Shopsmith Forums

Thanks for all the great info, Marc. I have some major office rejiggering coming up, and you’ve given me a lot to think about.

Question: With an adjustable-height tabletop and adjustable monitor heights, what’s the advantage of a keyboard tray over just plopping the keyboard onto the tabletop? I’d be tempted to do the latter, and then maybe hang some drawers under the tabletop, outboard of my legs.

I guess one answer is to have writing surface directly in front of you. But I rarely use paper anymore, and almost never write (the old-fashioned way).

BuckeyeDennis wrote: ↑Wed Dec 01, 2021 7:58 pm Thanks for all the great info, Marc. I have some major office rejiggering coming up, and you’ve given me a lot to think about.

Question: With an adjustable-height tabletop and adjustable monitor heights, what’s the advantage of a keyboard tray over just plopping the keyboard onto the tabletop? I’d be tempted to do the latter, and then maybe hang some drawers under the tabletop, outboard of my legs.

I guess one answer is to have writing surface directly in front of you. But I rarely use paper anymore, and almost never write (the old-fashioned way).

You're welcome. I think it really just depends on how you might use the desk and the way you work. If you are doing research or need to have books or paper open in front of you as you type then you will want some clear desk space right in front of you and the shelf keeps the keyboard out of the way. Teachers will grade papers on the desk and use the keyboard to enter grades and comments in Canvas or Blackboard, or whatever online database they are using to communicate this data to the students. Anyone who uses Zoom a lot for meetings or presenting to an audience won't typically use the keyboard, but might need their presentation or lecture notes right in front of them. It just gives you more clear desk space; which if you are like me, allows me to fully clutter my desk and not lose my keyboard or mouse.

We took the desk to campus this weekend and moved everything on to it. Now that I’m looking at the photo I’m noticing all the hanging cables. When I return to install the new keyboard shelbes I’m making for the two desks I will need to remember to bring some zip ties to clean that up. The perspective makes it look small, but it is 60”x25”x2”.

.