I know this forum can be a mine of useful information on any topic so.....

Does anyone know how strong a large sheet of MDF is? I've used it to make shelves, a whelping box and many other things in the past and now I'm considering making a corner desk for my spare room/office. I'm thinking of getting the biggest size sheet, butting it into the corner and using the jigsaw to cut out the shape I want on the edge facing the middle of the room (does that make sense?). I'll attach table legs to it but am thinking of just using 5 legs. The question is do I need to make a frame support for it - will it sag in the middle of the table top eventually? What sort of weight do you think it could support - will my pc fall through it!?  What thickness do people recommend bearing in mind it's quite a large unsupported area, would it need to be 25mm? I'd love to get away with the 12 or 19 as the 25 is so heavy to work with.

Any help much appreciated :-)

I'm not a carpenter but a DIYer! :)  How about putting battens along both walls to support the weight along the whole wall length?  You could use wardrobe hanging rails for cheap but strong legs if you can fix to the floor, two on each of the 'front wings', and another a little way back on the curved bit so that you don't have to straddle it and to support the weight in the middle of the desk?

I have no idea Jane how to help but all I wanted to say was, once you've finished that you can come & make Jack's outside cathouse & run just to keep you out of mischief!   ;-)

Jane, Craig is a carpenter but he's at work now fitting a nice new kitchen for some lucky lady, if you want I can ask him when he gets in, I'm useless and leave it all to him.

Jane when I'm off work I'll check my timber book to see if they list the weight tolerances. Remind me if I forget! (am prone to forgetting everything) My Ikea computer desk if 25 mm but has a frame. It might be easier to build a simple box frame and attach the legs to that. Then you could use the lighter wieght MDF. (or the conti board makes good desk tops; it's what I used for my router table)

Thanks Lori :-)  I wondered if as well as a box frame though it may need supports across the middle? Ideally I'd like not to need any of them though coz it would be easier and quicker without.

Lesley if you could ask Craig that would be great, I'll wait to see what he advises before going to buy my materials :-)

Christine...so after Jacks recent 'escapades' he's being banished to a cat house....lol...

> Christine...so after Jacks recent 'escapades' he's being banished to a cat house....lol...

Yep, I don't want anymore stress like the stress I'm having with time wasting kitten enquirers....noticed you dodged my request though!!!!!    His little gorgeous son may be banished with him or the vet may banish a couple of items!

I'm not competent enough to build a cat house, but I would come and give you a hand to erect a ready made shed, and modify as necessary? I made a puppy run when T&T where tiny...I'd imagine something like this would work for a cat too? I just used 2 x 2 struts and stapled weldmesh on with a corrugated plastic roof.

Oh and I made an outside house for my chipmunks, it was probably more cat like with a mesh roof. I bought an 8 x 6 shed and partitioned off an area inside for them, cut holes and made landing platforms to the outside run.

They've got a slide like the Halifax advert!!
I want to live there!! Oh Jayne you are clever.
(Can we have more chipmunk pics plaese too :))

> Can we have more chipmunk pics plaese too

Your wish is my command :-)

>> Can we have more chipmunk pics plaese too
> Your [url=http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f96/chaumsong/show2/?action=view&current=ff3b4661.pbw" rel=nofollow]wish[/url] is my command :-)

So which one is Alvin?   ;-)

This is an interesting site, I don't need a house, just a run as I have a cat chalet that needs some TLC to be functional, I need the run around it!   I will check your 'kitten' size pockets on the way out!  LOL.....

The ylletrollets one certainly looks doable. The rest are a bit fancy. Do you have concrete or grass around the cathouse? What sort of size run are you looking for? I think we could do it if you're looking for a cheap option - of course it would be better and easier to get a professional in :-)

Very interesting set of articles there too: http://www.pawpeds.com/pawacademy/genetics/breedingstrategies/

Right Jane, he said he's made some desks before for a school out of MDF, they were more workstations from the sounds of it using 19mm but they were the average size of a computer desk and they were more than adequate but they were in a frame.  He would advise a frame but you may get away with 19mm.  He's not talkative as he's been given 5 lengths of new worktop today and he's busy re-designing our kitchen as I sit in front of Corrie!  lol

My Husband is a joiner and 18mm is fine to use and will support what you are recommending, any questions just ask

Good luck

Sandra
xxx

Thanks Lesley and Sandra, and your other halves of course :-)