08-06-2012, 06:59 PM
Hi,
Many thanks for the cautionary words Gary regarding ventilation.
Hopefully in this case I have considered both form and function resulting in a desk that pleases me and Bron whilst looking good and doing its intended job.
The left hand base unit was always going to be left open both at the back and front. The open back allows easy connections and the open front allows easy access to the controls and 3 disc players. Plenty of extra width and height was designed in right from the beginning not only to provide sufficient ventilation but to allow future upgrades with possibly larger towers.
Plenty of ventilation.
The built in power sockets are also doing as intended allowing tidy cable storage with just one single short power supply cable to the walled 13A socket this plug is further protected by an anti-surge adaptor. The sockets on the desk are always switched on and powered by the single wall socket allowing a single switch to control the lot. It works very well and no longer are my feet becoming tangled in cables. The cables are simply tied by strong cord to the back of the desk out of harms way.
The door I previously mentioned is a single door only and will be installed to the right hand base unit; this unit is for storage of consumables and has been purposely left open at the back to prevent it becoming cluttered with junk.
Door under way.
Usually I would spend time and make a dimensioned drawing for a piece of furniture and work to the drawing but with this desk I wanted to make it up as I went along just to see what I could come up with; the only constraint being my meagre imagination. Not only did I want the desk to look like a piece of expensive furniture I wanted it to work and function well. Given my working conditions apart from our four day summer which was marvellous I'm delighted with the outcome and Bron loves this desk so much she says its a pity we can't have it in our front room. A lot of TLC went into making it after all it is only solid oak; 18mm MDF and Formica; anyone could have made it as the materials are available. I did my best.
I'm working at the desk now and the desk; new carpet and fresh decorations all have finally come together. I hope this story encourages others to have a go at a bit of furniture making; it is worthwhile.
I was happy to cut the old table up to get it out of the way freeing up the front bedroom once again. Bron likes this Formica so much that I bought an extra sheet as she would like new work surfaces in the kitchen covered in it. One job always makes more but it's something I enjoy doing. The door is now trimmed to size and hand scraped so hopefully if it doesn't snow tomorrow I can apply the first coat of varnish leaving only the door and drawer handles to design and make. I never tire of these projects.
Kind regards, Col.
Many thanks for the cautionary words Gary regarding ventilation.
Hopefully in this case I have considered both form and function resulting in a desk that pleases me and Bron whilst looking good and doing its intended job.
The left hand base unit was always going to be left open both at the back and front. The open back allows easy connections and the open front allows easy access to the controls and 3 disc players. Plenty of extra width and height was designed in right from the beginning not only to provide sufficient ventilation but to allow future upgrades with possibly larger towers.
Plenty of ventilation.
The built in power sockets are also doing as intended allowing tidy cable storage with just one single short power supply cable to the walled 13A socket this plug is further protected by an anti-surge adaptor. The sockets on the desk are always switched on and powered by the single wall socket allowing a single switch to control the lot. It works very well and no longer are my feet becoming tangled in cables. The cables are simply tied by strong cord to the back of the desk out of harms way.
The door I previously mentioned is a single door only and will be installed to the right hand base unit; this unit is for storage of consumables and has been purposely left open at the back to prevent it becoming cluttered with junk.
Door under way.
Usually I would spend time and make a dimensioned drawing for a piece of furniture and work to the drawing but with this desk I wanted to make it up as I went along just to see what I could come up with; the only constraint being my meagre imagination. Not only did I want the desk to look like a piece of expensive furniture I wanted it to work and function well. Given my working conditions apart from our four day summer which was marvellous I'm delighted with the outcome and Bron loves this desk so much she says its a pity we can't have it in our front room. A lot of TLC went into making it after all it is only solid oak; 18mm MDF and Formica; anyone could have made it as the materials are available. I did my best.
I'm working at the desk now and the desk; new carpet and fresh decorations all have finally come together. I hope this story encourages others to have a go at a bit of furniture making; it is worthwhile.
I was happy to cut the old table up to get it out of the way freeing up the front bedroom once again. Bron likes this Formica so much that I bought an extra sheet as she would like new work surfaces in the kitchen covered in it. One job always makes more but it's something I enjoy doing. The door is now trimmed to size and hand scraped so hopefully if it doesn't snow tomorrow I can apply the first coat of varnish leaving only the door and drawer handles to design and make. I never tire of these projects.
Kind regards, Col.
Happiness is a wreck of a cabinet to restore.
