Members Paolo Di Nicolantonio Posted November 15, 2009 Members Share Posted November 15, 2009 Hey guys, I've tackled some other DIY projects in the past: [how I built my speaker stands] [how I built my synth-based home recording studio] and I'm still finalizing the construction of my sound-proofing panels; Today, I'll share the details of the construction of my new synth home-studio desk. (Don, did you build yours yet? ) I have to say, it was much easier than I thought!! It only took one Friday evening and Saturday morning to get to this point First stop, the usual hardware store (Home Depot / Lowe's for the US of A residents): at Home Depot, I bought three sheets of "Red Oak" plywood, measuring 4' x 8' each: I decided 4' x 8' was a bit too big for my purpose and room, so, with a jig-saw, I cut the first one at 3' x 7' (aka 36" x 84"). This will serve as the main desk surface: Note: buy the jig-saw blade for "precise cut".... it's a thin blade.. it takes forever to cut but it makes a clean, smooth cut. Now, I had laying around two 6-space rack rails from years ago, so I wanted to build two "mini-racks" to place on top. I grabbed a couple of synth modules to measure, but I could have avoided it.... you know why they call them "19" racks?" Because they are exactly 19" wide but I wanted to make sure the rack would fit so, I used them as glorified measuring spaceholders: I cut the four pieces of wood using the jig-saw - and, using the trick I already showed in the "speaker stand" thread I mentioned above, I counter-sank the screws, so when I will stain them, the ugly screws won't show: [continues...] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Paolo Di Nicolantonio Posted November 15, 2009 Author Members Share Posted November 15, 2009 Voila', the first "mini-rack" is ready - It took very little time to make: moving on to the second one - Btw, I made them 12" x 19". and here's on Fri night, a first "draft" of the desk top with the two "mini-rack" at each side: And I forgot to mention how I put these frames together: simply using "L-shape" metal hinges, with screws. Small for the mini-rack, big for the cabinets; Moving on to the "legs" of the desk: I want to have a standard 19-rack cabinet on the right side, to hold synthesizer modules, and another one on the left with a door on it, and acoustic padding inside, to hold the computer in. This is the first cabinet - the measures I chose are: W 19" x H 26" x D 36" these are the individual pieces of the base-cabinets: a detail of the finished cabinet - I used twelve "L-shape" brackets for each cabinet, as you can see - it's very sturdy: detail of the cabinet angle The second cabinet went fast: Then I plopped the desk surface on top... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Paolo Di Nicolantonio Posted November 15, 2009 Author Members Share Posted November 15, 2009 and here is the happy family united: Now I have to stain the whole thing with a 'red oak' finish, go buy a set of 14-space rack rails for the right cabinet, and make a door for the other cabinet.... I'll post more pics of the finished product in the studio when I'm done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tomkeen Posted November 15, 2009 Members Share Posted November 15, 2009 Very nice Paolo! I want to do something like this myself when I move out . Sure is a lot cheaper than buying one, and it's fun too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members randombastage Posted November 15, 2009 Members Share Posted November 15, 2009 Some diagonal bracing inside the two large boxes would make sure it can't collapse side to side....something like a 12 inch triangle in the rear top corners I think they are called gussets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mate_stubb Posted November 15, 2009 Members Share Posted November 15, 2009 Some diagonal bracing inside the two large boxes would make sure it can't collapse side to side....something like a 12 inch triangle in the rear top corners I think they are called gussets. Or just put backs on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mildbill Posted November 15, 2009 Members Share Posted November 15, 2009 A couple years ago, I hacked together a stand of sorts, just to get stuff out of the way. Mine (unlike yours), looks bad, but it works pretty good for what I need. I had some trouble with it wanting to collapse to the sides without sufficient bracing, but I think having almost the whole sheet on the top of yours should give it some support. I put mine on wheels. Small, but 8 of them all together - they would be under your 2 bottom side cabinets. Really glad I did, because I've moved it around a lot, with a lot of weight on it. If you want to put any rack gear in the bottom cabinets, it might give you a bit of trouble being 3 feet deep. I can see you using a flashlight and a long reach to get at stuff from the backside. I used the little metal 'L' brackets for my racks too, but mis-measured slightly on the first one, and scratched up a rack unit getting it in. Anyways, yours looks real good, and I'd like to see pics when you get it stained. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Paolo Di Nicolantonio Posted November 15, 2009 Author Members Share Posted November 15, 2009 Staining time, it only took an hour or so: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Paolo Di Nicolantonio Posted November 15, 2009 Author Members Share Posted November 15, 2009 Polyurethane time... I picked semi-gloss but I think I could have picked clear... it's a fairly dark red Here's the main desk after the poly treatment - "shiny shiny, shiny boots of leather..." moving on and applying the poly to the rest of the furniture.... here you go - more shiny happy people: and building and staining the door for the cabinet that will house the computer, power and accessories: a few more miscellaneous things needed for the desk: hinges for the cabinet door, felt to place under the cabinets to avoid scratching the floor, a set of sliding mounts for the computer keyboard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The Hamburglar Posted November 15, 2009 Members Share Posted November 15, 2009 Man, everything looks really great. I'm thinking I need to make me one of those mini-racks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cbentley Posted November 15, 2009 Members Share Posted November 15, 2009 Looking good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members saw wave analog Posted November 15, 2009 Members Share Posted November 15, 2009 i am jealous. my desk is cramped to say the least. always wanted to make somethign like this, be sure to keep updating, id like to see the end result.. maybe itll be an inspiration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mildbill Posted November 16, 2009 Members Share Posted November 16, 2009 ....a few more miscellaneous things needed for the desk: hinges for the cabinet door, felt to place under the cabinets to avoid scratching the floor, a set of sliding mounts for the computer keyboard I was going to ask about a slide for a computer keyboard - thought maybe you were going to go computer-less there for a bit. Everything looks great - looking forward to seeing the final result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mate_stubb Posted November 16, 2009 Members Share Posted November 16, 2009 You know what you need to give it the professional finishing touch? Hide those plywood edges with iron-on real wood edging. You can buy it a Lowes and other hardware chains. Just heat it with an iron and melt the hot glue, then trim the edges flush when the glue sets. Should do it before you stain and seal the edges tho! I used birch edge tape on my Synth of Doom cabinet, and you can't even tell that it is not solid wood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mildbill Posted November 16, 2009 Members Share Posted November 16, 2009 You know what you need to give it the professional finishing touch? Hide those plywood edges with iron-on real wood edging. You can buy it a Lowes and other hardware chains. Just heat it with an iron and melt the hot glue, then trim the edges flush when the glue sets. Should do it before you stain and seal the edges tho! I used birch edge tape on my Synth of Doom cabinet, and you can't even tell that it is not solid wood. Detail work now. A lot of it will be hidden, by doors and rack ears and what-not, but the main table edge will be exposed. Staining it looks good, but like you say, just a little extra work now would really set it off. Then again - it's easy for us to say. We're not doing the work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wa2C Posted November 16, 2009 Members Share Posted November 16, 2009 Your basement studio is tres cool I'd like to see pics of the finished desk and all your synths/rack gear set up down there. I'm terrible at carpentry even though my grandfather was a carpenter and I spent a lot of time fooling around in his shop basically making messes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Don Solaris Posted November 16, 2009 Members Share Posted November 16, 2009 and here is the happy family united: What a great idea! Turning legs into racks! I think i will go your way. Polyurethane - that's the best choice you went. I'd say you have experience there. BTW, nice set of tools. I again begin to suspect that you are a mafioso. (hint: tools can be used for other purposes) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members depulse Posted November 16, 2009 Members Share Posted November 16, 2009 You're missing a slide-out tray under the desk for a keyboard.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mildbill Posted November 16, 2009 Members Share Posted November 16, 2009 You're missing a slide-out tray under the desk for a keyboard.... Read posts 9 and 13. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members depulse Posted November 16, 2009 Members Share Posted November 16, 2009 Read posts 9 and 13. Look at the heading for this subsection of the forum, I ain't taking about some computer keyboard:thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members depulse Posted November 16, 2009 Members Share Posted November 16, 2009 Read posts 9 and 13. Look at the heading for this subsection of the forum, I ain't taking about some computer keyboard:thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Yoozer Posted November 16, 2009 Members Share Posted November 16, 2009 Those racks are really roomy - are you going to fill them with lots of A4000s? . I think I would've given them a slanted front myself, easier to light and reach I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Metrosonus Posted November 16, 2009 Members Share Posted November 16, 2009 i'd angle them in myself.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dan88z Posted November 16, 2009 Members Share Posted November 16, 2009 Instead of iron on wood grain stuff, get some basic moulding. I got some that was 3/4x 1/4 and used that on all the plywood edges of my home made desk, and stained them a light color so they are nice accents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mildbill Posted November 16, 2009 Members Share Posted November 16, 2009 Look at the heading for this subsection of the forum, I ain't taking about some computer keyboard:thu: http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=8&subcategory=234&product=14118 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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