Computer Furniture Finished...Finally!

[Celeron_Phreak]

Many of you know that I've built a computer desk of my own. It's lasted me a good three - four years now, all made from scrap wood, and a few improvements here and there. I've replaced the desktop surface this year to something that is more stable and doesn't bow, as well as gave it a nice Red Maple "finish". I'm quite proud of this desk. It's extremely sturdy, and has a very large keyboard tray, measuring 31" x 17.5", which uses ball bearing drawer rails, which can hold up to 80 lbs in weight. More than enough to allow some leaning on with my elbow when reading something extensive.

Here was my desk in 2001, when I first built it.
http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/My%20Room%20in%202001/Computer%20Center1.JPG

It was originally a corner desk, but the sides from it are still holding strong.


In 2003, it was changed from a corner desk to a straight desk with a keyboard tray, which used wheel drawer rails for the keyboard tray, which was 31" x 14".
http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/my%20room%20as%20of%209-2-03/maincomp.JPG


In 2004, a leg to the right of the keyboard tray was added, to help better support the top of the desk. Stopping it from bowing downward as much. I also added a long shelf board to use as a media shelf, which went from the desk to the CD cabinet, which I also built.
http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/My%20Room%20as%20of%208-17-04/main_computer.JPG

The media shelf (2004):
http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/My%20Room%20as%20of%208-17-04/media_shelf.JPG

The CD cabinet (2004):
http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/P1010031.JPG


Near the end of 2004, the keyboard tray broke on me. I was leaning on it and one of the rails couldn't take it, and bent. This also caused the keyboard tray to be trashed. This is when I installed the new tray with ball bearing rails and the 17.5" deep tray.
http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Comp%20Mods/New%20Keyboard%20Tray/DSCI0006.JPG

http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Comp%20Mods/New%20Keyboard%20Tray/DSCI0007.JPG

[Celeron_Phreak]

At the beginning of 2005, I added the clear Lexan lockable door to the CD cabinet:
http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Comp%20Mods/CD%20Shelf/CD%20Shelf/Shelf2.JPG

In the fall of 2005, the desk got a new top, and a few structural improvements. Going from this:
http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/Computer%20Desktop%20-%209-2-05/Picture%20001.jpg

http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/Computer%20Desktop%20-%209-2-05/Picture%20004.jpg

http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/Computer%20Desktop%20-%209-2-05/Picture%20009.jpg


To this:
http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/Computer%20Desktop%20-%209-2-05/Picture%20012.jpg

http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/Computer%20Desktop%20-%209-2-05/Picture%20015.jpg

http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/Computer%20Desktop%20-%209-2-05/Picture%20026.jpg

[Celeron_Phreak]

http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/Computer%20Desktop%20-%209-2-05/Picture%20025.jpg

This new desk top does not bow at all, and is made of two sheets of 3/4" particle board - twice as thick as the old top.


December 2005 - I ordered four rolls of Red Maple vinyl laminate from www.partsexpress.com to apply to my desk, media shelf, and speaker cabinet, plus one new addition. Here is the final product:
http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/Computer%20Area%20-%2012-10-05/Picture%20013.jpg

Yes that is the same shelf board I had from the start.

A few shots of the desk and CD cabinet. The Lian-Li V1000B goes very well with red maple, I think.
http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/Computer%20Area%20-%2012-10-05/Picture%20075.jpg

http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/Computer%20Area%20-%2012-10-05/Picture%20079.jpg

http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/Computer%20Area%20-%2012-10-05/Picture%20082.jpg

http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/Computer%20Area%20-%2012-10-05/Picture%20086.jpg

http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/Computer%20Area%20-%2012-10-05/Picture%20094.jpg

That last picture is of the power switch to my Z-680's amp fans, and shows how nice the red maple finish is.

[Celeron_Phreak]

http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/Computer%20Area%20-%2012-10-05/Picture%20101.jpg

Now that's one sexy color scheme. The black brushed aluminum of a Lian-Li V1000 PC case against a red maple laminate desk finish. mmmmmmmmm :D

http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/Computer%20Area%20-%2012-10-05/Picture%20102.jpg

Even the headphone CMOY amp looks better!


From all my years playing with electronics and computers, I've torn apart A LOT of stuff. This list of destroyed electronic/computer equipment includes DOZENS of hard drives. My Hi-Tech 3.5" Hard Disk Drive Data Platter Coasters™ finally have a surface worth protecting now!
http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/Computer%20Area%20-%2012-10-05/Picture%20103.jpg


While I had the media shelf taken down to be laminated, I still wanted sound from all five of my speakers. I put the right front speaker on the edge of the CD cabinet, and to my surprise, everything sounded more balanced than it had before! So I built this little stand/shelf to put the speaker on, as well as my coasters and some fruit I got for St. Nicolas Day in my stocking. I love it, just love it.
http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/My%20Room/Computer%20Area%20-%2012-10-05/Picture%20004.jpg

[Celeron_Phreak]

So there you are, the history of my desk, and it in its finished state. I think I'll be keeping this desk for a LONG time now that it looks decent. :)

For the coasters, I wanted to put a cork base on them like real coasters have. Is there a place, maybe on the web, that I can order thin sheets of cork with an adhesive backing?

[cre8]

Wow amazing!Wish I had space to make my own desk,I got lot of crap that needs to be organized.You just inspired me to do fix my own desk.

[AMD Phreak]

w00t! Nice work bro!

[WarriorII]

That IS FANTASTIC !

Very nicely done.

:attn:

[Ad Rock]

Wow man that Vinyl wrap really looks nice, you did a great job in applying it to your stuff. Nice to see your skills/work progress like that.

[Quaxor]

I wish I could build stuff, but I can barely build a box. :p

[Navig]

That is absolutely awesome.

Not criticizing, but I might make just one suggestion...I might consider doing something to the nice big lexan door to give it more presence. Maybe etch a logo or some transparent graphics, ghost flames, etc.

navig

[Enablingwolf]

Nice job there.

For the coasters, I wanted to put a cork base on them like real coasters have. Is there a place, maybe on the web, that I can order thin sheets of cork with an adhesive backing?

http://www.bangorcork.com/index.html

[Flip-Mode]

Nice work, as soon as I get some free time I'm getting on building something like that.

[glen37]

Where did you get the vinyl wrap? I might want some of that.

[wa77ss]

Very nice, I dont much like the hole you cut in the desk for your amp fans though. But its still very nice!!! Great job = )

[tLove]

Deleted my first post since it ended up right in the middle of them all, sorry bout that.

Anyway the setup is awesome. I have that same fridge too. The black case looks spiffy too. The only thing I think would make it better is 2 19" LCD screens and maybe some cold cathode tubes below the table to light it up as seen in this post ( http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=428364 ).

Cool stuff :cool: .

[Burdman27911]

Very nice looking, I may have to get backing to fabricating things now... great job with the finish.

[Celeron_Phreak]

Thanks for hte comments everything, much appreciated!

Glen38:
I bought the vinyl wrap at www.partsexpress.com. Search for "vinyl laminate".

WaTTz:
I rarely ever look at the sides of the desk, so I dont' worry about it to much.

tLove:
I'm not to big a fan of LCD screens, myself. I don't care to much for the "crisp" image they give. I like the warm smooth look of CRTs. I'll probably convert in the future though. :)

[Albaholic]

wow, you have a really nice setup. I love that KB tray its massive. I need someting like that. G15 KB takes up way too much room

[intelsux]

Nice. I built my own desk, but not from scratch.

[millhouse]

Your an inspiration man. That is awesome! Youve inspired me to build my own desk. That lexan door is a good idea too.

[Son1990]

^^^^What he said! Im gonna build one as well. PMed you with some questions.

[schismspeak]

Man it took you long enough to make it look decent.(No offense meant.) Doesn't look ghetto anymore. I like the Maple, looks excellent, might build one myself in the future.

[sicloan]

Looks great, i love the color of the desk against your lian-li!!

[Son1990]

How did you make the headphone rack?

[Dukeman]

Well done. That vinal can be hard to work with when you have to align the grain and use large pieces. I know it is very rewarding to build your own space for your things. Again, great job!

[Nexus Realized]

Very nicely done :) :thup:

[Celeron_Phreak]

Son1990:
You can see more pictures and brief review of how I built it here: http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=427083

Dukeman, the vinyl wrap was hardest to apply on the CD cabinet and the left front speaker shelf, mainly because it required more edge wrapping and cutting. I made sure I had a very sharp Exacto knife to work with before starting though, which helped much.

Doing the desk wasn't as hard, mainly because the roll of the vinyl wrap is 24" wide. The top of my desk is exactly 24" wide. I just took the roll from one side, applied it all the way (around the corners too) to the other side, leaving a 6" blank area at the back half of the desk top, so it could wrap around the front of the desk and get some of underneath it to. Then I took one of the other rolls, cut it in half horizontally, and applied it the same way, trimming off the excess. It was a fun project, to say the least.


The door on my CD cabinet really isn't to keep people out, but to be sure no body takes my discs without at least asking me first. Maybe I over-react, but I don't like people taking my things with out asking. If they'd ask first, I wouldn't be so annoyed. It can easily be broken into by taking tin snips to the metal parts the lock goes through.

The door does two things:
1) Keeps the dust out :)
2) Keeps people from getting into my CDs without me noticing. The screws are JB welded to the nuts on the other side, and the hinge screws are behind the lexan.

[Beginner]

talk about a facelift, thats awesome!

[CWynn]

Very sweet desk, but honestly wtf is up with those curtains? :eh?:

[Celeron_Phreak]

CWynn:
The only reason you say that is because this is the first time you've seen my room. No one else mentioned it probably because they've seen it already. =P

I've had them in here since we moved here in 1991, never really distracted me enough to replace them, never really bothered me. I have been planning on replacing them with regular blinds though, so that's on my list of stuff to do. As well as put black curtain over my network corner to block out those router and switch lights at night.

[JackupCyrus]

Big ups!

Makes me want to build a corner desk to hold my complete entertainment system in my room. Think about suround sound for the computer & tv with less speakers. Just lacking wood working tools, oh and...talent. Good job man.

[CWynn]

CWynn:
The only reason you say that is because this is the first time you've seen my room. No one else mentioned it probably because they've seen it already. =P

I've had them in here since we moved here in 1991, never really distracted me enough to replace them, never really bothered me. I have been planning on replacing them with regular blinds though, so that's on my list of stuff to do. As well as put black curtain over my network corner to block out those router and switch lights at night.

Haha, I guess they must have. I'm somewhat new to this forum, so I guess I just must have missed them before.

Corner desks are awesome. I bought a pretty sweet one at Ikea, but I wish I had the skill like you to make something on my own to accomodate my needs. The rainbow curtains are alright I guess if you're into that sort of thing. :shrug: :confused: ;)

Haha, I'm just giving you a hard time. :)

[Mr.Guvernment]

that looks AWSOME with the finish, nice to see the large keyboard area, FAR too many desks that have those they are so small.

[CWynn]

...nice to see the large keyboard area, FAR too many desks that have those they are so small.

That was THE biggest problem with my last desk. I had about 6" sq. area to move the mouse on the tray with the keyboard on it. Talk about limited movement! The tray ended up falling off from my knees banging into too many times. Most desks that you buy nowadays are not anywhere close be being constructed as well as Celeron's is, they are cheap particleboard pos's that fall apart with normal use within a 2 years or so.

[Celeron_Phreak]

Although my desk is made primarily of dense particle board, it's got a backbone (frame if you like) of pine 1.5" square supports, which adds to it's sturdiness and weight accommodations.

Before shard came up to visit this summer, he would criticize my "ghetto desk", because it had no finish. Then when he came up and actually found out how sturdy and well built it is, he wants me to build him one now. :p

[autolex84]

This thread has definitely driven me to build one this week as well. I am thinking of something L shaped as well, with a minifridge, and two battery backups, and a printer station built into the desk with black ash wood look vertical surfaces, and cherry horizontal surfaces. Thanks man for the inspiration!

[Rpkole]

thats a nice looking desk and it was kinda cool to see how your computer changed with it

[CWynn]

Although my desk is made primarily of dense particle board, it's got a backbone (frame if you like) of pine 1.5" square supports, which adds to it's sturdiness and weight accommodations.

Before shard came up to visit this summer, he would criticize my "ghetto desk", because it had no finish. Then when he came up and actually found out how sturdy and well built it is, he wants me to build him one now. :p

Particle board is already, can be really sturdy if built right and the cost is definetly a big factor. My Ikea desk was $150ish and it's made mostly out of 1.5" particleboard, as is most of their furniture, but I've never had any problems from Ikea's stuff. I have had problems however with the cheaper desks that use .5" or whatever they use. Those are the ones that fall apart fast.

[Enablingwolf]

Many cabinets are made of pressed board. So is alot of funiture.

A well designed pressed board unit will last and last. Repairing it will be very easy. Since there is no grain to expand. Bondo and some more tape and it is done. There is so little expansion in particle board it is a very nice pick. Makes for a stable long lasting material. Thats why it is used for subflooring.

Don't toss out the extra tape left over. It comes in handy later!

[gvblake22]

Very nice setup! I'm jealous :p

[JackupCyrus]

It's use for subflooring because it's the cheapest. My bathroom is already replaced with wood, because the particle board got wet from a toilet overflow, so it disintegrated the cheap builder had carpet in the bathroom.

The stuff is great when it's sealed, but once you get the glue wet it's just sawdust. Definitely great for furniture when veneered.

[Celeron_Phreak]

damn, I didn't think posting my desk would be so inpirational to so many people. lol

any votes for a thread of the computers I've gone through in the past four years? :p

[shard]

damn, I didn't think posting my desk would be so inpirational to so many people. lol

any votes for a thread of the computers I've gone through in the past four years? :p

Please dont horrify us with your ghettoness!!

Oh, and to comment on that desk, I could most likely jump up and down on it without it breaking, and I am a good 320lbs! Its a beast! And now it actualy looks like it wont poke your eye out. :D

[buckbadly]

No offense meant by this but it kinda looked ghetto as suggested further up. But now...man that is very nice, looks good. Did a very nice job on it, hats off to ya :clap:

[autolex84]

hey, how thick is that laminate? like how flexible? could it go around a corner and just bend (like thin vinyl?)

[Celeron_Phreak]

Yeah. It's like dealing with wallpaper really. Corners are a bit harder to do, lots of making sure it's pressed against the corner, because it's stiffer than wallpaper really is. I would say it's just as easy to apply though.

[threeme2189]

very cool desk.

[peterrastall]

Loved the way it went from well... No offence - utter crap keyboard and mouse to nice one!

[Celeron_Phreak]

lol peter.

That M$ mouse is still in great condition, sitting in my closet with four other optical mice which won't be used again for awhile. That white HP keyboard...I bought it at the thrift store for $2, it's PS/2 based. The absolute best keyboard I have ever used. This Elite is close, but not as soft of a touch. The elite was the only keyboard that I could find in a decent price range with a nice touch and matched my color scheme.

[bLiNdSpIriTiNFo]

So there you are, the history of my desk, and it in its finished state. I think I'll be keeping this desk for a LONG time now that it looks decent. :)

For the coasters, I wanted to put a cork base on them like real coasters have. Is there a place, maybe on the web, that I can order thin sheets of cork with an adhesive backing?

Dude thats SWEET!, go to any auto zone and ask for a small roll of cork. Usually used for making gaskets but the same **** for making what you need. That was a hella nice project i congrats with 2 thumbs up!

PS, how's that Lian Li V1000? I'm getting myself one this week for my new build :)

[Celeron_Phreak]

Thanks for the info on the cork. I'll stop by there Monday.

The V1000 is an amazing case. I can't believe how quiet my computer is. This summer I could walk in my room while the AC was on, and I had to look at the power LED to be sure it was still on. I've added handels and an exhaust fan to the top of mine, but I plan to get the window'd side panel for it eventually as well. My project next week is to build a stand for all of my game consoles. Wish me luck. :)

[shawkins]

Why do you have 2 MX1000's? I have 1 and its plenty for me! Are you ambidextrous or whatever?! lol just kidding

[DerekDRP]

Holy cow. I thought my 5300e w/thx sub was a monster HOLY dang. That 5500's almost as big as the dang fridge.

[DerekDRP]

Why do you have 2 MX1000's? I have 1 and its plenty for me! Are you ambidextrous or whatever?! lol just kidding

Proble to modd one or to have on tap if he needs it asap? or he could have 2 computers running :)

[shard]

Proble to modd one or to have on tap if he needs it asap? or he could have 2 computers running :)


He has 2 MX1000's so when one loses its charge, he can keep playing while using the other one.

Also that's the Z-680 Sub, wich is substantialy smaller then my sub, the Z-5500.

[DerekDRP]

He has 2 MX1000's so when one loses its charge, he can keep playing while using the other one.

Also that's the Z-680 Sub, wich is substantialy smaller then my sub, the Z-5500.:rolleyes: Holy cow me really wants one now

[Celeron_Phreak]

The 680 sub isn't really as big as it looks. It's currently on a 6" stand, which does two things:

1) Raises it off the floor and levels out the heights of things in that area (I've taken it off the stand and it looks really odd.

2) The power supply for the amp's cooling fans is mounted to the back of the stand. There's no where else to put it. =\

Now if it really WERE a Z-5500 sub, it'd only be about an inch or two shorter than what my 680 sub is on the stand, just as shard.

[hkh]

That looks super good and very pro looking nice work I like the red maple so much I may get a desk with that colour :)

[Wiggles]

Very nice.

I myself have also bent one of the keyboard tray rails on my current desk. Was leaning on it lightly and started falling asleep. Ended up with more weight on it, and snap. It's somewhat fixed now, just as long as I don't pull the tray out too far I'm fine.

[Cetamega]

That wrap really sets it apart, how much is that stuff?

[Celeron_Phreak]

$14.88 per roll, each roll is 2 feet wide by 10 feet long. Styles to choose from are Red Maple (what I use), Black Ash, Beech, Cherry, Textured Black and Silver.

[ghettocomp]

So there you are, the history of my desk, and it in its finished state. I think I'll be keeping this desk for a LONG time now that it looks decent. :)

For the coasters, I wanted to put a cork base on them like real coasters have. Is there a place, maybe on the web, that I can order thin sheets of cork with an adhesive backing?
Just in case you are still looking for cork for those coasters, Just go to you nearby auto parts store. they usually sell rolls of cork in various thicknesses. it is mostly used for making gaskets. usually not too much money and this stuff wears like iron, well almost as good.

[Celeron_Phreak]

I've been keeping this in mind for the past few days. Does it have a sticky back which I can stick to the bottom of the platters?

[ghettocomp]

I've been keeping this in mind for the past few days. Does it have a sticky back which I can stick to the bottom of the platters?
no sticky back, but a can of that spray adhesive for artwork, I think it is '3M #77' mostly used to permanantly glue paper and paperlike stuff to wood, glass metal, etc. Kind of like a spray contact adhesive. with the thinner coat this provides you should be able to get some great results.

[Celeron_Phreak]

So I went to Michaels Crafts and picked up some rolled cork and SuperGlue brand contact cement. Here's the results:

http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/Drink%20Coasters%201-7-05/Picture%20001.jpg

http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/Drink%20Coasters%201-7-05/Picture%20009.jpg

http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/Drink%20Coasters%201-7-05/Picture%20011.jpg

http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/Drink%20Coasters%201-7-05/Picture%20012.jpg

http://dave.dbnetworkz.com/Drink%20Coasters%201-7-05/Picture%20014.jpg

I have 28 discs left, and I made five. Keeping 3 for my room and then gave AMD Phreak two. One for the office and one for home. If anyone wants some, PM me. I also plan to give them out at LAN parties.

[shard]

I have 28 discs left, and I made five. Keeping 3 for my room and then gave AMD Phreak two. One for the office and one for home. If anyone wants some, PM me. I also plan to give them out at LAN parties.

/me starts thinking about a new and improved decapitating disc thrower. :sn:

[Mark620]

I have just as many(or more) 3.5" but I also have 6 ea. 2.5" and 3 ea. 5.25" discs...

BTW the desk now looks awsome :cool: