I purchased 42 inch wide version of this desk as it was one of the nicest looking in that size while also less expensive than others on Amazon.

Assembly -

Took me a little over an hour to complete, but was pretty simple from a series of 3 exploded view panels in the instructions. It seemed to me that so long as you use the right screws or dowels, which are pretty clearly labeled in separate bags and noted in the instructions, it would be hard to put this desk together incorrectly or in more than one way. The instructions say that the only additional tool you need is a Phillips head screwdriver as a small hex key/allen wrench is included in one of the parts bags.

However, driving some of the screws into the base was made easier using our electric drill. You might also want to have a flathead screwdriver on hand for a certain step of the process, but I got by without one.

Other reviewers mention that holes were missing, but I did not find any. Most of the major part attachments were done with bolts, not screws, and pilot holes were predrilled for the joins that required screws (because screws generally actually bite into wood, so if you drilled a full hole they'd have nothing to grip onto.)

Usage -

The desk is quite spacious (again, I am using the 42 inch version) and feels pretty solid considering that it is adjustable in angle and it has two legs, not four. I personally like that it is designed with two legs, as that means that if I need to I can tilt it to the about 90 degree mark and take up less space when not in use. In this "folded" position having two legs also means that the table is very easy to carry between rooms as you can carry it by the uppermost crossbar. I haven't weighed the desk, but it feels like it's around 30-35 pounds, perhaps a little more.

If you plan on using the desk for technical drafting, there are no bumps or anything else that might interfere with the use of a T-square along the sides of the desk. I would advise against using the pencil bar at the front of the desk for aligning a sheet of paper horizontally with reliable accuracy, because the pencil bar does not sit at a perfect horizontal along its entire length when compared against my 42 inch T-square.

Angle adjustment: The desk is, again, stable when the adjustment knobs are just slightly snug and the table adjusts in angle easily enough but with enough friction that it doesn't seem like it will swing free if you have a little bit of weight on it during the adjustment. Perhaps it might have been nice to have the pins that sprung into the holes along the metal wheels. As it is the only real way to tell if you're absolutely in one of the angle holes is if the knobs spin down all the way. If you can't tell by the picture, those holes are what determine what angles the desk can be adjusted to with the most stability. You could probably tighten down the knobs halfway between those holes, but you might damage or dent the metal at that point (I haven't tried, and the angles available seem fine.)

Comment on height of the desk: I am 6 feet tall, and when the table angle is flat the desk is perhaps an inch or two below the height of my waistline. This means that for me it should be comfortable enough to use as a standing desk for the occasional project that requires that. The crossbars at the base of the desk serve as a sort of foot rest, which is nice.

Build quality -

The coloring of the wood stain seems even, though one or two corners look like they might have been made with darker wood or with a little extra stain (not very noticeable. All of the edges seem straight and well sanded. And, for the third time, the desk feels solid when I put some of my weight on it.

Overall -

I think I will very much enjoy using this desk for my Industrial Design projects as well as my personal projects. I have envied the desks on campus with their ample workspace, and now I have one of my own that looks very nice and didn't cost a fortune compared to the other options I've seen on Amazon and a nearby art store's website.

This desk is beautiful. I absolutely love it. I bought the 42" wide version and it is the perfect size. I was originally going to buy the 36" size, and I am glad I didn't, it would have been too small limiting the types and size of projects I could work on and not the size drafting table I am used to working on. If you have the space, go for the 42" size, those 6" make all the difference. Amazing quality for the price. I was eyeing a similiar one on RH and it was just too expensive. I hemmed and hawed over ordering this one because of the mixed reviews, but after reading about the excellent customer service the manufacturer gave anyone with problems, I ordered it. I am so glad I did. I should have ordered it years ago when I first saw it on Amazon.com. It was easy to put together, arrived in perfect confition and all parts were there, clearly labeled. For those who say in their reviews that the holes are not drilled all the way through, they are not supposed to be - the screws need some wood to grab onto when putting the desk together. Other people said it was too low to use when tilted all the way down - this is a drafting table, not an easel. If you need an easel to be able to work on a vertical surface, you have to buy an easel, which is a different animal all together. Makes me wonder if those people ever used, worked on or owned a drafting table before. All in all a great purchase. I am thrilled and the desk is beautiful, real wood, not veneer or plastic laminate like some reviews said. This desk will look great in any room in the house. I am planning on buying a side tray that attaches to the desk for my art supplies and a clamp on lamp. I highly recommend this drafting table- go ahead and buy it, you will be glad you did. Love, love, love.

Easy to assemble and looks good so far

The media could not be loaded. I bought this table to save my neck and back while doing puzzles. Given the $150 price tag, I'm pretty impressed. Many of the puzzle boards I've shopped are around the same price. It's nice to have a good-looking piece of furniture specifically designated for puzzle purposes.

I read all of the reviews prior to buying and was worried about damaged and shotty parts. It took my skilled husband about 45 minutes to assemble it and he stated that all parts and screws were decent and fit together as they should. I'll let you watch the video for a full visual description of moving parts. In addition, I've outlined the pros and cons.

Pros:
Huge work surface, ideal for puzzles, drawing, and overall creativity.
Nice wood color (but not rustic by any means)
Easy to assemble
Top tilts to many different heights
Pencil tray works well and also keeps projects from sliding down angled table
When angled, can use with table height chair. When flat, standing or high stool would work. Adjustable chair: ideal.
Attractive
Inexpensive

Cons:
Pretty unstable and wobbly when lying flat. (I'd be disappointed if I bought it to do work on a flat surface)
It's not "rustic" - it's got a slick surface with a red oak look.
Packaging was gouged with holes in it upon arrival (we were lucky table was undamaged)
Holes allowing table to adjust height are large, causing the wobble on the sides. (Probably a cheap fix out there...)
It requires guesswork when securing the peg/screw to set the right tilt - you can't see the hole you're going for.
Unless you're super short, it doesn't seem feasible to be able to work on it while standing. Tall stool would work for that.

NOTE: My husband does woodwork and builds furniture as a hobby. His opinion? "It only has 2 legs and a lightweight base - it's going to wobble if you try to use it lying flat. It's much more secure at a tilt. What do you expect for $150? It's pretty good bang for your buck...and if you're crafty you can definitely insert a wedge or material to lessen the wobble."

Hope this helps! We'd definitely buy it again.

Great drafting table! I've had it for almost 3 years now and it's really beautiful and pretty sturdy. It's good for lightweight things. I wouldn't expect to be working on a 100 pound sculpture on it, but for drawing and painting it works great. I put a clear drop cloth on top when I paint so I don't get water on it. My boyfriend (well, ex now) put it together, so I can't really attest to ease of assembly, but he said it was pretty easy and he enjoyed putting it together. I really am not a fan of assembling things...just think about a million other things I would rather be doing while I'm doing it, so it's hard for me to say focused and I get frustrated and impatient, so I'm pretty sure if it was me I wouldn't be thrilled about putting it together. But some people love that stuff and he did. If you do, you will feel very fulfilled and satisfied with the end result. The table is really beautiful and great quality for the price. I ordered this one first, for my home studio, then loved it so much I ordered the smaller one a month or so later for my professional studio. Both were packaged very well and came in excellent condition. Highly recommend! I rarely write reviews so this says a lot!