Lean Pipe Computer Desks

If you want to put together a desk that fits all your monitors or other tech supplies, "lean pipe" is a great way to do it! Lean pipe was designed for factories to be able to make their workbenches and rearrange them however they want, on the fly. It's like building with plumbing pipe, only you don't have to thread the pieces, paint them, etc. It's also not incredibly heavy, and there are a lot more attachments.

All parts come from fitzkits.com, you can get individual parts or pre-made kits.

The builds here began with either the commander's console DIY kit, or the battlestation frame.

The parts bolt together with a M6 hex wrench, and the pipes you can cut with a hacksaw.

Step 1: Design Your Frame

If you have a pre-existing desk, you'll need to measure it and plan a frame on which to put everything. The easiest way to mount monitors is with the surface mount (you can use 2 or 4 of them, just arrange them in a 4" square to fit VESA-4 compatible monitors).

If you are building a desk from scratch, what I like to do is build based around standard wood sizes. Lowe's carries "kiln-dried panels" of solid pine that are cut in convenient, standard US sizes like 2' x 4', 2' x 6', 1' x 4', etc.

Figure out if you want feet or wheels on the base, or other features you might need.

The "commander's console" kits are pre-sized in 2' x 4' tabletops, but you can add a keyboard shelf or other shelves to the front, top or sides.

The poles and joints can hold more or less any monitor/pc, as long as you don't do a Frank Lloyd Wright and cantilever something heavy really far out. The picture of the weights was the way that I tested the weight capability of a rack to hold my PC.

Step 2: Wood Finishing

I finish the wood with wood stain and 3 coats of polyurethane. These are the panels that I suggest people use for the easiest/fewest steps.

Step 3: Examples of Build-outs

These are how some people mounted the equipment on their "battlestations". It's really up to you to see what works best for you!

Edit: I didn't go into too much detail because everyone builds theirs a little differently. If anyone has more specific questions, feel free to ask in the comments.

Here are some more documents that describe the assembly process.

Description of how parts go together:

http://fitzkits.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Gen...

More details on prepping surfaces:

http://fitzkits.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Com...

Instructions for the "commander's console" frame:

http://fitzkits.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Com...

Also, check out the subreddit at http://www.reddit.com/r/fitzkits for more project ideas!

Comments

[kalebs_kreations]

Great cable management!

[Samuel Aplin]

what are the sizes of your moniters on the tri moniter rig?

[fitzkits]

I have 22" and 20" monitors mounted to it currently. The largest 3-monitor setup I've seen on it so far had three 27" monitors.

I like your dog! I have a labradoodle that looks a lot like yours.

[Samuel Aplin]

thx he's amazing I'm working on custom building a computer and didn't want to get the wrong size monitors have fun with your dog!

[gsilva12]

Very cool!

Anyone know where to buy similar pipes in Australia?

[askjerry]

Nice design. These can be further expanded with parts from 80/20 which has additional parts. They used to have parts for round tubing as well... but I believe this has been discontinued... so the Fitzkits could become quite useful.

[bejawo]

Thanks for posting this. It is an exciting product for me because I'm getting tired of PVC, and I like the look of this. I'm going to use this to make a 2-monitor stand for my desk.

[JoeCools]

I just ordered my fitz kit was looking at buying a tri mount to hold my 3 monitors up on my desk but I like the kit option better, Thanks for the info!

[damnlenscap]

How is this any better than Creform?

[fitzkits]

It's the same as Creform, you just can't buy Creform from a web store (you have to have an account, a company, buy in bulk, etc)

[R.JStorey (Rodders)]

very neat project, 2 questions, firstly, can you run cables through the frame, or did you use some kind of cable tie-back/trunking ? secondly, please could you post some more pictures (or an instructable of ) the more technical side of how to build one of these kits ?

[fitzkits]

You could run small cords like USB or CAT-5 cables through the poles themselves, otherwise the head of the cord would probably be too big to fit through We also have black wire clips to snap a cord to the pole. I sometimes use black velcro straps as well because they blend into the black plastic on the frame.

[R.JStorey (Rodders)]

... just saw that the links are to pdfs of the technical....

[fzumrk]

Interesting system. The pricing seems comparable to building from 3/4" steel plumbing pipe and fittings, but more flexible. I might consider this for some future projects.

[dflynn5]

Very cool, thanks for sharing.

[Akin Yildiz]

the first picture is just amazing. very cool setup.!

[fitzkits]

Thanks! I used a simple LED strip from Costco to illuminate the back of it.