Introduction: Treadmill Desk in 60 Minutes

Maybe desk is a bit generous for this laptop platform, but if your treadmill is similarly set-up and you happen to have the raw materials laying around you get complete this in a little over an hour.  

One important note, this desk is not the most stable in terms of being able to take a good hit, so be careful or you might find yourself hop-scotching your laptop.

Step 1: Desk Parts and Pieces

1 -  Board wide enough for your laptop, long enough to fit the depth of the laptop and  extend to about the center meaty part of the treadmill console.

2 - PVC pipe, about 4", with an inner diameter large enough to fit around the supporting cross brace of the treadmill.

3 - Rubber bumper feet of your choice, these are used to keep the laptop from sliding off the desk.  Use as many as you feel you need and remember they will be rubbing against the laptop, so you'll want something non-marring.

4 - Wood for blocking the board away from the underside of the treadmill console, anything you've got that doesn't angle the desk so much the laptop wants to slide forward should do fine.  The blocking just has to transfer the load of the desk closer to the middle meaty part of the treadmill console.

Of course whatever screws you have that won't go all the way through the table top of the desk, a compound or chop saw and a drill and/or drill press.

Step 2: Plastic Pipe Brackets

Two pieces of pipe keep the desk from sliding forward or backward.  They are easier to cut if the lengthwise cuts are made first for both brackets on the miter saw.  There will be a lot more pipe to grab this way.

The two brackets should be in line so they will both line up with the cross piece on the treadmill.  Just as important is to ensure the board is crowned or cupped upwards with these brackets on the bottom.  If the board is crowned down the laptop will tend to rock side-to-side.

Also check that the brackets when installed still allow the desk to fit in the space between the cross piece an the treadmill console.

Step 3: Rubber Stops and Wooden Blocking

The self adhesive rubber bumpers are convenient because they won't scratch the laptop and they look pretty decent.  You don't want to rely on the adhesive, so drill and counter sink the screw.  They are attached to the top where you want the laptop to stop.

Add as many as you need, just make sure your laptop still fits.

The wood blocking is also attached to the top at the desk on the opposite end away from the rubber bumpers.  Drilling and counter sinking these as well will help keep them from cracking and keep them from scratching up the underside of the treadmill console, if you care about such things.

I wanted the convenience of putting the desk on from the top of the treadmill, so I made sure the wood blocks also fit between the cross support and the treadmill console.

Step 4: Final Fit

The laptop fits with a comfortable space in the back to allow the screen to open and not bump the treadmill console.

The desk is front heavy and angled slightly down with the laptop on it so it sits stably while typing and walking... as long as you don't get too rough.

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