Autonomous L shaped desk review

I was a bit worried about getting this desk, given that its so much less expensive than other L-shaped desks for other brands, I wasn't sure if the quality would be there, so I wanted to record my thoughts.

Good:

1. Stability: I was pretty worried about stability issues given some ratings I'd seen online. I'm 6'4'' and need to bring it up just short of the max height to use it while standing. However I pulled the trigger given that I'd expect L shaped desks to be more stable than a normal desk (which is what most reviews measure) and I wasn't disappointed. I haven't had any issues with wobbliness or anything even when I lean on it.

2. Packaging: This is bar none the hardest package I've ever opened. Its ridiculous but that also means its very secure and hard to damage.

3. Shipping: I got it ~1 week after I ordered it even though its 3 separate packages all of which are difficult for a single person to carry.

4. Surface material: I've been putting tools and shit on top of it constantly while assembling it, I accidentally dropped an exacto knife from a few inches onto the surface, thus far no damage. Also I can write on it with dry erase and it comes off nicely.

5. Price: ~$750 compared to $1200+ is a ridiculously good deal for a desk of this size and complexity.

Bad:

1. Assembly: This was a huge pain to assemble and I don't think there's any way a single person could do it. Also the assembly instructions are split across 1 leaflet, a 1 full sized piece of paper and 1 youtube video, each of which mostly agree but there are some major differences. I'm going try to put some protips for the assembly below because I don't think it should be so complicated but its always going to be a bit of a pain.

I've seen some reviews where people constructed the desk and it ended up being lopsided or the 2 surfaces don't end up at the same level where they meet. It should be noted that there is a kind of bracket included with the product (this is what the single page of instruction is for) that almost entirely fixes that issue. However its not mentioned in the main instructions so if you only add it in at the end (once you realize that this one random piece is thus far unused) once everything is locked in, it won't be able to fix the problem unless you undo and redo affixing the surface to the frame. I think this piece may be new since it looks like it was added on (separate installation instructions) and its not mentioned in the youtube video or leaflet.

Overall:

I'm quite happy with the purchase and think almost anyone getting an L shaped desk should get this instead of one that costs 1.5x as much or more.

Things I learned assembling it:

1. construct the whole frame (including those brackets that go between the short and long pannels) first (upside down), then flip it right side up, and put the surfaces on one at a time. (This is how its more or less shown in the video, however the leaflet says to construct it ALL upside down [surface too] and then flip it without tearing out screws and warping stuff which I don't think is actually possible without like a large group of perfectly coordinated people). Getting to a fully constructed frame (right side up) is fairly straightforward though make sure you don't forget those extra brackets that aren't shown in the youtube video or leaflet before moving on.

2. After the frame is constructed and flipped right side up is the worst part, lining up the holes on the surface so you can drill everything (unless you did it upside down). I basically measured the distance first, and then extended the frame to approximately the correct size, placed the surface on top, then I laid underneath and pushed up and to the side on the surface and moved it millimeter by millimeter until I lined up the 3 screws closest to the middle leg. Then I screwed those in, then I adjust the length so I could line up the other 3 screws. I did this by laying in between the 2 legs and pushing apart with my legs and arms bit by bit. Once the 6 screws are in, I just drilled wherever for the other 4 screws on the edge. The holes for the 4 screws on each edge are like pin pricks so i think they are more of a guide and if you miss by a little its no big deal. Note its important that the first screws you do are the ones closest to the central leg, this lets you move the outer part of the frame indepedent of the surface so you can align things. If you screw in the outer screws first, you will have to move the surface and part of the frame together in order to line things up, which will be much harder.

3. If you loosen the bolts that let you increase the length of the frame (necessary for point 2), the structure sags a little, if you screw stuff into the frame when its saggy then you will get a lopsided desk. Make sure those bolts are tight when you are screwing anything in.

4. If you shift the desk surface around to align it with the frame, you can easily dislodge the rubber guards which can make the desk lopsided. This is another complication for point 2.

5)make sure you have planned out the orientation of the desk. The instructions only show how to assemble it so the short side and long side are oriented like a 'J' rather than like an 'L' but it can be put together either way if you plan ahead. You basically just have to make sure the holes that let you attach the one part of the frame to the other are pointing the correct direction (the large frame piece just needs to be rotated 180 degrees), pretty much everything else is double sided.

6. check to make sure the wires for the legs can reach the correct port for the power box before screwing in the wire guide. If you do screw the power box in backwards the wire for the leg for the shorter side won't reach and you'll have to redo things.

7. make sure you have 2 people for the part where you flip the frame and for when you place the large surface on the frame. The other steps can be done solo but those probably can't.

8. the diagram in the leaflet wants you to mount the control panel to the short edge, but it seems like that always causes an issue. Either that side's leg wire has trouble reaching the power box or the control panel's wire will. Instead I think you should mount the control panel on the long side, there are holes for both cases in both orientations and its easy enough to move it from one place to another if you mess up at first.