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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: warealforce on Wed, 06 April 2011, 23:55:18

Title: keyboard tray
Post by: warealforce on Wed, 06 April 2011, 23:55:18

Does any of you use any keyboard tray?  Any recommendations on what to get?

Title: keyboard tray
Post by: godofdeath on Thu, 07 April 2011, 00:03:37

you mean that thing that usually comes with the desk?

Title: keyboard tray
Post by: warealforce on Thu, 07 April 2011, 00:10:04

:biggrin: I mean something that hopefully works better than that.  Like Humanscale.

Title: keyboard tray
Post by: nocturn4l3030 on Thu, 07 April 2011, 21:37:22

if you have a wooden desk, and you don't mind drilling holes, there's a TON of options on the internet if you just google it

if you're using a glass desk like me.. the only option i had (besides some really crappy keyboard trays) is to go to IKEA and get the Galant Table (it's on google / their website too).  It's adjustable in height and have different colors to match.  I pretty much just unscrewed the one that came with my desk and put it underneath the glass one.  It works perfectly for me

Title: keyboard tray
Post by: Lpb45 on Thu, 07 April 2011, 21:38:37

I like just having mine flat on my desk, guess im weird

Title: keyboard tray
Post by: bionicroach on Thu, 07 April 2011, 21:52:46

If budget was no concern, I'd go with an adjustable desk like these...

AdjusTables (http://details-worktools.com/products/adjustables/)

GeekDesk (http://www.geekdesk.com/)

...coupled with a monitor arm:

ErgoTron (http://www.ergotron.com/Products/DeskMounts/tabid/71/Default.aspx)

That way you can get the desk at the right height for keyboarding / mousing and your monitor at a comfortable eye level.

But, since I'm poor, I built my own keyboard tray using heavy duty drawer slides like these (props to Ripster for the link):

Lee Valley Slides (http://www.leevalley.com/us/hardware/page.aspx?cat=3,43614&p=43616)

Quality drawer slides are strong enough that you can use a hefty piece of plywood that's wide enough for all your gear and won't wobble like crappy plastic trays do.  I made my tray 32" wide and 18" deep, then covered the surface with a giant Ripper XXL mousepad cut to fit.  Works great.

I guess I tend to lean on the desk fairly hard, but I never have found an arm-mounted ergo tray that wasn't wobbly and fiddly compared to a good solid drawer-slide tray.  If you don't need adjustments like negative tilt, etc, then I really don't think the arm-mounted trays are a worthwhile investment.

Title: keyboard tray
Post by: pitashen on Thu, 07 April 2011, 23:02:19

+ 1 to the Galant adjustable table.
For keyboard tray, anyone of those adjustable arm type should do decent job.

Title: keyboard tray
Post by: vun on Fri, 08 April 2011, 01:19:00

Quote from: Lpb45;326488

I like just having mine flat on my desk, guess im weird

Me too, I can't stand keyboard trays.
Adjustable desks on the other hand... In my opinion way better than a keyboard tray. Sadly my desk isn't adjustable, that was a bit too expensive when I bought it. Luckily the manufacturer is located a 10 minute drive from here, so I can easily get them retrofitted if I want to.

Title: keyboard tray
Post by: What is X? on Fri, 08 April 2011, 06:03:23

I have my keyboard on my desk and my mouse on the keyboard tray. I'm weird like that

Title: keyboard tray
Post by: Megaweapon on Sun, 10 April 2011, 00:08:05

Mead-Hatcher 32030 (http://www.martinyale.com/product_details.aspx?SKU=Mead Hatcher 22030 &ReturnURL=%2fproduct_listing.aspx%3fCategory%3de121b58e-ab5e-4b8a-b7cd-b64ab2b28a9a%26page%3d1%26pagesize%3d10%26text%3d%26EPCString1%3d%26EPCString2%3d%26EPCString3%3d)

I looked at pretty much every keyboard tray on the internet and thought this one was the widest available because the spec says 33 3/8".  It turns out that measurement is external dimension.  The tray itself is a mere 29 3/4" and unless you create an insert (like I did) you'll lose another 2" due to the little knobs.

New plan:  Go tenkeyless.

Title: keyboard tray
Post by: rustybarnacle on Sun, 10 April 2011, 01:45:28

As previously stated, the IKEA galant is the answer for me.  The legs are height adjustable, so i lowered the desk to about 27", which gives me a good keyboard height, and then got a stand fo rmy monitor, so it's up high enough that i look at it straight on.  Do i use a keyboard tray? no.  But the desk accomplishes the same thing.  I can even stash my keyboard under the monitor stand to stow it if need be.

Title: keyboard tray
Post by: Nautilus on Sun, 10 April 2011, 01:59:42

Quote from: Lpb45;326488

I like just having mine flat on my desk, guess im weird

I'm the same way. My desk actually has a tray but I just use it for a place to put my wireless mouse and stereo remote. XD

Title: Re: keyboard tray
Post by: curiousjorge on Wed, 29 May 2013, 02:15:55

Sorry to bump such an old post but has anyone found a way to mount a keyboard tray to a glass desk? I found this forum by googling 'keyboard tray for glass desk'

I am using the 3M sit stand keyboard tray. Can't fit my wood desk into my new apartment, its huuggge.

Title: Re: keyboard tray
Post by: curiousjorge on Wed, 29 May 2013, 12:04:54

Found this btw, www.gds-products.com, going to buy it tomorrow unless I find a better method by then.