New Computer Desk

[Bushbaby]

Hi Col,
Another awesome job from the Retired school - I just keep thinking 'I'm not worthy'!

Its a pity you dont live nearer as I've a shed/workshop to replace.

Best Regards

Rob

[Retired]

Hi,

Many thanks David for your continued encouragement. As with all these kinds of project I take on I'm never sure of success. One thing that I always need though is to visualize the end result then I can break this down into small bites which then don't intimidate like the whole picture does.

I'm highly frustrated because the weather doesn't appear to understand the term “Summer”. I'm rained off and it's like working in a black hole again. I'm now making the door for the right hand base unit and when I cut two biscuit slots wrongly in the opposite side of one of the door stiles I knew it was time to call it a day; I did however make a new stile first. I've also glued Formica to the doors inner panel so next job will be to route the Formica flush with the panel then assemble the door.

Thank you Rob for your kind comments. I'm pleased I don't live too near you or it wouldn't be a case of replacing your shed; I think given the kit and lathes you keep collecting a warehouse will need building.

I wish the weather would give me a break as the desk is very near completion and a final push should do it. The pictures tell the story better than I can and even taking the pictures yesterday afternoon resulted in failure due to glare; the pictures shown were finally taken at bedtime last night with just the ceiling lights switched on. I love it when things come together after working for many hours; Bron is very impressed with the desk and to be honest surely I couldn't make something like this; it gives me a warm feeling every time I look at it which I confess is often.

           
Success in sight at last.

I've always enjoyed restoring a basket case woody radio cabinet but I also always felt I was following someone else who had originally designed then constructed the cabinet. I find a project such as this desk is much more satisfying on a personal level because such a project is mine from the very first idea until finally completed. I'm sure both John and Mark H are pleased with their respective desks because the design and construction of each is solely down to them and I hope this thread encourages others to have a go; three desks and three different approaches but all the desks are very functional and this is all that really matters.

I've spent some brass and not only on the desk materials; I've bought a new computer monitor to grace the new desk with; I couldn't see my old steam powered Compaq CRT monitor blending in well with the new desk and as I want to buy a new computer later on in the year decided now was the time to buy the monitor. The monitor I chose is a 23” model and has excellent reviews whilst not bankrupting me; I'm waiting for it to arrive but it has been despatched to me.

http://www.ebuyer.com/284103-lg-ips235v-...35v-bn-aek

My current Compaq MV720 was the first I ever bought and it has served me without fault for the last 14 years. I always thought it to be a 17” model but I've just measured it and it is only 16” (Diagonal). I'm sure I'll notice a difference with the new LG and hope it serves me as long and as well as the Compaq.

It's time I designed and made the handles or knobs for the desk drawers and door and I want them to look the part; another little problem to resolve but an interesting one.

Kind regards, Col.

[Mark R]

Col
whilst I have not posted in this thread I have been following it with interest.

That looks wonderful, a beautiful piece of furniture!

cheers Mark

[Yorkie]

Great to see it all coming together and finally looking like a desk Colin, after countless hours of work! Your new monitor will look bonny on it

[Bushbaby]

Hi Col,
Awesome!
Will you be taking orders in the near future?

You must be so pleased with the outcome.

Best Regards

Rob

[Mark Hennessy]

Yes, very good indeed! Oak is such a beautiful wood, and sets off the laminate perfectly.

Oh, and CRT monitors and TV sets were always sold by the nominal size of the glass, not the visible screen area. In other words, you'll have to remove the CRT from the front bezel and measure outside corner to outside corner. Not recommended, of course. Happily, this practice seems to have gone away with the arrival of flat screens.

You'll have fun and games persuading your computer to output the correct screen resolution and aspect ratio, and you'll probably need a driver (just a .INF file normally) assuming the monitor type and capability isn't picked up across the cable. If you're unlucky, you might need to upgrade your graphics hard, which might in turn lead to more upgrades inside the box. The joy of computers...

If all that was gobbledegook, the one important fact is this: always set the resolution of the graphics card to the native resolution of the screen. If text is too large or too small, change the size elsewhere in Windows (or whatever). You must have a 1:1 mapping of pixels on the screen to addresses in the graphics card memory - otherwise the monitor will interpolate, and the display will seem very "soft", like a defocused monitor.

Try to use the DVI connection if possible, which obviously saves converting the memory contents to an analogue signal, then converting straight back into digital to fill the pixels in the screen. Of course, your computer might only have the analogue VGA socket, but don't worry as DVI cards can be very cheap - and analogue connections can be very good indeed.

If you get that right, chances are the monitor will seem much sharper than the CRT - after a while this can become uncomfortable. There is normally a way of changing the way fonts are rendered on screen to make them look more natural on an LCD display - something like "Cleartype", for example.

Sorry - displays are one of my specialisms at work. If you get stuck, give us a shout

I'm still using a CRT for the computer upstairs, but it's finally getting a bit soft, and I'm used to widescreen at work now. Trouble is, if I replace it with a flatscreen, where will the cat sleep :-)

All the best,

Mark

[Radio Fixer]

Its a wonderful desk Colin... and will last for years. I take it the PC goes in the LH side and the right is for books etc? I have thought they were drawers under the top? Maybe you are yet to fit handles or they are the secret type?

Gary

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Mark R. The desk is a lovely bit of furniture and sits well in our newly decorated hall; it's all coming together slowly; I enjoy this kind of work as it is so rewarding and unlike when I was in active conflict now that I'm retired I can relax and take my time only hampered by the terrible climate.

I might be in for some unexpected problems David regarding the new monitor please see below.

Thanks for the kind words Rob; I think you had better join the queue if you want one making. I’m looking forward to seeing it completely finished in the near future and being put to good use.

I fully agree with you Mark H regarding Oak being a beautiful timber. Oak is actually a difficult timber to work with as it is so tough and at cuts it splinters out badly unless cutters are sharp; it can be worked with hand tools but it is hard going and again the tools must be always sharp. Finishing Oak also poses a number of problems due to it's open grain; it's not a good timber to French polish. It accepts stain readily and the old method of fuming using .880 Ammonia is very effective at giving a whole range of lovely browns from light to almost black depending on exposure to the ammonia fumes. Fuming doesn't raise the grain and is done in a “fuming tent” to retain the fumes; as a test whilst fuming a stick of the same oak being fumed is placed in the tent and this stick can be withdrawn at will to determine level of fuming. I've never used oak previously on a big piece of furniture due to it being expensive as I've had access to cheap offcuts of Meranti so worked with this.

Oh dear Mark; you've surprised me with your information regarding connecting a new monitor onto my old computer; it shows how clued up I am on such matters as I expected the monitor to simply “Plug and play”. Many thanks for your offer of help and I'll be happy to accept if the need arises in fact if I do suffer problems I'll add a new thread then the information will possibly be of use to other members who also wish to upgrade their monitor.

The monitor has now arrived which is rapid service from ebuyer and looks totally different to my old CRT monitor. Adding the base was simple it being held in place by a single screw but connecting up is a disaster as the cables don't match the sockets; the only cable that connects is the mains cable. What I don't want to do is waste a lot of time and perhaps money upgrading my old computer to accept the new monitor as I intended to buy a new computer at Christmas anyway so perhaps I'll buy the new computer in the near future and hopefully this will allow easy connection?

I'm not in a hurry as my old computer is still working fine and the new monitor is now sitting in pride of place on the new desk safely out of the way.

Thanks for the reply Gary; yes the computer will sit in the left hand desk base unit; I made this unit with a much bigger opening to allow for any future updates regarding tower size. Also you are correct about the right hand base unit; I decided to add a shelf into this unit and the unit can be used for storing consumables and printer paper etc. NO secret handles either Gary it's just that I haven't yet settled on a design for the new drawer and door knobs/handles but I will do so shortly.

   
Base unit door in sash cramps.

The Evolution mitre saw still isn't cutting perfectly; mitres are being cut by setting the blade and fence to a set square and the cross cuts are still slightly out; normally this won't be too much trouble but when top class joints are needed this is hopeless as the slightest error stands out. Once the desk is completed I will spend some time trying to set this saw up to cut accurately. For the inner door 18mm MDF backing panel I resorted to my accurate Startrite saw bench adding the sliding table attachment; for those who have never seen such an attachment a picture is included; The table simply locates onto guide rails and runs on a set of rolling element bearings; I set this machine up when I rebuilt it many years ago and it still gives good results. The reason I've not been using it much is one of space as I've been using this machine as a table. The crown guard is removed whilst working with the sliding table but the riving knife is always in position. Rebates and trenching operations are easy with the sliding table fitted.

   
Sliding table fitted.

This morning I assembled and glued up the new base unit door and it is now sitting in a pair of sash cramps until the glue sets but I've put the car into the garage in disgust as this miserable weather just won't let up; it's been raining again all day and forecast to become worse later today. Even if it snows tomorrow I'm having a day in the garage. I try my best to look on the positive side of things but this climate is something else; sorry to moan.

Kind regards, Col.

[Mark Hennessy]

The monitor has now arrived which is rapid service from ebuyer and looks totally different to my old CRT monitor. Adding the base was simple it being held in place by a single screw but connecting up is a disaster as the cables don't match the sockets; the only cable that connects is the mains cable. What I don't want to do is waste a lot of time and perhaps money upgrading my old computer to accept the new monitor as I intended to buy a new computer at Christmas anyway so perhaps I'll buy the new computer in the near future and hopefully this will allow easy connection?

Just a quick reply Col, but when I read this, I wondered if the monitor only came with a digital DVI cable. But a quick look at the user manual shows that it should have come with an analogue cable - which I'm sure is what your old PC uses (as does mine )

The analogue cable should have D-types on either end - the high-density type with 3 rows of pins, just like your existing monitor. They will probably be a shade of royal blue.

If the cable wasn't included, they are readily available. Analogue VGA is an old standard, but still widely used, and supported by your new monitor. If you get stuck, I'll pop one in the post.

Good luck,

Mark

[Retired]

Hi,

Mark you are a star; thank you so much not only for the information but also for the kind offer of a cable. I'm cracking up as I'm fed up of falling over things whilst my old computer table set up with the computer etc is in the front bedroom; I found the new correct cable whilst searching on my hands and knees under the table; it's another black hole just like the one in the garage.

Five minutes work has the new monitor fully working and awesome doesn't do it justice; I have it pushed to the rear of the table and the screen is so big I can easily read all the text without resorting to using the bottom of my bi-focals. Boy its wonderful and worth every penny. All I need now is the new computer to really make full use of it.

It's like looking at a wide screen TV and I tried to take a decent picture the best of which is included below together with a picture of the cramped space I'm working in at the moment. Tomorrow I'll transfer the computer system to the new desk then I can dispose of this big farmhouse type table making a great deal of space.

I'd be happy to transfer everything now but it is so dark and gloomy just like summer should be.

Thanks Mark; it's appreciated and I'm on a high with my new toy.

Kind regards, Col.