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2012-09-04 7:48 AM

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Champion
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Subject: Standing desks?

My herniated disk has been acting up again lately and I have noticed that sitting aggravates it the most.  So I have been experimenting with working while standing.

Here is my $1 creation (mouse platform was an extra $1).  It works OK but it doesn't exactly look that great when I have customers in my office.

Anyone else use a standing desk?  Would ideally like one that easily adjusts from standing to sitting easily.



Edited by TriRSquared 2012-09-04 7:48 AM


2012-09-04 8:07 AM
in reply to: #4393952

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Veteran
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Clearwater, FL
Subject: RE: Standing desks?

The simplest solution that comes to mind is a desk surface mounted on an adjustable piston, the kind on an office chair. Shouldn't be that difficult to fabricate if you can score the right chair for cheap on Craigslist.

I'd also consider creating a work surface that's large enough to support the weight of your forearms in front you so that you can reduce the stress on your back a little more.

2012-09-04 8:15 AM
in reply to: #4393982

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Standing desks?
There are a lot of off the shelf standing desks (many that adjust up and down).  Just looking for input from anyone who has used a particular model.
2012-09-04 8:17 AM
in reply to: #4393952

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Standing desks?

Dude you are an engineer who makes industrial machinery if I recall. 

Design one, Make it look good, Market it and make a killing!!!

Weren't you looking for a new challenge?

2012-09-04 8:23 AM
in reply to: #4393952

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Queen BTich
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Subject: RE: Standing desks?

Some light Googl'ing yielded some good results. I would agree that if you're going to commit to a standing desk, you need something more professional if you are going to have customers/clients in your office. 

Here's a cheap DIY: 
http://www.howtogeek.com/100748/15-ideas-to-buy-or-build-your-perfect-standing-desk/

Something also cheap, but it's pretty small:
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Ergonomic-Adjustable-Rolling-Laptop-Desk/3174450/product.html

I've tried and tried to find the kind I used at my job, but I can't. I know you want a specific model. It was a for use in a hospital, and it was easily adjustable up and down to sit or stand (I almost always stood). I loved it. It went up and down easily with a level like office chairs do. I highly suggest the permanent switch! Good luck.

http://www.beyondtheofficedoor.com/adjustable-height-table.php

2012-09-04 9:14 AM
in reply to: #4394009

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Standing desks?
trinnas - 2012-09-04 9:17 AM

Dude you are an engineer who makes industrial machinery if I recall. 

Design one, Make it look good, Market it and make a killing!!!

Weren't you looking for a new challenge?

I'm busy doing other stuff (like riding and running and screwing up my back)...

And thanks Comet.  Yep Google has given me tons of results but it's hard to tell what's quality and what's just not going to work..

So you still stand up at your desk?



Edited by TriRSquared 2012-09-04 9:15 AM


2012-09-04 9:21 AM
in reply to: #4394127

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Standing desks?
TriRSquared - 2012-09-04 10:14 AM
trinnas - 2012-09-04 9:17 AM

Dude you are an engineer who makes industrial machinery if I recall. 

Design one, Make it look good, Market it and make a killing!!!

Weren't you looking for a new challenge?

I'm busy doing other stuff (like riding and running and screwing up my back)...

Pfffft Excuses, excuses!!  There are 24 hours in a day aren't there.  Hop to it man!! 

2012-09-04 9:49 AM
in reply to: #4394127

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Queen BTich
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Subject: RE: Standing desks?

I'm busy doing other stuff (like riding and running and screwing up my back)...

And thanks Comet.  Yep Google has given me tons of results but it's hard to tell what's quality and what's just not going to work..

So you still stand up at your desk?

I left my job and am in school full-time now. Again, I loved our work stations, the CPU was behind the monitor and the other office necessities, like printers, were done wirelessly. I'll see if I can get someone to send me the brand name, as I still can't find it online. 

At home, I bought a cheap treadmill off craigslist ($120) that had flat arms. I got a shelf from Home Depot ($13) and now have a standing/walking desk. 
http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/photos/show-album.asp?albumid=852&photoid=125627

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/photos/show-album.asp?albumid=852&photoid=125628

2012-09-04 10:07 AM
in reply to: #4393952

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Queen BTich
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Subject: RE: Standing desks?

This isn't bad, from Wal-Mart! Seems to have a decent amount of desktop space, I'd skip the printer and set up one wirelessly on a bookshelf, and that would give you more desk space. Plus, what I think is key, the option to sit or stand. Let me tell you, after a hard race or blisters or some kind of running 'issue', some days I just HAD to sit
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Balt-Ergo-Sit-Stand-Workstation-41w-x-29d-x-29-39h-Steel-Base-Box-One/14864508?findingMethod=rr

Not as expensive as the $1-2k models, and they take back EVERYTHING, so if something from there didn't work for you, you could return it! 

2012-09-04 10:46 AM
in reply to: #4394253

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Standing desks?
Comet - 2012-09-04 11:07 AM

Let me tell you, after a hard race or blisters or some kind of running 'issue', some days I just HAD to sit

HA!  Tell me about it.  I did 100 miles in the hills of FL (yes we have hills) over the past 2 days and my legs are killing me today.

2012-09-04 2:15 PM
in reply to: #4393952

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Subject: RE: Standing desks?

I have a lovely wooden one that appears adjustable but haven't figured out how to adjust it.  :/  The last guy who had this one was way taller than I am, which puts it at the right height for reading.  So, right now I use my standing desk for documents and books, then place my laptop on a stack of law books on my regular desk, and kinda work turning between the two.  Or I read in my cushy chair...

Except when I'm at my regular desk playing online.  Then hunch over the keyboard and make my back sore.  ouch.

Observation about standing desks and weight: of the 4 people who use or have used standing desks at my office, 4 were reasonably-thin-to-skinny to begin with.



2012-09-04 2:57 PM
in reply to: #4394862

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Subject: RE: Standing desks?
CitySky - 2012-09-04 3:15 PM

Observation about standing desks and weight: of the 4 people who use or have used standing desks at my office, 4 were reasonably-thin-to-skinny to begin with.

I can see that.  I'm in pretty good shape and my legs/knees/feet are sore after a day of standing.  I cannot imagine what an overweight person's legs would feel like. 

I've read it can take 2-3 weeks for the body to adjust to standing all day.  I'm on week 2.

2012-09-04 3:14 PM
in reply to: #4394965

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Subject: RE: Standing desks?
TriRSquared - 2012-09-04 3:57 PM
CitySky - 2012-09-04 3:15 PM

Observation about standing desks and weight: of the 4 people who use or have used standing desks at my office, 4 were reasonably-thin-to-skinny to begin with.

I can see that.  I'm in pretty good shape and my legs/knees/feet are sore after a day of standing.  I cannot imagine what an overweight person's legs would feel like. 


BUT at my work, we ALL had adjustable standing desks. I am now 100% convinced that a body at rest, stays at rest. The ones that sat, wouldn't be inclined to get up. They'd wheel in their chairs to talk to coworkers (we worked in one giant room), less inclined to get up to help patients, etc. It was pathetic. So, that was a big motivator for me to try to not sit unless I was very physically tired (from something else, not just 'bored tired' from being at work).

I also incorporated pushups, squats, situps, lunges etc into my day! Do *something* every hour, on the hour and it really ads up! One doesn't need much space for that. 
2012-09-05 10:37 AM
in reply to: #4393952

Master
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Subject: RE: Standing desks?
I think it's a neat idea but people that work standing up for a living like line cooks all have bad knees and hips from standing all day.  No thanks
2012-09-05 10:59 AM
in reply to: #4393952

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Subject: RE: Standing desks?

I have an adjustable desk at the office, adjusts w/ the push of a button.  Nice set up, but on the pricey side (~$1600 if I remember correctly).  I didn't have much choice, there was only one approved model in our region.  In other regions they have desktop models where the monitor and keyboard/mouse tray are adjustable and the unit just mounts to the desk.  I believe these were in the $500 range.

It took me a while to adapt to standing most of the day after years of sitting on my arse.  I'd highly recommend an anti-fatigue mat to stand on.

2012-09-05 11:14 AM
in reply to: #4393952

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Subject: RE: Standing desks?
I suggest a pulley system.  Run a line from each corner up to a pulley and then down to a carabiner.  From the carabiner run one line down to a winch which you can then set up to run via a remote control (or maybe there's even a phone app you could use?).  Needlessly complicated?  Sure, but isn't that what engineering is all about?


2012-09-05 12:05 PM
in reply to: #4396252

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Subject: RE: Standing desks?
cadmus - 2012-09-05 11:59 AM

It took me a while to adapt to standing most of the day after years of sitting on my arse.  I'd highly recommend an anti-fatigue mat to stand on.

Yep, bought a nice squishy mat earlier this week.

2012-09-05 2:32 PM
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Subject: RE: Standing desks?
2012-09-05 2:55 PM
in reply to: #4393952

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Standing desks?
Now we're talking!
2012-09-05 2:56 PM
in reply to: #4396892

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Subject: RE: Standing desks?

ride_like_u_stole_it - 2012-09-05 3:32 PM

I'd work there!

2012-09-06 11:04 AM
in reply to: #4394965

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Subject: RE: Standing desks?
TriRSquared - 2012-09-04 3:57 PM
CitySky - 2012-09-04 3:15 PM

Observation about standing desks and weight: of the 4 people who use or have used standing desks at my office, 4 were reasonably-thin-to-skinny to begin with.

I can see that.  I'm in pretty good shape and my legs/knees/feet are sore after a day of standing.  I cannot imagine what an overweight person's legs would feel like. 

I've read it can take 2-3 weeks for the body to adjust to standing all day.  I'm on week 2.

 

That's a good point for people who are at the same workstation for the whole day.  I have it pretty good in that I move around a lot on the job.  So an hour or two at the standing desk here and there (interspersed with walking to work, running around like a madwoman while teaching, walking to then sitting in meetings, curling up in my big chair to read for an hour or three, and sitting at my "regular" desk in an office large enough to accommodate both desks AND a cushy chair) is really NBD on the joints.  It might be harder going from 0 hours standing to 8 overnight.



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