjusted for how much stuff might be on top of the desk?
- Instead of sand, how about using water bottles for weight? Maybe removable plastic water container can be used so it can be adjusted or even emptied when moving the desk around. The water can double as disaster preparedness water also. =)
Overall, nice work and I like your garage! If I ever build another desk I think I might use your gravity assist idea to balance the desk.
how many more calories do you think you'll burn by not pressing that button mate?
Excellent design! and greatly done! Congratulations!👍
That is the coolest thing l have seen in ages.
Really like your design idea Scott! Does the locking mechanism lock it into position at any height or just highest/lowest setting? Thanks
genius design sir ..
love this table, i plan to make one but in the meantime ive got to build a workshop and fit it out, then im ready, well done on a great job
I like this. Was looking for ideas and had just about given up. Thanks
You are awesome, I was thinking of similar solutions but this one fits my needs very well, thanks for sharing !!!
I'm in the process of building from the purchased plans. It would be simpler to simply cut away the ends of the cross piece to make two tenons than is the diagrammed method of making 4 mortises. The top is going to be from an Ikea Lack Coffee Table kit (so not as wide but just as deep)
Dude !!! I LOVE THIS !!!! >>>>>>>>> I am so going to build one of them myself. Great job...thanks for sharing.
Bicycle Man did you build one?
@@allananonimozeta9345 Good Morning, I am sorry to say I did not build one like yours. I did however build a desk that I love and use every day. It is a simple desk with a top that slides out. This enables me to sit in my recliner chair and then slide the desk top out over the chair. I also built a swivel pad for the recliner to sit on so I can turn 90% to desk and stand up. Here is a link to the desk setup I built: s346.photobucket.com/user/MrCisco/media/IMG_0431_zpsl2fdndt5.jpg.html?o=6 I work in Tech industry where I sit behind a desk all day long so I needed something comfortable. This is my solution. Have a great day.
Clever and elegant. I want one.
Fantastic, i am making this for sure
Very impressive strength test!
Are you marketing this? this is like 10x better more efficient and just cooler than any standing desk out there
Thanks, plans are available, see link in the description.
Dude, you are a wizard.
+UniverseWillProvide Thanks, the (roughly) 100 hours we've put into it help too!
Very cool design
Well done! Now I want one just to play with the mechanism.
+Rick McQuay
Can't tell you how many times I've said that!
"life is short, i dont want to wait for my desk to catch up"
I dont think I'll ever hear someone say those words together in my life
If you don't want to make your own wheels - something useful to do with offcuts - you could easily use in-line skate or skate board wheels instead - sealed ball bearings, no lubrication required. You could also buy HDPE or similar self lubricating plastic in various sized rods, just cut off slices and drill centre holes as required.
+Bruce Lee I've done this on other projects (see expanding table) with good results. In this case I was going for maximum wood content to make it more accessible. The square edge of a wood wheel is handy too, as I use grooves to maintain alignment.
Very nicely done.
Very cool! Simple and effective!)
Really nice design, well done!
Good lord if you just sold this desk instead of the plans I would be ALL OVER IT!!! But i have no idea how to wood work even a little.
Great design. The best cheapest densest weights I've found are barbell iron weights. They cost about $1 a pound, but I'll bet the nails were at hand, probably cheaper, and they fit the shape of the boxes. (I wanted to try ballast in a kayak, I'm sure we went through the same process, sand, pricing lead shot.... )
Ikea's desk drops to 27.5". I'm 5'8", in a regular chair the desktop height best for me to type comfortably is about 29" or a little lower.
I can see why you have the 'towers'. I guess there's no good way to get to the height without them, unless you have three section legs-which overly complicates. The base and legs are strong, but they're flexing too much. It's just the leg/column. Make'em deeper. (All cantilevers eventually-sag. Just repeat that a thousand times. Still use them, just don't complain about building code requirements for cantilevers, just double everything they require, especially if you're going to live there or own it--unless it's ornamental or minor roof extension.)
Springs are an option for the counterweight, you'd want to use really heavy springs but run pulleys and cable. Hooke's Law, as springs get stretched the force increases. Keeping the springs within a short range of movement while using leverage for the distance you need. The table moves up and down a lot , but the springs move less. (I've done this a few times). Look into them. Take a look at pantograph arms (the dentist's light) and especially Garret Brown's Steadicam design. I'll bet you could do some amazing things with these mechanisms. (Be careful though, to lift 50 pounds there might be several hundred pounds of tension.)
Not criticism, just another guy with a table saw making widgets just shooting the breeze. I studied your expanding table for hours. Thank goodness I could find no reason to make one, or I'd still be working on it.
Nice Table, Clever Idea !
Now that's incredible! Great job Scott!
Very cool desk!
This is brilliant! Would love to adapt this idea for a bed in my high-rise van. : )
Very nice project!
Wow, cool one. you did a nice job man.
That's fantastic!!! Love it!
+Make Something Thanks, we've got a few weeks into this project, you can check out the entire development process in the playlist.
+Scott Rumschlag I don't have the tools to make it, may I buy one.
Mike Seven The plans are my current focus though production is an option down the road. Let me know and I'll start a list of those interested in a complete product: scott@mechanicallumber.com Thanks!
+Scott Rumschlag definitely interested :)
+Scott Rumschlag will you be posting the plans? I would love to build one of these! Very cool desk, thanks for sharing!
Impressive. good work on the table and video.
Absolutely stunning.
Nice. I was like for a wooden one like this.
This is an amazing design, nicely done!
genius in simplicity
Great project.
life is short. i don't want to spend it waiting for my desk to catch up.
amen brother.
Very cool idea
this is so awesome. can't believe it took me this long to find your video. Incredible work, well done. Just gotta find space to put a desk to give me an excuse to buy the plans and make it :)
Hey Scott. I love this design! I'm curious though, would it be better to have the locking mechanism spring-loaded so that you can never accidentally leave it unlocked? I feel like this would be a relatively small addition that would really refine the design a lot more.
Diction apologize for my writing, I do not even speak English, I write the following message by google translator.
Very good your project is that it is very versatile
brilliant idea.
Eu gostei deste seu projeto. Vou tenta fazer um igual.
Really great engineering in that, impressive!!
Very nice work, congratulation !!!!!
I was having problems sitting all day, this gives the option to sit / stand, brilliant!
Loved the progress videos and the thinking out.
Matthias Wandel would be proud.
Did you consider finger joints for the feet leg table support joints.
What a class job.
Sweet design
Great design
Excellent design work, thanks for sharing this. Subscribed!
That's freakin awesome! I wish i had the time to make one.
cool. finally someone who doesn't just assemble UpDesk and call it an DYI.
Nice job !
should add some cross beams on the top because there seems to be very little lateral reinforcement
Thats a amazing desig, great job
Excellent Video, loaded with content
You sir earned a subscriber!
This is AWESOME!! Loved it
Simply brilliant!!
Adorei sua ideia,parabéns!
Great job
Well done man, well done
Amazing. Can it be easily taken apart for transport?
Would love to see how it lifts with load on it - e.g. a desktop computer, books, etc. that won't be taken off during raising and lowering. I assume the counterweights would make it *easier* but wouldn't accommodate the extra load inherently.
Yes, the counterweights are there mainly to offset the table itself. Lifting with extra load is pretty reasonable, it just takes some effort.
holy smokes. well done.