KIDO Desk FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

A collection of questions we often receive from customers

Before Purchase

Q. Do I have to assemble the desk myself?

A. Yes. Outside Japan, the desk is delivered for self-assembly. Assemble it by following the included Assembly Instructions exactly (also available as a PDF on the Manuals (PDF) page). Once the desk is assembled and in place, you connect the power and perform the initial setup yourself (such as initializing the lifting system and pairing the app).

Q. Can I order a custom size?

A. Yes. In addition to the standard size (depth 74 cm (29.1 in) × width 160 cm (63 in)), custom sizes are available within the following ranges.

Part	Maximum size
Front tabletop depth	60 cm (23.6 in)
Rear tabletop depth	40 cm (15.7 in)
Overall desk maximum depth	90 cm (35.4 in)
Tabletop maximum width	180 cm (70.9 in)

Note: Even if the tabletop is made wider, the distance between the legs stays the same as the standard size. The width of the shelf section cannot be widened to match the tabletop. Contact us for details.

Q. Which woods can I choose from?

A. You can choose from the following two types.

Wood	Characteristics	Part color
Monkeypod	Dynamic grain with strong contrast between light and dark	Black
White ash	Bright, fresh light-colored wood with straight grain	White

Because it is natural wood, the color and grain pattern differ from one piece to the next. This is the unique character of natural wood.

Q. Which is better, oil finish or urethane finish?

A. Choose according to your preference and how you use the desk.

	Oil finish	Urethane finish
Feel	Soft, natural feel of real wood	Smooth, sleek feel
Care	Requires regular oil maintenance (about once every 6–12 months)	Just wipe with a soft cloth
Scratches	Can be repaired by sanding and applying oil	Scratches are difficult to repair
Water resistance	Liquids soak in easily, so wipe up spills immediately	Resistant to water and stains
Best for	People who enjoy “growing” the wood over time	People who want less maintenance

Q. How heavy is the desk? How much weight can the tabletops hold?

A. The desk weighs approx. 80 kg (176 lb) in the standard size. The load capacity is 80 kg (176 lb) for the front tabletop and 80 kg (176 lb) for the rear tabletop (up to 160 kg (353 lb) for the entire desk). This is more than enough for normal office use with monitors, a computer, documents and so on.

Q. What power supply is required?

A. The control box differs by region. Check the rating label on your control box.

Region	Power supply	Control box certification
Europe / Australia	230 V AC, 50 Hz	EN 60335-1, EN 13849-1
North America	120 V AC, 60 Hz	UL 962
Japan	100 V AC, 50/60 Hz	PSE

These certifications apply to the LINAK control box (CBD6S), a component of the desk, not to the desk as a whole. Standby power consumption is only 0.1 W.

Q. How loud is it?

A. 55 dB(A) or less. This is about the level of ambient sound in a quiet office. However, it is not silent.

Using the Desk

Q. Why are there two tabletops?

A. KIDO Desk has a unique structure with “dual tabletops that move independently.” The front tabletop and the rear tabletop each move up and down independently, which offers the following benefits:

Raising the rear tabletop reveals a large hidden storage shelf. You can store items you do not want on the desk, such as the computer or power strip.
You can also raise only the front tabletop to switch to standing work.
All cables can be managed centrally in the cable-management hub at the back of the shelf.

Q. How many desk panels are there?

A. There are two: one for the front tabletop and one for the rear tabletop. Each desk panel operates only its own tabletop.

Q. Can I use the desk without a smartphone?

A. Yes, basic raising and lowering works without a smartphone. Simply tilt the paddle on the desk panel (DPI1C) to raise or lower the tabletop.

However, the following features are set up using the Desk Connect app (free):

Key lock
Automatic drive
Reminders
Changing the desk name
Deleting individual favorite positions

Q. Is the app paid?

A. No, it is free. Search for “Desk Connect” in the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android) to download it.

Q. How can I switch quickly between sitting and standing?

A. Favorite positions + automatic drive are convenient.

Save the heights you use most often (sitting and standing) as favorite positions.
Enable automatic drive in the Desk Connect app.
Simply double-tap the paddle up or down, and the desk automatically moves to the nearest favorite position.

Q. Is it safe to use with children around?

A. KIDO Desk has safety features, but households with children must take particular care.

This product has the following three pinch points. Trapping fingers, hands or legs in them can cause serious injuries such as broken bones:

Between the front tabletop and the rear tabletop (gap of approx. 2.5 cm (1 in) — wide enough for a child’s fingers)
Between the underside of the storage shelf and the floor (the rear tabletop and the shelf move down as one unit)
Between the underside of the front tabletop (including the drawer) and the chair or the user’s legs

In households with children, always take the following measures:

Enable the key lock — prevents children from operating the desk by accident
Set a height limit (lower limit) — limits the lowest height so that children’s legs cannot get between the shelf and the floor (rear tabletop) or between the drawer and the chair (front tabletop)
Teach children about the dangers of the desk — explain that it is “a tool, not a toy”
Do not raise or lower the desk when children are near it

Important: Collision detection (PIEZO) is a supplementary safety feature. It may not detect soft objects (including the human body). Never rely on PIEZO for safety.

Q. What is initialization, and when is it needed?

A. Initialization is an operation that lets the lifting system learn the position of the desk. It is required in the following cases:

When you switch on the power for the first time
After a power outage or after the desk has been unplugged for a long time
After moving the desk

Press and hold the paddle “down” → release it at the lowest position → within 10 seconds, press and hold “down” again → when the desk moves down slightly, then up 5 mm (0.2 in) and stops, initialization is complete. Do this once on each desk panel. For details, see the Quick Start Guide or the Troubleshooting guide.

Q. How long can I raise and lower the desk continuously?

A. To protect the motors, after a maximum of 1 minute of continuous operation, a rest of at least 9 minutes is required (10% duty cycle). However, normal switching between sitting and standing (each movement takes from a few seconds to about 10 seconds) will rarely reach this limit.

Care and Maintenance

Q. How do I clean the tabletop?

A. It depends on the type of finish.

Oil finish: Wipe with a dry soft cloth or a well-wrung damp cloth. Regular oil maintenance is required.
Urethane finish: Simply wipe with a soft cloth. For stubborn dirt, use a diluted neutral detergent.

For details, see the Wood Care Guide.

Q. How do I clean the desk panel?

A. Wipe it with a soft, damp cloth. Do not spray cleaning agents directly on it. Do not use bleach, chlorine-based cleaners or hand sanitizer gel.

Q. Cracks or warping have appeared in the tabletop. Is it defective?

A. It is not defective. Natural wood is a living material that expands and contracts slightly with changes in temperature and humidity. Minor warping and cracks caused by this are a natural characteristic of solid wood. You can reduce them by avoiding direct sunlight and direct air from air conditioners, and by keeping the room humidity at a moderate level.

Warranty and Repairs

Q. How long is the warranty?

A. The warranty has the following three tiers.

Coverage	Warranty period
Electrical parts (desk panels, control boxes)	1 year from the date of delivery
Mechanical and moving parts (drawer, lifting mechanism)	2 years from the date of delivery
Structure (frame strength and structure)	3 years from the date of delivery

Note: For details, see the Warranty.

Q. Who should I contact if the desk breaks down?

A. Please contact Shimizu Zaimokuten. We handle all repairs and replacements, including those of LINAK parts. You do not need to contact LINAK directly.

Website: https://shimizuzaimokuten.com/
Email: [email protected]

Q. Can I repair or disassemble the desk myself?

A. No. Never disassemble the control boxes, desk panels or lifting columns. This can cause malfunctions or electric shock. In addition, disassembly voids the warranty.

Q. How do I dispose of the desk when I no longer need it?

A. This product contains electronic components. Separate the electrical parts (control boxes, desk panels, lifting columns, cables) from the wooden parts and dispose of them in accordance with the laws and rules of your area.