Introduction: Computer Control Center - a DIY Workspace (in Progress)
Step 1: Designing the Beast
As i am no pro, i use Google SketchUp for the design and planning of my new table aka "The Beast", so i get some pretty good plans and also 3D-models.
Step 2: Get the Stuff You Need
For the tabletop i used a 2m x 1.6m MDF-sheet.
Tools:
Saw, Sander, Pens, Tape, a Bowl, Drill
Step 3: Measure Twice
As usual i started by "drawing" the planned layout to the wood, now you can see where the bowl was for ;-)
Step 4: Saw, Saw and Saw
First of all:
Before making the inital cut, check the plans again!
After that i made a slighty smaller "hole" then i needed, to ENTER the beast ;-)
Once i had space i made the planned cutting.
Step 5: Sanding, and Sanding! Oh Yes, and Sanding!
The whole sanding took me longer then the sawing, but i think, that's normal ;-)
Step 6: A Few Tweaks
I decided to drill a big hole in one end for future cable-management.
Step 7: Running Some Usability Tests
After the beast was ready i took it over to my office to run a few tests.
Also i'm waiting for the material for the legs (which i want to weld by myself *g*).
As soon as everything is done, i'm going to paint it ;-)
Step 8: Changing the Design
While running the "usability tests" i found out, that i needed more room for stuff, so i designed a shelving unit for the beast which doubles as room divider to the "couch corner".
Just ordered the wood ;-)
Step 9: Painting the Beast
I choose a red paint, just because i liked it ;-)
Step 10: The Legs
I took some metal from the "junkyard" of the inhouse weldingshop and asked the welders (with a bribe aka 'box of beer') to weld them as i want it - looks pretty good, or?
6 Comments
9 years ago on Introduction
What are all of your dimensions for your desk? The lengths, widths of every side?
12 years ago on Step 9
have you checked out the legs at IKEA, I would think that is a bit cheaper than welding your own.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Last time I checked, it was roughly $15 US for ONE leg (Jan. 2012). If I had the time/materials/tools to craft my own legs and be creative, I'd skip ikea altogether.
I would possibly consider using their work surfaces, but they too border on the highly overpriced.
Reply 12 years ago on Step 9
Not really because the next IKEA is about 120km from here so you have to calculate the fuel.
Also i already HAVE the material for the legs lying around, just no time ;-)
As you can see on the pictures i am able to use a professional metal shop from one of the companies here, they also let me get through their "recycle bin" ;-)
12 years ago on Introduction
Cool!
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
Thanks...