discussion Help finding something for new desk build

[ipaine]

Wasn't sure exactly where to post this, thought about in the post your desk thread, but I'll leave that for when I am done.

Ok so in the new place I am going to be building a new desk. It will be (well most likely) using two SÄLJAN countertops, one 74" and the other 98". This will be an L shape with two Alex drawer units and some legs for support. Now I would like to make sure there is no sag, specifically on the 98" one, and I have seen people suggest table stiffeners and I am trying to locate and not having much luck in Canada. Drives me crazy cause I swear I have seen them before, or at least something similar.

This is one I have seen recommended that would work, but unavailable:

Regency Table Stiffner, Metal : Amazon.ca: Home

Regency Table Stiffner, Metal : Amazon.ca: Home

www.amazon.ca

This is a pic of someone using them:

https://imgur.com/Zy79nrT

I'm sure I am just sucking at google foo or something but I can't find anything like it with a v channel. I can find C-channel ones, but I do not have a router to cut groves and bury them like suggested. I supposed I could always just mount them with the C facing the floor?

Anyone know where I can find something like this? Or other ideas to help avoid any possible sag down the road?

 

[Jokester]

Well you won't need any additional support for the 74" with the cabinets on either side. I have that setup. Going out to 98" might be an issue if the drawers aren't set in a bit. I have my drawers right at each ends.

As far as table stiffeners go, you might be thinking of ones like this?

Anti-Sag Table Stiffener

Shop hundreds of table legs, table bases, and furniture legs. Glass, wood, metal, if it fits under a table top or counter, we have it. Buy from the trusted metal table legs source.

www.tablelegsonline.com

 

[Izerous]

You can also use just about any c-channel type products as well. Works best if you router a small channel for them but not 100% necessary. Things like super strut type products for example not always though of when talking c-channel. Metal super markets might even have some decent options.

Edit:
Also if closed back desks the board in the back is structural for supporting the top and stiffening the points between the legs.

The main reason they router channel type stuff is to make it disapear

 

[sswilson]

Well you won't need any additional support for the 74" with the cabinets on either side. I have that setup. Going out to 98" might be an issue if the drawers aren't set in a bit. I have my drawers right at each ends.

As far as table stiffeners go, you might be thinking of ones like this?

Anti-Sag Table Stiffener

Shop hundreds of table legs, table bases, and furniture legs. Glass, wood, metal, if it fits under a table top or counter, we have it. Buy from the trusted metal table legs source.

www.tablelegsonline.com

Heh.... Ok, I've gotta comment on the fact that there's a specific retail URL focused solely on table legs. That's some next level specialization going on there....

 

[SugarJ]

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/bailey-metal-products-steel-framing-channel-12-1-1-2-inch-x-1-2-inch-galvanized-steel/1000181109

Can be found anywhere that sells steel stud.

 

[Cannon Fodder]

Yeah, as per @SugarJ 's suggestion, it shouldn't take much to do the job, so long as whatever you use is not flexible over the length you need..... that is, assuming you're not looking for something that's designed JUST for the job in question. Hell, even some 90 degree angle aluminum, or steel might do the job, although depending on what you can find, MIGHT end up being too large, and kind of obtrusive.

 

[ipaine]

This is an quick render of basically what I am doing. This will be a 74" and a 98" together. They will be held together with some metal mending plates. The black boxes are Alex units and then 4 Adils legs.

This is without any anti-sag:


This is just what I was thinking about with some type of anti-sag.



And really I would like something that already has pre-drilled holes (but can always buy a new bit if needed), and something that would stop or help combat any potential sagging. The reasoning I was looking at those specific ones, was more thinking about less edges to hit a leg on or something like that. I don't have a router so any c channel would have to be mounted just on surface and not sunk in.

 

[Izerous]

Personally I'd build a small box for the corner. A hollow one to hide cables and such in and it would remove the need for 3 of the legs making it just wide enough for the long section to have a lip to sit on but that's a larger change from your design...

For a really small tweak I'd ditch two of the mending plates and just use slightly longer stiffening pieces instead and have them act as your mending plates.

Have an obscenely heavy drill press I inherited that I don't want to move that can be used if you do buy blanks but I'm also on the other side of the city. I just about pulled something trying to move it last time

 

[Cannon Fodder]

Based on those pics, and not knowing anything about the table tops themselves, I don't THINK you'd need any anti-sag devices on the shorter desktop, but I HIGHLY doubt you'd need any anti-sag devices on the back side of either of those desktops, simply because you have legs positioned there, which SHOULD do the job at the back.

 

[Cannon Fodder]

JUST looked at those countertops.... given that it says you can cut them to any length you want, and cover the cut end with some edging they provide, it SOUNDS as though they're fairly solid, rather than some of their other products that are somewhat hollow, so they might be fairly anti-sag as-is, depending on what that "solid" material actually is. Unfortunately, knowing how a lot of Ikea stuff is put together, I wouldn't count on it.....