My home office was a cluttered mess and in desperate need of a makeover. The first thing I decided to fix was my tiny corner desk that was way too small to be functional.
I built a custom pipe computer desk from Maker Pipe structural connectors, EMT conduit, and reclaimed wood. I got the space I needed and added a stylish industrial look to my office. The build only took an afternoon and gave my office a great upgrade.
Give your home office a stylish update with a DIY pipe desk. These simple step-by-step instructions will help you put together a pipe and wood desk in just a couple of hours.
Maker Pipe structural pipe fittings are so simple to use and you can customize the pipe desk plans to build an industrial desk with drawers, or a pipe desk with shelves, depending on your home office needs.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO MAKE A PIPE DESK?
A custom industrial style desk can cost thousands of dollars, but making your own wood and pipe desk is a budget-friendly way to get the office desk you have always wanted. The overall cost of the pipe desk will depend on the size and features you choose to include in the design.
EMT conduit is generally sold in lengths of about 10 feet for $0.65 per foot, but you can have the staff at the hardware store cut it to the length you need. Alternatively, you can buy a small pipe cutter and do it yourself.
For the wooden desktop, using reclaimed wood can cost approximately $8-$12 per square foot. However, you can find equally beautiful and affordable laminate or veneer desktops at stores such as IKEA for a butcher block kitchen desk.
Maker Pipe structural connectors can be purchased individually or at a discount when bought as a kit. To build this simple pipe desk, you need T-connectors, which only cost $2.75 each. You can also add a professional finish to your pipe desk with end plugs to protect your floors, which cost $5.00 for a pack of 10.
Ultimately, the overall cost of a basic DIY pipe desk is less than $50, which is an absolute bargain!
HOW TO BUILD A PIPE DESK: STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Before you begin, it is important to note that the pipe used to build the pipe desk is ¾-inch EMT conduit, and all the hardware needed to fasten the pipe together is included with the Maker Pipe structural pipe fittings.
You need a 5 mm Allen wrench to tighten the frame, and a drill to attach the flanges to the desktop. To build your modern industrial desk, you will need the following materials:
1 x 70-inch EMT conduit
4 x 30-inch EMT conduit
2 x 16-inch EMT conduit
6 x T-connectors
4 x end plugs
4 x ¾-inch pipe floor flanges
Wood screws
98-inch wooden desktop
To build the frame, attach a T-connector to either end of the 70-inch EMT conduit and tighten them using the hardware provided.
Measure and mark the center of the 16-inch conduits. Through each T-connector, slide a 16-inch EMT conduit until the T-connector reaches the mark at the center.
Attach the remaining T-connectors to the ends of the 16-inch conduits. Orient the connector so that the open ends are vertical and fasten with the Allen wrench.
Measure and mark each 30-inch conduit 6 inches from the bottom. One by one, slide the 30-inch lengths through the vertical-facing T-connectors until the center of the connector aligns with the mark. Fasten the connectors to the pipe using the Allen wrench and the hardware provided.
Attach end plugs to the bottom of the legs.
Attach pipe floor flanges to the top of each vertical length of conduit for a sturdy frame for your pipe desk.
Turn your desktop so that it is facedown. Flip the pipe frame upside-down so that the flanges are on the underside of the desktop, ensuring that the frame is centered.
Measure the distance from the edge of the desktop to the flanges on either side of the frame and mark the center of each hole in the flange.
Drill pilot holes into the desktop through each flange hole. This is an important step to prevent the wood from splitting. Then, drive the wood screws through the pilot holes. Flip your desk the right way up, and you are done.
THE WRAP-UP
This quick and easy DIY pipe computer desk is the perfect way to update your home office space on a budget.
The plans are completely customizable to suit your style and functional needs. Try covering the EMT conduit with black shrink wrap for a sleek modern look or inject a pop of color with a bold red shrink-wrapped frame.
To find out more about all the ways that you can use Maker Pipe modular connectors in your pipe furniture builds and other DIY projects, contact us at (843) 245-9747 or explore other build ideas on our website.