I have a space heater under my desk but

my computer sits on a "second hand" counter (bought at an discount home supply companyfor $35) that sits on 2x4s. I bought the counter top 2 x 8 feet marked down because of marks, etc., and placed all my printer, scanner, extra computer etc., on 2x4's cut down; i.e., 1 2x4 8 foot long give 3 sides (left,right, and bottom) to securely sit everything on top. I have 3 computers, a printer, a scanner, 2 transcription machines, a calculator, and CDs and a whatchamacallit for holding bills, etc. sitting on it. It's held up for 8 years.

I have a ceramic heater under my desk and it doesn't get hot enough to travel up to the counter.

• Does anyone use a space heater under their desk? Is it safe? sm - j
  • Oil filled heater - Mixed up too
  • I used to use one but - lets fight
  • I have a space heater under my desk but - Backwards typist
  • I use a DeLonghi oil-filled space heater that - I sit right next to. -sm
  • I use a space heater, but my CPU isn't under my desk. - RockinMT
  • It really depends on your setup s/m - MI-MT
  • I use an electric afghan, safer than a heater - Wise.MT
    • I think the warming blanket excellent idea - Danna
    • Good thinking Wise MT about the blanket. I use fingerless gloves for the hands. NM. Thank you for - jj

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Mostly I need the heat to warm up my hands, so I sit my heater on my desk top blowing directly at my keyboard.  The electric blanket is an excellent idea.  I may have to look into that.

One thing to consider, when I first plugged in my space heater, my circuit couldn't handle my CPU, printer, heater, going all at once and I tripped the circuit breaker.  So, I've had to run an extension cord from another outlet on a different circuit for my heater.  My house is pretty old though and needs some wiring work.

Limit use of Electric Space Heaters
Here's a few opinions. There's one way, way, way down at the bottom, too. Hope it helps.

Limit use of freestanding or in-wall space heaters to short periods of time. Electric space heat can cost as much as 25 percent more than fossil fuel heat. Because of the high energy required, the use of extension cords with space heaters is not recommended. Also to avoid fire hazard, electric heater power cords should never be placed under a carpet or rug to be hidden from view.

http://www.lbwl.com/TipsElec.asp

http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2004/02/25/umbra-heat/

I hear Paul Harvey advertise this heater on the radio all the time and I am considering it for our house for this winter. I just wonder how much it might really save us since we use propane to heat and this is an electric heater. It sounds good according to what I have heard and read but obviously I don't really know.

I am in my home office most of the day and thought I could turn our furnace down low as there is no need to heat the entire house when I spend at least 8 hours a day in my office and I am the only one at home during the day. I could just close my office door and use this heater and maybe save some $. We have a 1600 sq. ft. home, one level, and we spent about $1900 for propane last year (including hot water heater and gas cooking stove).  I wore thermals and warm clothes as well as used a snug snack while working but I am always cold and had the thermostat turned up to 72 during the day and 66 at night.

I will post the link for those that might be interested in knowing more bout the heater.

I have an old antique desk that was in my grandfather's accounting office.

If I were going to buy a brand new desk, here are some of the things that I would look for. 

Space on top of the desk - do you want a lot of stuff on the desk, or just room for the monitor and a cup of coffee.  I have a TV and 3 cat beds on my desk, so large works for me.  I would sit at the desk and check the height of the keyboard tray or the positioning of the keyboard.  Is it too high, too low, if you are seated appropriately, will it work for you.  Does the tray pull out and if so does that bring you too far away from the desk itself to see the monitor?  Is the tray adjustable at all?  If you have arms on your chair, will the arms fit below the desk, or will they bump into things.  Measure the space in your office where the desk is going to go and make sure you have those dimensions with you when you look at any other desk.  Is the monitor position exactly centered in front of the keyboard?  It amazes me when it is not.

Check the drawers.  Do they pull out easily and are they sturdy enough to hold all the stuff that inevitably ends up crammed in them.

Is there a designated space for the CPU?  If so, is it easy to get to the back of it in case you need to plug/unplug peripherals?  That part is important - I worked with one of those big computer desks and it was a PAIN to have to change things or plug things in.  What about spaces for the computer speakers (if you have peripheral speakers.)  Do you plug your headphones directly into the computer or do you plug them into the speakers?  Is the plug easy to get to?  I have to unplug my headphones and put them away every night or else they'll get gnawed on, so ease of plugging them in is important to me.

When it is delivered, will they put it together for you either for free or an extra cost?

I am a HUGE fan of online shopping, but I have to say that this is probably one thing that I would not buy online.  For something this large I would want to be able to see it and sit at it to see if it really works for my needs.

Happy shopping!

The cafeteria was a blue haze of cigarette smoke too even though the smokers could smoke at their desks.

The nonsmokers had to go outside to breathe during lunch instead of the smokers going out to smoke.

Now THAT is a change for the better.

gotten to the deep drawer where files go.  He put the frame of the drawer together without putting the bottom of the drawer on.  Fortunately I happened to walking through the room at this point and told him he has to put the bottom in the grooves on one side before he can finishing putting the drawer together.  He tells me that the directions don't say anything about that.  I told him common sense dictates that you have to put the bottom before you put the second side on.   Poor man.  He is very bright, but has zilch common sense.  I'm not very book smart, but have been blessed with my share of common sense and then some, so I guess we made a good couple - LOL. 

...be prepared to do your own searching for the answers. 

MT Desk participants will offer you thinking and researching ideas, but they will not toss you the answers as easily as it is done here or other MT sites.  It is managed very differently than other MT sites and the participants adhere to the "teach them to fish" rule.

MTs, especially those of us that work at home, should be able to be self-reliant in this field and possess decent researching skills. 

As you've all just experienced last week, what happens in the future if both MTStars.com/net just *poof* from web again?  Who will give you the answers, when you are so used to having someone else do the researching for you? 

Surely there's been exchanging of harsh words now and again, but I've seen the same thing happen here on this site and others.  Major difference is, on THIS site, you can't tell who is making the comments, because on this site, you can hide who you are by changing your name for each post you make, whereas on MTDesk, each person has 1 identity for every post they make.  So yes, on MT Desk you WILL see the same folks replying on 'hot' topics as they do not have as much flexibility to name change between posts as is so easily done here.

Clan?  I think not.  I see it as a group of folks helping other MTs hone their researching and thinking skills, helping you to hopefully become a self-reliant MT.

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience with MT Desk.

I love my armoire desk when I am done with work....It closes up so I don't have to look at work at night or on weekends when I don't have to work.  My old desk was all open and every time I would walk past, I would get a guilty feeling because I was not working. 

Also, when company is over, they don't have to look at all my sticky notes.  On the inside of the doors, I stuck some corkboard on them so that I can tack up all kind of notes and a calander, things that I use often.  

The only drawback is it does feel a little cramped when sitting there for more than 8 hours, and my books are on a shelf up a little high, so I have quite a stretch to reach them. 

Overall, I love it.  Hope you find one that works for you. 

Mercedes  -- not sure how others do it, but I have both a desk top and a laptop.  I started on my desk top and moved to a laptop, as I make frequent trips to the Chicago area and could take my work with me.  I use a zip drive for some of the lesser used materials, so as to cut down on my files on the laptop and basically use my desk top as a backup and where I house my invoices, etc.  Just thought this might help.  It has worked for me for almost two years.

I have a table that doubles as my sewing craft table and my work desk, depending on the day.  I set up my laptop for work as such:  laptop used as a cpu and monitor, external keyboard and mouse attached via USB/PS2 adapter cord, placed ergonomically, and footpedal attached through a USB port.  It works pretty well for me, especially once I had everything set up comfortably.  When the work day is done, I can grab the laptop, disconnect all of the wires, and sit on the couch with it and surf the internet or whatever via my secure wireless connection.  I know some people take more advantage of the flexibility of a laptop, but I just cannot type on the integrated keyboard for more than a short while and it is nice to have a comfortable set up for work, and the convenience of my written reference materials next to me on the table. 

I have used it on the road in a hotel with hotkeys, but I still brought my external keyboard with me!

Good luck. I love laptops - so much less bulky than a regular PC. 

keyboard tray and then put my keyboard on the pillow.  It helps my fingers, wrists, back, and shoulders, which helps my production.  I find that I sit back with back against the chair, which helps ease shoulder and back discomfort. 

I use a standard-sized bed pillow and isn't too fat or firm. 

or keyboard tray.  I'm short and not much lap, so having it in my lap doesn't work for me.  I don't have issues of chasing my keyboard when I prop the pillow.

I think a sort of squishy pillow works better.  If you have a fat one I think there is too much bounce in it and then you will be chasing the keyboard.   

I've seen.  It is just a flat piece that slides in and out maybe 4 inches below my desk surface.  My parents bought me an adjustable tray years ago for Christmas.  It has levers that I can raise or lower it or tilt from side to side.  It recently broke and I'm using it in a fixed position now and not able to push it up under my desk when not in use. 

You can check any store like Office Depot or Staples and they have various kinds of keyboard trays.  You can look on-line, but they also have various ones setup in the store.  You can check e-bay too. 

I have tried working sitting up in bed or in a recliner.  I put something heavy on the bed and then prop my footpedal up against it and that works fairly well.  In a recliner I put the pedal on the leg rest and used my heel to push it, which I didn't think worked very well.  It kept slipping and I spent a lot of time messing with it to try to adjust it instead of typing.  I read a few years ago about an MT who had rigged her pedal so it was nailed to the wall.  I don't have a space to do that, plus I don't see how you get close enough to push the pedal if you are in a recliner.