Over the years, we’ve taken a look at a number of different standing desks here at MMORPG. Over that time, I’ve consistently wondered why every desk seemed to be cut from the same, flat mold. Where is the storage?! Uplift Desk finally has the answer with its Craft Table. Yes, a Craft Table, but this desk is useful for far more than just that. Made of solid rubberwood and featuring full sit-stand functionality, this desk offers four pull-out drawers and two hidden compartments composing an entire half of the tabletop, it’s ready for your cables and peripherals, mini-figs and rulebooks, and a whole lot more.
Specifications
- Current Price: $1179 (Uplift Desk)
- Tabletop thickness: 4.6"
- Table width: 60"
- Frame height range: UPLIFT V2 Frame: 28.9" - 54.5" H (with 4.6" table installed)
- UPLIFT V2-Commercial Frame: 26.2" - 52.3" H (with 4.6" table installed; only complies with ANSI/BIFMA height requirement using 1" desktop)
- Travel height: UPLIFT V2 Frame: 25.6" of travel
- UPLIFT V2-Commercial Frame: 26.1" of travel
- Travel speed: 1.57" per second (varies - slowest with maximum load) with soft start/stop actuator motors
- Noise level: 50 decibels during motion
- Frame width: Accommodates desktops from 42" - 80" W
- Lifting capacity: 355 lbs
- Keypad: Advanced one-touch digital memory keypad is available, push and hold up/down keypad is standard
- Adjustable foot-leveling studs: 3/8" adjustment for uneven flooring
- Input: 100-120VAC, 50/60Hz (400W max)
- ANSI/BIFMA X5.5-2014 Durability certification: UPLIFT V2 and UPLIFT V2-Commercial Frame both passed ANSI/BIFMA X5.5-2014 Durability Standard Testing (passed all applicable sections 4.3, 4.4, 4.6, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 15, and 18)
- ANSI/BIFMA G1-2013 Height Standard: UPLIFT V2-Commercial Frame is ANSI/BIFMA G1-2013 Height Standard compliant. Click here to learn what that means
- CAN/CGSB 44.227-2008E certification: Lifting Column, Power Cord, & Control Box - UL/CSA (Canada and U.S.)
Now, I know what you’re thinking: why are you reviewing a craft table? At its core, the Uplift V2 Craft Table is a standing desk. It is a craft table purely because of how the storage is laid out. Do those drawers need to be filled with linens and knitting needles? Absolutely not. Instead, what I see here is a desk that has been years in the making. What I see is one of the absolutely, shockingly rare standing desks that actually offers built-in storage. Raise your hand if you have things related to your computer that need to be stored away. Controllers, wires, other accessories… traditional standing desks force you to buy additional storage for these. Here, it’s built-in like desks of old. Well, perhaps not exactly like those, as you’ll see, but whether it’s called a Craft Table or a Jumping Jehoshaphat makes no difference to me. This desk offers something most others don’t and Uplift deserves credit for being the one to bring it to the table.
The Uplift Craft Table is an impressive beast. When I first reached out to Uplift, it was purely on the basis of storage but once it arrived I found myself even more impressed at how well built it was. Uplift touts “contract-grade quality” on its website and it shows. The tabletop is made of solid rubberwood (and only rubberwood right now) that is dense and heavy. It’s been finished and sealed to be safe from spills and resistant to damage. Despite having oodles of storage, all of the hinges and mechanics are hidden from sight. Even the drawers use cut-out grips instead of hardware to present a beautiful, seamless finish. Like the Solid Wood Series I reviewed in 2019, it’s a genuine piece of high-end furniture.
Assembly was fairly standard for the industry but not without some unique hiccups. Uplift provides detailed instructions, as well as all the hardware you’ll need, but the pre-drilled holes in the frame were slightly too wide to tighten well with the provided screws. It may have just been my sample, but I had to make a stop to Lowes mid-build to pick up some slightly larger fasteners. That aside, no part of it was difficult, but I would definitely recommend having a power drill on hand to speed up the process, as well as a second set of hands to help flip it over when you’re finished. This is a heavy desk, even without the frame attached.
Once it’s built, the desk is rock solid in feel and stability and able to lift an incredible 255 pounds. I opted for the T-frame, which means the legs are mounted in the middle versus closer to the rear of the desk. I also requested the stability-enhancing crossbar which pushes it into “commercial” frame territory. Even without this, Uplift’s standard C-frame without the crossbar is very stable with less lateral wobble than cheaper options I’ve used, so this is purely a preference upgrade to better match my dual purposes: gaming desk and homeschool table.
The desk raises and lowers quietly and smoothly. There is no jerkiness as it first begins or shake as it approaches its minimum and maximum heights. Even with a full glass of water on the desk, I have absolutely no fear adjusting the height; it eases into movement and gently stops to make sure nothing is disturbed on the desk. My version came equipped with the advanced control paddle to adjust height and control other functions. It’s a small upgrade but rather than have to look for a particular button, you simply move the paddle up and down to adjust the height or double-tap to go to a memorized height setting. It can also offer health reminders so you’re not left sitting for too long, a child lock, and min-max height restrictions.
The desk itself is fantastic. The finish is excellent and satiny smooth. Even though the left side opens up into a pair of door double doors, they’re perfectly flush and don’t cause a raised surface that might cause a keyboard to wobble or interfere with a mouse. There is a separation, so you won’t want to write over the crack, but the precision is very good. No part of the desk feels thin, rushed or wobbly. Compared to a normal standing desk built with MDF, you’re easily looking at 2.5x the material or more, but in heavy hardwood. My wife also loves the fresh wood smell it still exudes.
While the left side of the desk offers a pair of larger compartments, the right side has a pair of pull out drawers. They move smoothly on their tracks and, as the lids on the opposite side, are heavy enough that they won’t open by accident. These drawers are also mirrored on the opposite side. Altogether, the Craft Table offers six compartments that make up the entire area of the desk surface. Simply put, there is tons of room.
This design does present some challenges for use in a normal desktop scenario. This isn’t a desk you would want to leave against a wall or place a heavy monitor on. Doing so would block off half the storage or more, defeating much of the reason to buy it in the first place. Instead, it’s a perfect match for laptop gamers or for folks who want to use their desk for multiple purposes.
In our house, this desk has become one of the most versatile pieces of furniture we own. During the day, it’s a homeschool table and several of the drawers hold school supplies. In the evenings and weekends, it’s downstairs office space, allowing me to write articles like this one while still being present for my family. I keep it against the wall, like I would in a normal office, and keep my lesser needed materials in the opposite side drawers. When I need them, I unlock the casters, easily slide them out and get what I need.
This desk is also an exceptionally good fit for tabletop gaming. If you and your friends like to gather for a game of DnD, you’ll find this desk is amazingly good. It has storage for all of your books and materials and can be height adjusted for standing or sitting to keep everyone comfortable and free from restlessness.
And, of course, it’s also great for crafting. But since I’m assuming there aren’t many folks in our current audience big into the knitting scene, think instead of mini-figs. Need to get a good closeup with a magnifying glass to paint the pauldrons on your Ork? Raise it up and get the control you need.
Uplift also sent over a selection of its new accessories to check out. These can be purchased separately and are targeted more at office use with its wider desk selection, but I’ve set them up here to give you a look. In the picture above, you can see the E7 desk lamp with the standing floor base, the bamboo desk organizer (which comes in different colors to match your desk, as well as a couple of other goodies:
We have the desktop air purifier, complete with replaceable HEPA filters. Keeping this nearby is helpful if you have allergies or are sensitive to dust in the air. It’s also powered by USB, so doesn’t take up an extra outlet.
We also have the AC outlet and USB power extension cord power hub. It has a length of five feet and can supply up to 4.8 amps across its four USB ports. It also has a handy smartphone tray to keep your phone propped up while charging.
Next up is the Starling Stool. This one is actually very cool. It’s height-adjustable like a normal chair and cushioned so it’s quite comfortable, but also makes it easy to swap between sitting, standing, and perching. The seat rotates 360-degrees and also tilts 10-degrees in every direction. This has become my wife’s new go-to seat while teaching during the day.
This is only a small selection, but Uplift has many more options. Its store has everything from full-on ergonomic chairs, to power grommets for its desks, to lighting, wire management, privacy and sound absorption panels and more. Obviously, some of that is for office settings, but with so many of us working from home, the office may well be the home. Regardless of where you are, Uplift will almost certainly have an accessory to take your desk experience to the next level.
Final Thoughts
The Craft Table is fantastic, even if you have no intention of using it for crafting. At $1179, it’s clearly not going to be for users on a budget and there are cheaper options even within Uplift’s own catalog. But, if you’re the kind of user who wants real hardwood furniture and also craves the ease and health benefits of a height-adjustable desk, this is a great choice that also happens to be one of the only options out there with built-in storage. It had its quirks in assembly and I wish it came in different types of wood, but Uplift Desk continues to be one of the most impressive manufacturers in the business.
