I think this is one of the best kept secrets in the standing desk industry. I’ve seen random links and guides scattered around, but wanted to put together one comprehensive guide to getting it done right.
Standing desks can get a little pricey, but it is well worth the investment to improve your health.
That said - one way you can save a TON of money is with a DIY desk top. Often, making your own top can cut your total cost by 35-50%. Plus you get to feel a sense of accomplishment and pride. Win-win!
Where to Buy Butcher Block for Standing Desk Top
If you live near a Floor & Decor - They sell a 60x30x1.5” butcher block top for just $99, which is an absolutely unbelievable deal.
If not, there are some options from Home Depot and Lowe’s as well.
In addition to the top, you’ll also need a few other things. You can grab what you need individually, or pick up our DIY Butcher Block Standing Desk Top Kit.
- Sandpaper / Sander
- Dust cloth
- Some type of finish (we prefer to oil and then condition, but you can skip straight to conditioning if you prefer)
- Rags
- Drill or punch
Sanding
Most butcher blocks are sold roughly sanded with sharp edges. I recommend sanding with the following approach:
- 150 grit on edge faces
- 150 grit on top and bottom faces
- 150 grit on all edges and corners (so it doesn’t feel sharp)
- Remove all sanding dust before changing grits
- 220 grit on edge faces and top face
In my experience, with a random orbital sander, you can complete the whole sanding process in about 20 minutes. By hand it will probably take more like 35-40 minutes.
Finishing
Before you start finishing, get as much sanding dust off as you can. We like to do our sanding outside, then blow the top off with a leaf blower, then wipe up remaining dust with a microfiber towel.
There are a TON of finish options on the market. We like a mineral oil and wax combo because it is incredibly easy to apply, lasts forever, and ages with an attractive patina. It doesn't have the hardness and scuff resistance of more exotic options, but for an office desk the ease of application and maintenance more than offsets that. If you opt for a different finishing technique, you'll need to do your own research, but be aware that wood finishing has many pitfalls. As just one example, using a water-based polyurethane over mineral oil will almost never give a satisfactory result.
We prefer to do two coats with mineral oil and then two coats with “conditioner” (which is just mineral oil + wax).
For each coat, just wipe it on with a rag, let it soak in for 5 minutes, and then wipe off the excess. Then let it dry for at least 30 minutes between coats.
To apply the finish, any clean, lint-free cloth will do. We like the t-shirt style because they don’t soak up too much oil.
Attaching to the desk frame
The easiest thing to do is to put the top face down on the ground (ideally on some carpet or cardboard to protect the top and your floor).
Then flip your desk frame over and put it on the desk top.
Line up your frame so it is centered. We prefer to put the frame ~2” from the ends so you have plenty of room between the desk legs, but also enough room to clamp stuff on the edge of the desk if you want to later. You get some freedom here to set it up how you like, and you can change it later if you decide to.
Then just drill your holes right through the frame holes, and screw in your screws. I like to put a piece of tape on my drill bit as a depth guide so I don’t accidentally drill all the way through the top.
If you don’t have a drill or don’t want to use one, you can use a punch instead. Most desk frames (including our Tempo desk) ship with “self-drilling” screws for the tops, so just having a little dent to keep the screw from wandering until it bites is enough.
Most desk frames have holes on both end rails, and then a few across the middle span. We recommend using all the holes - firmly attaching the frame to a quality top helps the frame achieve its full potential for stiffness and stability.
Flipping it back over
This is probably the hardest part. A 2-leg desk frame + a 60” long butcher block will probably weigh ~150lbs combined, and be a little unwieldy. Have someone help you, or roll the desk over carefully on a soft surface - being sure not to damage your controller (which often sticks out) as you do.
Enjoy your awesome, beautiful desk!
