Omnirax - worth the money?

[Caiwyn]

The Omnirax Force 24 is an awesome looking desk, but the cheapest I've found it for is $1200. That's an awful lot for a desk.

I don't have any rackmount equipment, so I don't need built-in racks. I could probably get a cheap desk and some monitor stands for a fraction of the price. But I really do like the look and the layout of the Force 24.

My question is, does anybody know if the construction quality of Omnirax desks is significantly better than that of any other ready-to-assemble desk manufacturer, like the O'Sullivan or Sauder desks you find at your local Office Depot? Is the Omnirax worth the premium price?

[alexfranke]

I don't know for sure, but I'd be willing to bet that you're paying a premium if for no other reason than studio furniture is a niche market. You might contact them to ask for some details to see if it's really worth the price.

Ask about materials and fasteners. Plywood is better/stronger than particle/fiber board. If it's "melamine", that's usually a plastic covered particle board (the melamine is actually the plastic part), but sometimes plywood is melamine coated, too.

If it's shipped in several pre-assembled parts, that's a good sign. (Otherwise it'll probably be the same type of knock-down fasteners you get when you buy assembly-required furniture in boxes.) It's better if they use true joinery (e.g. dado joints) instead of just butt joints.

If it's plywood, be sure it's furniture grade (I'd be surprised if they tried to cut this corner!), and if it's a wood veneer surface, get some details on the strength and durability of the finish.

Ask about the edges, too. The simplest (and cheapest) is a thin strip of "edge banding" that just covers the exposed edges. T moulding is better. You can have rubber or hardwood edges, each has benefits. Again, I'm not sure what Omnirax uses...

If it were me, I'd make my own and spend the extra $1,000 or so on gear. Or get a simple desk at Staples and just add on where necessary. But then again, I'm cheap that way

If you do end up going the DIY route, I have some tutorials and resources on my site at http://plans.theFrankes.com

Good luck!

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Or get a simple desk at Staples and just add on where necessary. But then again, I'm cheap that way

Then again, you could also slap a yardsale hollowcore door on a couple of Home Depot 2x4 sawhorses and get recording.