Hydraulic Desk

What is a hydraulic desk?

 A hydraulic desk is simply a type of adjustable desk, allowing you to sit or stand while you undertake your work. The operating height can be changed via hydraulics, this is actually similar to the hydraulic pistons in a car.

There are two pistons fitted to your desk, these are full of hydraulic fluid that is under pressure. By operating a lever you can adjust the pressurization of liquid inside the piston. The change in pressure pushes the piston out or allows it to close. This effectively makes your desk rise or fall.

The fact that both pistons are carefully balanced means that the pressure in both is the same, ensuring your desk moves up and down smoothly.

The amount of hydraulic pistons will vary with the style of the desk. It is normal for a single-leg desk to have just one piston. In contrast, a four-leg desk may have two, or even four hydraulic pistons. The number fitted is designed to ensure the up and down motion remains smooth at all times.

How Does The hydraulic desk work?

Hydraulic desks use pressurized hydraulic fluid inside sealed pistons. It is also possible to use pressurized air. The sealed pistons have a valve fitted that allows air to be added or removed, depending on what you do with the lever on the desk.

When you operate the lever and increase the amount of air in the space the hydraulic fluid needs to find somewhere to expand to. It does this by pushing the piston up. The process allows for very smooth movement of the piston and, therefore, the desk.

In contrast, release the air and the piston will sink, smoothly lowering the height of your desk.

You don’t see any of this happening, all you have to do is pump the lever to change the pressure and move the desk.

Can I sit or stand at a hydraulic desk?

You can actually do both, that is the main purpose of a hydraulic desk. Professionals are recognizing that it is not beneficial to be sat all day at the same desk. Sitting slows your metabolism, reducing the calorific consumption of the human body and, in all probability, increasing the likelihood of weight gain.

However, there are times when tasks require you to be sat down, especially if they involve close detail work. In this scenario, you are better off sitting at your desk.

That is why hydraulic desks are designed to move up and down effortlessly. You can simply choose the height that suits the task you need to get done.

Is it a good idea to spend all day at a standing desk?

Health professionals recommend standing over sitting because it improves circulation and boosts your metabolism. However, standing all day can also encourage blood to the lower half of your body. This increases the risk of clots and varicose veins.

That’s why it is important to have a hydraulic desk. It can be moved up and down as needed, allowing you to sit for periods and stand as and when desired or required. Crucially, this process is controlled completely by you, ensuring you do what is best for your body.

Naturally, you will also find that when you first start using a standing desk it is surprisingly tiring to stand all day. A hydraulic desk can be lowered, ensuring you can sit to rest your legs.

Is a hydraulic desk beneficial for your health?

A hydraulic desk allows you to stand which has been shown to increase productivity. It boosts your metabolism and this can help to avoid varicose veins and weight gain. Standing while working has also been shown to improve focus and productivity.

It also allows blood sugar levels to return to normal faster after eating, reducing the risk of insulin sensitivity and diabetes.

Standing at a hydraulic desk can also improve posture and reduce back pain, especially when combined with simple exercises and a focus on posture. In the process, it will tone your muscles, boost your energy levels, and can even make you feel more positive.  

What’s the maximum height of a hydraulic desk?

Hydraulic desks can be moved up and down easily, allowing virtually anyone to sit or stand at one. The Trandesk hydraulic desk has a maximum height of 50 inches, which is a little over four feet. They can also go as low as 23 inches, just under two feet.

That makes then a comfortable option for anyone up to six feet two inches tall, effectively still allowing your elbows to be level with the keyboard.

All Trandesks hydraulic desks are easy to move up and down, with or without your equipment on.

How much weight can A hydraulic desk support?

The Trandesk hydraulic desk is designed to support as much as 50kg. This isn’t enough for you to sit on the desk. But, it will support your keyboard, computer, monitor, and even a secondary computer, such as a laptop.

You shouldn’t have any issue with the desk supporting normal equipment and still moving up and efficiently and effectively. All desks are rigorously tested to ensure they can support the weight and the hydraulic mechanism continues to work smoothly for a minimum of 30,0000 times.

In short, purchase a Trandesk hydraulic desk and you will have peace of mind. It is designed to support the weight of your work. You should note that the average desk only needs to support  7kg as that is the average weight of the tech on it.

How easy is it to adjust a hydraulic desk?

Your standing hydraulic desk should always be set to elbow height. This helps to ensure you have correct posture and reduce back pain.

The hydraulic desk is adjusted by the use of a lever. This increases or decreases the air in the piston and effectively the hydraulic pressure. The result is the desk rises or falls according to need.

The process is very smooth and allows you to adjust your hydraulic desk at any time, even if you have items on the desk.

Don’t forget, your screen should also be at eye level and your wrists straight and parallel to the surface of your desk.

Can I leave my stuff on the hydraulic desk while lifting or lowering it?

All Trandesk hydraulic standing desks are designed to operate smoothly even if the desk is under full load. This means the desk will always be capable of moving up and down with its maximum weight allowance.

In fact, all Trandesk hydraulic desks are tested 30,000 times to ensure the up and down motion will remain smooth and won’t fail. Providing you adhere to the guidelines regarding weight you can even leave your cup of coffee on the desk as you make it move up or down.

Does the hydraulic desk need any maintenance?

Hydraulic desks are very easy to look after. The hydraulic mechanism is a sealed unit and should never be touched unless it is by a professional. These units are connected by piping to the lever which allows the air pressure to be changed, making the desk rise or fall.

These desks are thoroughly tested before leaving the factory, no maintenance is required for them to continue working. However, keeping them clean is a sensible precaution.  A damp cloth over the surface of the desk and the moving parts makes a big difference. 

Do I need to plug a hydraulic desk into the power supply?

The hydraulic desk relies on hydraulic fluid within a sealed compartment. Fluid pressure is defined the amount of air it has. Air distribution can be managed and maintained by the supplied lever. The system is entirely manual and doesn’t rely on an electrical supply.

The advantage of this is that the desk can be positioned anywhere, a power supply is not needed. This is also beneficial if there is a power cut.

Is the hydraulic desk noisy when adjusting the height?

The hydraulic desk system is very quiet, quieter than an electric motor. This is large because it uses air to adjust the pressure and move the desk. Without the need for a motor or any other moving parts, the system is simple and virtually soundless.

It is also an excellent way of ensuring height is maintained at all times, making the desk safe and secure to use in all conditions.

Are there any common issues with hydraulic desks to be aware of?

Hydraulic desks rarely suffer an issue as the mechanisms are simple and there are very few parts that can break or fail. This is backed by Trandesk as every desk is tested to withstand issues at least 30,000 times.

Of course, you can still buy one that is too small or too big. But, that isn’t an issue with the hydraulic desk, it is merely a selection problem.

Why should I purchase a hydraulic desk instead of making my own?

There are plenty of tutorials online to help you make your own hydraulic desk, allowing you to sit or stand at need.

However, copying these designs can be time-consuming and surprisingly costly. Equally, unless you are a professional carpenter you will find it difficult to get the perfect finish. In other words, it is faster and cheaper to purchase a ready-made hydraulic desk.

Is the hydraulic desk available in a variety of options and sizes?

The hydraulic desk comes in a variety of sizes and shapes. You can choose between a straight desk, ‘L’-shaped, or even a smaller ‘U’ design. Sizes range from not much bigger than your laptop to a huge desk.

The bigger the desk the more hydraulic pistons it will have to support the weight and ensure smooth operation.  

Simply look at the Trandesk offering and select the size desk that best fits your needs. 

Can I move the hydraulic desk around my office easily?

There are different types of hydraulic desks offered by Trandesk. Some of the offerings have wheels which make it very easy to slider them around the office and change location daily.

Others are larger and heavier but can still be carried across the room. In some instances, this will need two people to move the desk.

The bottom line is that it can be easily done although most people tend to leave their desk in one position once it has been created.

Are there any negative side-effects to standing all day?

It has been noted that first-time users will feel tired when first using a stand-up desk. This is simply because you are adjusting to standing all day. In a short space of time, this will no longer be an issue.

Other research suggests an increased risk of blood clots is possible when standing all day as your blood will spend longer in your legs. This can be avoided by performing simple excises while standing.

Is a hydraulic desk better than an electric one?

This is actually a personal preference. Hydraulic desks are quieter and can be more powerful. They also don’t need an electrical hook-up to work which makes it easier to position them anywhere in the house or office.

But, electric desks can be effortless to move up and down, potentially making them a better choice if you regularly change the height of your desk.

Electric desks are often rated to support more weight than a hydraulic desk. However, this isn’t usually an issue when considering what you will be putting on the desk.

Who do I contact if I have a problem with my hydraulic desk?

Trandesk has a dedicated team waiting to provide individualized support. Contact is possible via telephone or email and will get a speedy response.

Because the Trandesk hydraulic desk is rigorously tested it is rare for customers to have an issue. But, if you do you will find the customer support makes the entire purchase worthwhile. Knowing this also gives a certain level of confidence in your purchase.