Sourcing wood for shelf / desk

[Dan_1981]

We have an alcove where we would like to put our home pc.

The alcove is a little over a metre wide so rather than squeezing a desk into the space we'd like to put a shelf across and use as a desk.

Obviously much deeper than a normal shelf and we'd quite like a nice piece of wood to be used.

Where does one source such a thing from Arnold Laver & B&Q don't seem to offr much.....

[samdale]

We used a length of worktop to make our desk, although that might be a bit extravagant for only needing 1m unless you can find an offcut

[Drumroll]

Where are you? plenty of timber merchants around the UK.

I use this company: https://www.britishhardwoods.co.uk/

[Dan_1981]

Nottingham / Derby / Sheffield are all local.

[trickywoo]

Re use a cheap secondhand piece of furniture.

Have you ever seen Le Salvager on TV?

[Simpo Two]

Dan_1981 said:

a nice piece of wood

Depth/thickness? Type of wood? Solid or planked?

[Dan_1981]

Simpo Two said:

Dan_1981 said:

a nice piece of wood

Depth/thickness? Type of wood? Solid or planked?

Desk thickness!

I guess about 5 / 8cm thick

Erm solid or planked.... whatever will do the job, look nice and hold a desktop pc

[Simpo Two]

Dan_1981 said:

Simpo Two said:

Dan_1981 said:

a nice piece of wood

Depth/thickness? Type of wood? Solid or planked?

Desk thickness!

I guess about 5 / 8cm thick

Erm solid or planked.... whatever will do the job, look nice and hold a desktop pc

5-8m thick... if you mean that then it would be best to make it with a separate front piece mounted vertically to give an L-shape.

Screw battens to the wall at each side for mounting. Now you have to decide whether you want light wood (maple, ash, sycamore) or dark (mahogany, chestnut, walnut) or somewhere inbetween (eg cherry, pine).

You didn't give the depth but B&Q, Homebase etc do planked shelving which is affordable. Or if you fancy something more esoteric go to a timber merchant.

[Drumroll]

Try these:

http://www.allen-orr.com/joinery-timber-hardwood/3...

[wolfracesonic]

You say alcove so I'm assuming it's at the side of a chimney breast, so it would need to be at least 13'' deep maybe 18'' I'd guess. That sort of width may be better built up in pieces for stability; have you thought of using a piece of wide stave hardwood kitchen worktop and double up the front edge to give the illusion of thickness. If you are in Sheffield try Arnold Lavers on Little London road and ask for Carl, they won't have what you want in stock but they can source most things; won't be cheap though, 80mm thick!!

[HughG]

I've just done shelves either side of our chimney breast with this http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-General-Purpose-Tim...

[sfella]

Just had a nice piece of oak from Charles Gregory timber at Tansley near Matlock. 1200x450ish x 40mm was £24

[Steve Campbell]

If you have a Freecycle group near you (or gumtree if you want to pay :-)), you could get lucky. I've seen old desks and office furniture going on Freecycle that could be cut up for your use. I just looked now out of interest and there is an old solid oak wooden door going free near me now (Windsor)

Edited by Steve Campbell on Tuesday 17th January 19:26

[uluru]

Ikea bargain basement in Nottingham had a nice bit of solid wood worktop at the weekend.

How much are you looking to spend?

We bought deep worktop from worktop express to make a desk

[Dan_1981]

sfella said:

Just had a nice piece of oak from Charles Gregory timber at Tansley near Matlock. 1200x450ish x 40mm was £24

More of lessexactly what I need 1040x550x40 (decided 8 is far too thick)

[skinnyman]

I made my desk from a kitchen worktop from worktop express.

You can use their fabrication tool, mine came cut to the exact required length, with a pencil edge applied too. Just needed oiling

[mikeiow]

Do look on gumtree of freecycle.....I picked up a 6' x 3' solid dining table for a tenner, made a fine desk for me....but something similar (even smaller) could be hacked for your purpose!

[Dan_1981]

Crikey.

Had a few replies - price seems to be in the region of 170 - 200 quid.

Which seems alot

[uluru]

The beech worktop we used pictured above cost us 130 for 3M X 960mm X 27mm

[wibble cb]

While not actual wood, it could do the job:

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/desks/table-top...

or Bamboo...

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/desks/table-top...

or wood...(throw away the legs!)

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/desks/table-top...