Show HN: Handcrafted standing desks from reclaimed materials | Hacker News Reader

Show HN: Handcrafted standing desks from reclaimed materials

woodwardsalvage.com

32 pointsfitztrev46 comments

US$1500 for something that we cobble together here in Cambodia from rubbish because we don't have any money?

You have rubbish from an industrial collapse? We have rubbish from a fucking genocide! Now THAT is furniture with a story!

We are happy to sell you standup desks built from wood from french colonial Indochina for US$1500. Our new office is being renovated from such a building.

But if you want a REAL story, we have a premium standup desk made from reclaimed wood from work camps run by the Khmer Rouge for US$3000.

For US$5000 you get bullet holes.

I know you're being sarcastic, but it's viable if you have the right marketing.

> But if you want a REAL story, we have a premium standup desk made from reclaimed wood from work camps run by the Khmer Rouge for US$3000.

Yes it's a joke but from a non-Cambodian's point of view, this is like selling memorabilia from the 3rd Reich or Imperial Japan ala WWII.

After reading your comment and seeing stuff like Swatzikas (the day version) being displayed in mainstream department stores, or pictures from concentration camps being displayed in restaurants; I often wonder why people in Asia seem so ignorant or insensitive to historical atrocities. Is it because history education over there is near non-existent or do they just suck? Or is it because most people are just indifferent to history?

>I know you're being sarcastic

So you say, but then you go on as if it had been serious. The comment was meant to be more satirical than sarcastic.

The point being, that trying to cash in on the collapse of a city that had been one of the great industrial centers of the world is being insensitive to the people whose lives have been destroyed by the collapse. Just as it would be insensitive to do so by cashing in on the Cambodian genocide.

As for Asian insensitivity, yes there is some of that here and a lot of it is because western history is taught in about as much detail here as eastern history is taught in the west.

Many people here don't understand the tie between the swastika and nazis because it is an ancient Buddhist and Hindu auspicious symbol.

There is plenty of insensitivity about this part of the world in the west as well. How many people in America believe that Cambodia is little more than a hive of prostitutes and pedophiles? How many tourists come to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap each year not only to see Khmer ruins, but to take tours of orphanages?

There is plenty of ignorance and insensitivity to go around.

I'd love to see you review Swift's 'A Modest Proposal' on Amazon :)

> So you say, but then you go on as if it had been serious.

Because it is serious. From our point of view, making a joke about a death camp is poor taste. I was just trying to be nicer in my criticism because I'm less familiar with Cambodian culture than I am with East Asian culture(s).

> How many people in America believe that Cambodia is little more than a hive of prostitutes and pedophiles?

I hate to say this, but Cambodia doesn't even register with most people here beyond being an Asian jungle and the Khmer Rouge, if even that since there are so few Cambodians here compared to other Asians. I would imagine the most exposure people in the US have had to Cambodia is through a cartoon show. We're a lot more aware of Thailand and Vietnam.

> Siem Reap each year not only to see Khmer ruins, but to take tours of orphanages?

Are they not there to adopt or it something else? If they're there to adopt, what's the problem from your point of view?

> I'd love to see you review Swift's 'A Modest Proposal' on Amazon

I'll check it out

Now this is funny, mainly because $1500 for the simplest of desks made from garbage! What on earth is in the water in Detroit?

> wood from french colonial Indochina

This sounds very nice.

I've paid some high prices for reclaimed wood furniture, and when I move to a larger place (in several months) I will likely do it again. Here's my feedback:

The first comparison I started making in my mind is with the counter tables from Restoration Hardware. They are nearly half the price ($635+), and in my opinion look more the "reclaimed" part. I also don't see the height dimension on your page, so I can't compare that. Another thing I'd like to see is previews of the other finishes and metal types. I like darker woods and metals, but I can't tell which metal finish the photo is showing.

With that said, the price does seem right to me, and comparable to what I've seen in some Etsy stores and local shops.

Edit: Also, it would be great to see shipping costs up front. I went all the way to the checkout page to find it, and I still don't see anything about shipping costs. That sucks. Either offer a flat shipping cost (like RH does), or add an estimator right on the product page (eg, "Enter your zip code to estimate shipping.")

I don't know if the following were on the front page when you visited or if fitztrev has added them based on comments, but the front page now addresses height and shipping costs (which probably bring the cost more into the range that you're used to). There are also small cubes of the different finishes. I agree that it would be nice if the photos indicated which finishes were shown.

- "To ensure the proper height, we will contact you after your order to get your height."

- "We are currently offering FREE SHIPPING to the lower 48 states."

I don't know if they were there before. In any case, those things should be front and center, especially the free shipping. Those are great selling points.

I agree, these are absolutely awesome selling points. When I'm having to write up things I frequently find that people want more things front and center than can reasonably be front and center. For the angle that he is taking it sounds like "reclaimed" and "hand-crafted" are the front and center points from the sellers perspective.

I think the 'story' behind the furniture needs to be more prominent (i.e., why are "reclaimed" and "hand-crafted" the selling points), and then organizing the site so that the custom height and free shipping are easily found (e.g., specific answers on a FAQ page, or simply bullet points below the front-page 'story') would go a very long way.

OP here. I've been a developer for 10 years and have used a standing desk for the last 2. When I started, I just used whatever materials I could to prop my computer up higher. Once I was sold on the idea and benefits of standing, I started looking for a more permanent solution.

I wasn't really happy with the options. I wanted something very high quality and unique. So I decided to start building my own using reclaimed and salvaged materials.

Here's what I have so far. What do you think? What's important to you in a standing desk?

I do not know much about the market for the low-end of high-end furniture, but that is definitely the market you are targeting.

This isn't a $4000 table, but it is priced above standing desks with hydraulics that allow you to sit and stand at the same desk. ~$1,200.

Lots of people will tell you that this is priced way, way, way too high and it is for functional stuff. The question is whether the quality of the craftsmanship and the design are worth a $1,000+ premium on the furniture.

One way to find out is to take it to high-end furniture stores and ask them. Another way is to market them on the web and see if you get sales.

Don't take advise from people on pricing who are practical buyers in their mid 20s. Talk to some women in their 30s about what would be nice to have in their house. Talk to some older men who value style as well as functionality.

The idea of a custom height standing desk with excellent style is likely appealing to some customers. The question is whether your's is stylish enough to justify the price.

I built my own standing desk with a piece of pine from home depot, and some white paint, and 4 sturdy 6" brackets. Wall mounted it and now I have a $100 standing desk.

I think making a standing desk is great, but you haven't solved the problem people have. They are all pretty expensive, but don't have to be.

Additionally if I am being honest, the craftsmanship simply isn't there for a $1,500 desk. The welds look awful.

I paid $1,500 shipped for a driftwood dresser, made to order, and to spec. It was about 10x more material and labor, at the same cost, and it was made by an amazing craftsman.

The problem you should be solving isn't 'making another standing desk' it's making an affordable, quality standing desk that is accessible to people.

> What's important to you in a standing desk?

Excellent ergonomics first, affordable price second. Table height, monitor stand height, and distance from keyboard to monitor all needs to be adjustable.

Keyboard and monitor stands that sit on an existing desk could be an affordable option. A monitor stand that has a drawer for keyboard and mouse would be nice as well. Push in the keyboard drawer and you have more available desk surface. An extra shelf in the monitor stand could hold books, chargers, and other items.

> What's important to you in a standing desk?

Being affordable. That is, having a price tag comparable with normal furniture. Who will pay $ 1495 for a desk?!

  Who will pay $ 1495 for a desk?!

I don't completely get the concept of it has to be dirt cheap no matter what. People are paying $500+ for a TV which is next to worthless after a couple of years, but don't want to pay more than a couple of bucks for a solid table which will most probably outlife them.

> it has to be dirt cheap no matter what

Some people have constrained budgets

> a TV which is next to worthless after a couple of years

Oh, wait, you won't get it, you expect to throw away perfectly working devices frequently.

The desk looks like there is maybe $50 worth of materials and maybe 2 hours worth of work there (I'm taking for granted they know what they're doing and can do a lot of it pretty efficiently). So that's what, between $100-$200 material and labor. Where is the other $1300 of value coming from?

I wouldn't need to spend $1500 on a desk that would outlive me but if I did, it would need to look far better than the one in this post.

> it has to be dirt cheap no matter what

Please restrain from hyperboles and strawman arguments.

There is a significant gap between dirt cheap and $ 1495. Somewhere in between there is a zone which makes it affordable for many customers and is still a good deal for the producer.

many people play 5000 for a live edge slab desk without a second thought

These look really cool! Could you add a photo somewhere of what it looks like disassembled?

Why you ended with that price?

I am asking because I am considering building one myself, I don't have money to buy one, but I have time to build one (also I cannot buy yours anyway, the shipping alone would cost more than the desk), so I am wondering if I DO manage to build one, if it will end costing a lot too.

We've been using sit/stand desks at our office since the start now. At first I was the only one using them, but now every developer seems to be using it more and more. To me, the most important feature is to be able to alter the height of the desk as I want to sit or stand during the day. I find myself switching positions 2-3 times a day. Couldn't work without it anymore. Awesome product!

It doesn't have the "most important feature" that you mention, but you still find it awesome?

Your website needs work. The title talks about a story yet there's not much of one. This story needs to be on the front page. I didn't really feel like clicking to read it. It also needs pictures to help convey your words. I need to know why this desk is worth $1495. Why I should buy this instead of something cheaper / more functional but sterile?

1. You need to show off more pieces (how do we know each is unique when all we see is one desk?). It will show character that will compete against the more functional boxed desks which are the same for everyone.

2. You need to show the people working on this. Knowing about an individual (or small group of people) working hard on something 'good' versus thinking of a nameless, unidentifiable huge group of people working in a factory for a big corporation is huge

3. You need to convey the quality somehow. (Show the process or the material?)

4. You need to show Detroit.

5. You need to show what happens when we don't reclaim stuff.

6. Going back to points 4 and 5. You need to show that you're making something good out of the bad.

I'm not a designer, but I know enough to tell you that you need a really good one badly.

"Handcrafted" has become a red flag for me, in the same way "vintage" and "cozy" are for apartment listings. Almost anything that isnt produced on a large scale is handmade. Its an empty marketing phrase that tells me you have nothing better to showcase. There is no detail of this desk that makes you say "wow this was built by a master craftsman."

Well, may be you should think of the difference in production of a Aston Martin vs a Ford.

Comparing a $200,000 luxury sports car to a desk is preposterous. First of all, there are actual features to differentiate an Aston Martin from a Ford. This is a piece of wood with some metal suspending it off of the ground. There's nothing to differentiate this product from a desk purchased from ikea, except for the fact that you get to "handcraft" the ikea desk yourself. In fact, besides the sourcing of the material.

Fair enough. I was making a general point rather than this specific product. I agree that this desk does not live up to its price tag.

I appreciate the comments. As I said, I'm just getting started with this. I posted it here just to get some initial feedback.

I understand there are other options for standing desks that are both less expensive and more functional. The value proposition isn’t a "better" standing desk, or a "cheaper" standing desk, it is a standing desk that is built by hand from reclaimed, quality materials, sourced from the community.

It allows me to continue to support the deconstruction of abandoned homes and buildings in the Detroit area, which is one of my main focuses.

> It allows me to continue to support the deconstruction of abandoned homes and buildings in the Detroit area, which is one of my main focuses.

This is a good bit of the story, and the value proposition I think, as are the things on the About Us page. I’d suggest you get at least one more of those bullet points on the homepage. I’d go with something that hits: Reclaimed, Recycled and Biodegradable, as those seemed like strong points to me.

Looks good man. Telling your story through some high quality photos and a video would really go far in validating your USP and pricing. If I were in the market for something like this that is the story I would want to support.

1. I really like the look of the desk 2. Motorization is key 3. Price. Just look at how successful www.standdesk.co has been with their $399.

I'd be tempted by a motorized version of this for around $1,000.

If you missed it, there's a pretty rad standing desk on Kickstarter right now that has some nifty, discreet power controls. $399.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2036834894/the-most-aff...

I really like this one, specifically. I didn't back it because with young ones in the house, I see the automatic raise/lower as a dangerous thing. Little fingers will hit it and watch the "magic."

I like the idea of using salvaged materials, but the price seems way off the mark, even for something custom made.

I understand totally. Unfortunately steel and reclaimed lumber is not cheap. Each desk is made entirely by hand, so there’s a lot of labor that goes into each one.

There are others out there that do offer a more affordable solution. I even started out just modifying my existing desk to accommodate a standing position. But I wanted something that was much more durable and didn’t look like it necessarily came from Ikea.

For comparison here are some similar desks built from reclaimed materials on Etsy. Typically under 1k. Granted most of them have hair pin legs instead of metal bar; what would you say justifies the 2-3x premium on this desk?

https://www.etsy.com/search?q=reclaimed%20wood%20desk&ship_t...

I can't speak to the steel aspect of it, but for the top; it looks like it should be about 25 board feet, which should be about $250 for good quality wood. Add in some labor and consumables for surfacing and finishing, I would guess that a fair price for the top is $500-750.

Assuming the legs come out similarly, I can see how the whole desk comes out to $1500.

I'm still too cheap to spend that much on a desk. I'm sure if I were to build one myself, I'd end up spending more on the wood than $250 and use it as an excuse to collect more tools.

Also, to add, I think a lot of the cost could be eliminated with the reclaimed wood by going more direct to the source. Lots of beautiful furniture can be made out of discarded pallets. If building these kind of desks is a full-time business, it seems like the material cost at least for the top could be driven down (at the expense of more legwork and setting up an infrastructure).

Price seems a little high, but metal welding is labor intensive.

If I'm buying a standing desk, the ergonomics need to be right and for me that means adjustable height.

It would be nice to see a separate, adjustable monitor stand. It could ideally be used on the desk shown or one someone already owns.

Christ! $1500? I know they're "handcrafted" and all. But there's neither $1500 of material or work in that desk.

Yay, you made a non-adjustable standing desk from what looks like reused scrap, and decided to put a price tag as if it were art.

This looks nice, but I would be more excited by a startup offering affordable walking workstations. I've put together a couple of these with the cheapest one costing only $80. The price largely depends on the local availability of used treadmills. For the keyboard stand I used reclaimed wood pallets. For the monitor stand, a bookshelf.

"Industrial Standing Desk $ 1,495.00"

Thanks, but no thanks.

Looks like it's been built by someone who never did any metal or wood work before. A fresh university graduate?

this is bananas

Reply on news.ycombinator.com