Anyone Use a Standing Desk or Workbench?

[SilverLeaf]

I don't like sitting down all day. It's hard on my skeleton and not particularly good for you either. In a previous life, I was on my feet all day long. I've done some reading about the health benefits of using a standing desk, and just wondered if anyone can offer first hand experience?

Currently, I use two folding banquet type table for my bench. I'm thinking about adding a platform to set on the tables to raise the work surface so I can stand. Anybody gone down this road?

 

[Xander]

I do. I have a barstool for the times I want to sit down at it. I also have some of those foam, interlocking floor pads to stand on.

 

[altrenda]

Many of my clients use standing desks. Hollywood types go for every fad.

many people swear by it, they say it takes a couple of weeks to get to the point where their legs don't get tired. The gel kitchen mats are popular.

interestingly, only 1 out of about 10 users have given up on it.

 

[Magic Miguel]

I wish I had book marked this site I just saw that makes standing desks. It reminded me very much so of the Ikea Jerker desks only they were standing and adjustable. It probably cost a pretty penny though.

 

[Maniaman]

When I redid our computer repair room, I built the workbenches to be standing height. However, you can still use a barstool if you want to it. I found in our old room with folding tables, I spent more time kneeling than actually sitting in a chair. Standing desks work a lot better for us, especially if we aren't going to be in front of a computer for an extended period of time.

 

[MotzTech]

I used one a long time ago and I found it much better then a sit down desk. I'm in the process of building another one for my new office. Like the others I have a stool in case of long jobs. For jobs where you just need to start something and walk away, it's so much easier to have a standing desk. I have a separate lower desk that I'm going to use for laptop teardowns and stuff like that.

 

[mraikes]

Good timing - I was just reading through an Instructable on building an electric height adjustable desk. Interesting idea.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Electric-Height-Adjustable-Desk/

 

[Theo]

My workspace has 2 desks, one standing workbench and a sitting desk for focused work, I found it hard to focus on tedious stuff standing, but I enjoy standing for most things, phone calls, remote support. A tip that will make pretty much any regular desk a standing desk is get some cinder blocks and put them under the legs of the desk. Tada, standing desk! Half cinder blocks work well. You need 6-7" of elevation. I was also thinking those bed risers would work well.

 

[SilverLeaf]

I was thinking about maybe getting some of these to raise my tables. Should make it less likely for the legs to slide off, like could possibly happen with a concrete block.

 

[Martyn]

I sit a lot but I sit quite upright. I was at a call a few months ago and the client had one of these kneeling stools. They look strange but are surprisingly comfortable. I'm not saying buy from Ebay but just for the picture. This thread has just reminded me about it and I may look at getting one myself.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/1508...ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=83&ff19=0

 

['putertutor]

My desk/workbench is standing height. I used some of these bed risers to get the right height. I also have a stool height, adjustable office chair, so when I tire of sitting, I stand and vice versa.

Some time ago I worked for a company who had adjustable desks that you could raise or lower to whatever height you liked. The whole system was pretty well designed, with track based electrical and all. Too expensive for me to handle, but for about $20 I get close to the same thing.

 

[Lewis]

I have seen someone use dowel rods to raise the banquet tables to a preferred hieght

 

[SilverLeaf]

My desk/workbench is standing height. I used some of these bed risers to get the right height. I also have a stool height, adjustable office chair, so when I tire of sitting, I stand and vice versa.

Some time ago I worked for a company who had adjustable desks that you could raise or lower to whatever height you liked. The whole system was pretty well designed, with track based electrical and all. Too expensive for me to handle, but for about $20 I get close to the same thing.

Good idea on the bed risers. Thanks for that. I picked up some similar ones at Walmart to raise one of my tables.

So far, so good......except for one issue. It seems that using a mouse while standing puts my wrist at an odd (steep) angle. When sitting at a normal desk, my wrist is almost straight when using the mouse. Whilst standing, however, my wrist must flex backward to use it. To alleviate this while standing, I would need to raise my table probably another 7-10 inches or so. I wonder if this is just something I will get used to after my wrist becomes accustomed to the new angle? As it is now, extended use causes noticeable fatigue.

 

[andcorptech]

Standing bench is all I've ever used for PC repair. I made my own benches from pine and MDF.

I do sit down to do soldering and finer work, but standing is much better for me as it gets my legs moving and I can move between jobs better

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

All of our benches are below hip level on me, so if its a laptop (and I do many laptops) I'll be sitting. Sitting all day with my upper body mass does a number on my back. Seems like the only thing for laptops I could use standing is something that would have to be at least a foot taller. Otherwise, then there would be neck strain having to look down all day.

 

[callthatgirl]

Many years ago when I worked at the phone company as an operator, they bought us desks that could sit or stand with a button. I loved it. Now I can't probably afford that, but I was thinking of buying a treadmill for my office and installing a mounted monitor and a shelf for my keyboard/mouse so I could walk more while I work. My tech friend would do the setup, I just need to buy the treadmill.

 

[GeeksInKhakis]

Half of my stations are standing height, the rest are bar height with stools. I like the mix.

 

[BrentfromZulu]

I switched to a Standing Desk about a month ago and I am glad that I did. You have to have a mat and you have to make time to sit down and take a break from standing.

 

[drjones]

My workbench is standing height, I'm going to get another as I need more space.

Definitely prefer it to sitting down, as I obviously do that a lot.

Also saves space as you don't have any chair/stools to deal with...

 

['putertutor]

Good idea on the bed risers. Thanks for that. I picked up some similar ones at Walmart to raise one of my tables.

So far, so good......except for one issue. It seems that using a mouse while standing puts my wrist at an odd (steep) angle. When sitting at a normal desk, my wrist is almost straight when using the mouse. Whilst standing, however, my wrist must flex backward to use it. To alleviate this while standing, I would need to raise my table probably another 7-10 inches or so. I wonder if this is just something I will get used to after my wrist becomes accustomed to the new angle? As it is now, extended use causes noticeable fatigue.

One more reason short people like me will rule the world!!!

Seriously, though, you must be pretty tall to have your table raised and still need 7-10 inches to reach a good standing height. Using my mouse while standing gives me a close to flat angle at the elbow. The closer to the table I stand, the flatter the angle. My belly places an unyielding limit on that particular specification .