DIY Plywood Top for a Standing Desk | DIY Pete & Stand Modern

For more info, project photos, and promotional code check out:

UPLIFT Desk® Features:
Maximum Weight 355 Pounds
Desktop 43" to 96" wide
26 inches of height adjustment 23.5 to 49.5
4 programmable height presets and digital desk height readout
7-year all-inclusive warranty on the entire desk base

*Tools & Supplies Needed
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Birch or Maple Plywood top - $75 3/4 inch sheet laminated to a 1/4 inch sheet for a total thickness of 1 inch

Purchase and Assemble the Base

Make Your Cuts

Determine the width, depth, and thickness for your desktop. I'd recommend a minimum thickness of 1 inch. 3/4 of an inch may work, but adding a little extra thickness will make your table stronger. I made my table 1 inch thick by laminating a sheet of 3/4 inch birch plywood to a 1/4 inch thick piece of birch plywood. On the table saw, we cut our boards to size. The final size of my DIY standing desk ended up being 78" long by 30" wide by 1" thick.

Build Your Custom Desktop

Once all of your boards for your desktop are cut, its time to laminate the 3/4" plywood to the 1/4" piece. Add plenty of wood glue during this process, focusing special attention on the edges and corners. Screw it together from the underside using 3/4" screws. Add clamps and let the glue dry for the manufacturers recommended time.

Sand the Desktop

Give your desktop a once over with 220 grit sandpaper and your orbital sander. Take extra time to ease the edges and corners, making it as smooth as you'd like. Then work your way down through 320, 400, & 600 grit sandpaper. Prep everything for finishing and wipe any dust off with a tack cloth or a slightly damp microfiber cloth.

Finish the Desktop with Lacquer

For my DIY Standing Desk, I wanted a slightly glossy finish with a durable surface. I find that lacquer protects better than polyurethane and chose to use lacquer for this project. Apply one coat of lacquer and let it dry. Then wet-sand it with 600 grit sandpaper before the next coat. I go over a special wet-sanding technique in the video that works great for smoothing out any finish. Then add a second coat of lacquer (you could keep adding more coats if desired) and let it cure. Do a very light wet-sanding with 800 after your coats and then buff out the finish with a microfiber cloth. This method provides for a great, durable finish.

Attach the UPLIFT 900 Base

After your desktop for your DIY standing desk has finished curing, you're ready to install the sit - stand base! In the video, we go over attaching the UPLIFT 900 base, it really is an easy process. The base comes with all of the hardware you'll need to attach it to your custom desktop. Be sure to pre-drill any holes before adding screws. Attach the base and then stand the desk upright. I screwed out a 2" spot for grommet hole mounts so my computer wires would be more hidden.

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#standingdesk #diydesk #desksetup

[Pickleball]

Hi Pete, I know this is an old video but I'm wondering how the desk is holding up? I'm thinking about doing something very similar right now. Do you think without the additional 1/4" sheet laminated it would've been sturdy? Any changes you wish you made to your design in retrospect? Thanks!!!

[howtofixitworkshop]

That's very cool, Pete! Never even knew there was such a thing. I have a standing desk arm at work, but didn't realize there were diy models.

[nguy]

Cool project! Those bases look really nice, and I particularly like the specific height indicator, so you can figure out what yours is, and then just easily reset it when you want to switch between sitting and standing. I've built a couple different raisable/lowererable desks myself (and am sitting at one now), and this option is much nicer (although also a good chunk more expensive).

[nathanp]

That lacquer finish looks really good on there.

[nolanelrod]

As a pilot I appreciate the screensavers on the computer! Great project!

[TheStorkrecords]

Looks great! I want to build a desk that doubles as my work desk and small music studio. I'll have a pull out keyboard tray that holds a 61 key keyboard that's about 17l bs. I'm thinking the desk will be 50"x28" or so. My question, do you think 3/4 birch will be enough support or do I need to laminate that additional 1/4 on top?

[davidletz]

Thanks for the video on something markedly different. I noticed all of the gaps in between the veneers of the 3/4 ply. It's not the end of the world, but did you consider doing some edge banding to hide them?

[urielgarcia]

You are such a badass great project.... Btw do you keep everything you do??? Looking foward for the next video!!!

[mammothorbust]

Pete, do you sell your all your creations or keep them in your house?  If you sell them, is it through a website or on local classifieds like Craigslist?

[marcelomm]

Very cool desk! Just a question though, how much would this cost?

[jamesberger]

Did you put in pilot holes before or after applying the finish?

[DragonGC]

Would you have a reason for laminating 3/4 + 1/4 vs 1/2 + 1/2? I was thinking of doing 2x 1/2 sheets since finding large 1/4 sheets is more difficult in my area. Thanks!

[vageo]

Hello Pete
From where can I buy this desk.?