When Max decided he wanted his own room again I knew he was at the age that he was going to need a desk in his room. I decided to make him an industrial style desk out of galvanized pipes from the hardware store. It's very simple and boyish, and hopefully will hold up to rough treatment.
Here is what I bought at the hardware store:
- 2 of a 12 X 48 Shelf - $21.52
- 4 of 18 inch pipe - $12.96
- 4 of 8 inch pipe - $9.16
- 2 of 12 inch pipe - $4.98
- 4 of T-pipe - $4.96
- 8 of Floor Flanges - $26.88
- 1 can black spray paint - $3.68
- 3/4" screws - $0.64
- 4 metal braces - $2.18
Total Cost of materials - $86.96
The floor flanges are the feet and the connection to the desk. I used the 8 inch and the 18 inch pipes to make the legs, and the 12 pipes are the brace between the legs for stability. The T-pipe makes the connections between the legs.
The Floor Flanges have places to connect to the desk with screws. I used 3/4" screws so that they did not pierce the top of the desk.
The desk top is two shelves put together with metal brackets. Four brackets are evenly spaced along the seam of the two boards and bind them together.
Before I put the legs on to the desk top I sprayed them a flat black quick dry paint to match the shelves in his room.
I also made Max a recycled can light from a large can and a light cord. The industrial pipe desk was a pretty easy project to complete and it took about an hour from start to finish. The cost of the materials was a bit higher that I expected, but the results were great. Max really likes having his own desk and has actually been doing his homework without being asked, and that is priceless.
