tiny table: an adjustable keyboard tray

If you type all day, then having your keyboard and mouse in a comfortable position is probably important to you. I have use a variety of keyboard trays that mount under the desktop, but some were flimsy or undersized, and installing (and re-installing) them was always a chore, especially if you switch offices or locations frequently. A couple of years ago I started building tiny tables for this purpose -- the latest version is fairly inexpensive, and can easily be adjusted to a variety of heights without tools. The table legs can also be unscrewed for easy transport or storage.

Step 1 Telescopic legs

The key to this design is a telescopic leg constructed from bamboo, wood dowel and EMT connectors. The table height adjusts from about 18 to 32 inches, but you can vary the dimensions to suit your needs.

Comments

[dezinger]

Instead of a connector use a EMT compression coupling. Its made to connect to lengths of conduit. You can toss one of the hex nuts and splits rings. I save them for spare parts. Use your dremel to ream out the inside lip. Take your time to avoid cutting into the side wall. A tight-sized dowel will slip through the entire coupling. I make telescoping turnbuckles this way buy grinding down the thread on the otherside and pressing it into the next size pipe.

[bmlbytes]

You have a framed picture of the instructables robot in your office?

[jcohen]

Well, it's safe to reply now, since the statute of limitations has run out. It's not my office, so I did a little virtual redecorating.

[anyfool]

how about a photo of this "on location" ie being used, in an office, with a keyboard. Thanks

[jcohen]

I just added some photos of the tiny table "on location" in a relatively neat office.

[GorillazMiko]

awesome, but under where the laptop goes should be like a crate top for laptop cooling.

[jcohen]

The table works fine for a keyboard, but it feels a little "shallow" for a laptop table. Maybe it needs to be about six inches deeper, or I need to splay the legs out more for greater stability. But that would be a nice enhancement for a laptop table: I could use the router to carve out a "grid" pattern and drill some through-holes to increase the airflow to the bottom of the laptop.