Computer Desk Pic Heavy!

[Daveo]

I wanted to build a desk, how I wanted it. Something that will last! I didnt take too many pics in the beginning... So there isnt many pics of all the cabinet modifications.

Some unfinished kitchen cabinets, toe kicks cut off.

Oak plywood cut

Hole cut for computer, test fitting the glass

Some lines laid out

Playing with stain!

Two coats of Super Glass, A REAL thick clear.

Sanded flat, up to 600 and painted the edge.

Computer going

Keyboard tray, same 3/4 plywood

Top on, cabinets finished

Another computer shot

Heres where im at now, need some trim finished, keyboard tray done. There will be a set of upper (smaller) cabinets soon...

Here is a pic on the computer cabinet, with the second drawer removed. cd, power and hard drive access. You can just see a shelf above the bottom drawer that holds the modem and router. The bottom drawer is fully functional...

And last, a pic of the bottom, theres a 2 inch pvc pipe (with holes cut in it ) that runs from the computer all the way over to the tall cabinet. I holds all of the wiring for EVERYTHING. The printer is set up in the tall cabinet...

 

[gatewaysysop]

I wanted to build a desk, how I wanted it. Something that will last! I didnt take too many pics in the beginning... So there isnt many pics of all the cabinet modifications.

Very nice! Are you going to run dual monitors? If it were me, that baby would have at least three monitors side by side.

Just an awesome build, very cool.

 

[volleyball]

I see two monitors on the desk already.
Nice build. I didn't think anyone did this anymore.

 

[Daveo]

2 for sure, I do have a use for dual monitors. I have a security camera system too. I have enough room on the desk to put that monitor there too!

 

[CNGsaves]

Great desk . . . . LOVE the wood you've chosen !!

How about USB strip ?? That would be handy to have over by the monitors to plug in thumb drives/other peripherals.

 

[Daveo]

Great desk . . . . LOVE the wood you've chosen !!

How about USB strip ?? That would be handy to have over by the monitors to plug in thumb drives/other peripherals.

Thanks guys, A hard drive dock and usb 3.0 system is on its way and guaranteed delivery by the end of the day tomorrow from amazon

 

[APEowner]

theres a 2 inch pvc pipe

Don't use PVC for this! It'll explode and puppies, bunny rabbits and little children will die! Oh, wait...sorry...wrong thread....

Cool build. Nice design and even nicer execution.

 

[404]

Tell us about the part where the hot air is expelled and cool air brought in.

 

[tarbellb]

Very cool, lots of good details in there. I like the PVC cord catcher.

Questions for my own curiosity:

_ why the lines in the top, it looks like flooring? (well executed tho!)

_ do you find it hard to route your cords in the tube? seems you would want some more access?

I did something similar but made a sunken channel behind the desk that all the wires just lay in. Not the best solution because the dust collects and it (slightly) visible.

Again, great job!

 

[bartz32tt]

Heck of a job, nice desk.

 

[zkling]

Great job. I did get a chuckle out of the plethora of metal working machines in every picture given it was a primarily wood project.

 

[nine4gmc]

Very cool, lots of good details in there. I like the PVC cord catcher.

Questions for my own curiosity:

_ why the lines in the top, it looks like flooring? (well executed tho!)

_ do you find it hard to route your cords in the tube? seems you would want some more access?

I did something similar but made a sunken channel behind the desk that all the wires just lay in. Not the best solution because the dust collects and it (slightly) visible.

Again, great job!

I had the same questions, plus one more. The desk looks like its built to last, what will you do when technology doubles 3 more times in the next 5 years?

 

[Jhmt]

Cool table!

 

[Daveo]

The top was meant to look like anything but plywood. Thats why I did that. I wanted to make it look likke a old floor or I scabbed it together. The lines were drawn on there then "cut" in with a dull knife. It helped the stain from bleeding thru, so the planks could be light and dark. Its the same color stain, some of them were sanded, some were re-stained.

As far as the computer, I figured I would always be able to keep one in there. If computers change too much, I will go spend a 100 bucks on a new cabinet and re-do it!

As far as the tech part of it. Thats a ATX board and I used a ATX mid tower, cut up to hold the mother board, the drives and robbed the USB 3.0 ports from it. Id say, I could always change fans, mother boards, video cards whatever. As long as I can buy parts, I should have a high tech case! I will take a couple more pics so you can get a better idea on it. The glass is only really there so I can swap out parts if needed. The top drawer is just a removable door for access too.


The original design, I had 1 1/2 pvc pipe, but running 3 monitors 3 power cords, a couple of usb cables, things got tight. So I went to 2 inch. None of the pipe is actually glued together, between that and five 2 inch holes bored in it, its pretty easy to run wires... If wires are too long, I can just coil the extra around the pipe. Rather than stuffing it back in or letting it dangle on the floor, I hate the cord mess! That a reason why everything is hidden, I hate cords!

Zkling, I only actually machined one small piece. LOL I probably could have done it with a hacksaw and a file....

Thanks for the compliments guys!

 

[rrudd2]

That is COOL! Excellent work!

 

[fnieto]

Very nice work.

 

[Daveo]

A few more pics

Here is the bottom of the desk, the pipe. It does neck down to 1 1/2 going into the big cabinet. All of the ends of the pipe and fittings were beveled with a carbide burr, so when you slide a wire thru it has less of a chance getting hung up.

Here is a shot with the top drawer removed, you can see whats left of the computer case and the power supply resting on the cabinet floor. On rubber bumpers to keep vibration down.

And here is a shot inside the corner cabinet. It has the same hole cut in it to access the back of the computer. Power strip mounted inside. and the beginning of the pipe. Im waiting on parts and cables to tidy this up!

 

[CNGsaves]

Nice setup as I was going to ask if harddrive was sitting vertical or horizontal.

Only suggestion is find a spot where UPS can go which will provide protection and uptime if you lose electricity in a storm.

Also, did I spy 2 open RAM slots ??? Why aren't they full ??

Speaking of tech, what are specs of the setup??

 

[cwh]

Excellent... done with style. I like your cable management solution too.

I'm thinking of building an adjustable height desk for work.

 

[Daveo]

Nice setup as I was going to ask if harddrive was sitting vertical or horizontal.

Only suggestion is find a spot where UPS can go which will provide protection and uptime if you lose electricity in a storm.

Also, did I spy 2 open RAM slots ??? Why aren't they full ??

Speaking of tech, what are specs of the setup??

Ill get you some computer specs later, im battling some issues with it now. Its really nothing too special...

 

[Charles (in GA)]

What does that "caseless" computer do for RF emissions? Most cases, even plastic ones, have a metal inside skin or metal paint finish to help prevent RF emission. Possibly you don't have a radio or TV to be disturbed by it however.

Charles

 

[APEowner]

What does that "caseless" computer do for RF emissions? Most cases, even plastic ones, have a metal inside skin or metal paint finish to help prevent RF emission. Possibly you don't have a radio or TV to be disturbed by it however.

That's an interesting question. I've never done an official study but I have had a bunch of caseless or open case PCs running in a variety of environments over the years and I have some relevant observations.

In my experience the power supplies radiate noise if they're not enclosed but the PCs themselves while susceptible to EMI/RFI don't radiate much. The only time I've never had one interfere with other equipment was when we had the case of the power supply itself. And in one of those instances the power supply radiated so much noise that the PC kept rebooting.

I've had open PCs reboot when exposed to EMI/RFI from welding and from industrial test equipment that generates 35kv pulses.

In a household environment I really don't expect a problem. In fact I ran a heavily overclocked machine with no case as my primary gaming rig for a year or so with no issues.

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ At prior job, we had enterprise level server (Digital Alpha) kept having erratic hot-swap harddrive errors. Digital (later Compaq) kept replacing them under warranty free-of-charge but never could figure out problem.

Got a different tech and he theorized that battery backup was too close to server causing the HDD errors. Sure enough, moved the UPS farther away and never had a HDD go bad.

 

[ishiboo]

^ ^ ^ At prior job, we had enterprise level server (Digital Alpha) kept having erratic hot-swap harddrive errors. Digital (later Compaq) kept replacing them under warranty free-of-charge but never could figure out problem.

Got a different tech and he theorized that battery backup was too close to server causing the HDD errors. Sure enough, moved the UPS farther away and never had a HDD go bad.

Wonder if that was interference, or the huge magnet in the transformer in the UPS?

 

[oscar80]

That top is awesome. Going to steal that for my dining room table

 

[Daveo]

That top is awesome. Going to steal that for my dining room table

Use a sharpie if you mark it up, a ball point pen on my test piece didnt turn out well.