Built my computer desk

[hitekcountry]

I’ve had my computer in the dining room for probably more than ten years (one of those temporary arrangements) so now I decided to move it into the family room.

I do have a nice oak desk but it’s too large for what I want, it tends to make the room look small, so I thought I would buy something that would look good in there and not dominate the room.

Well after looking for about a month and not finding what I wanted, I decided to just design and build it myself. Part of the problem was I was trying to match the book case/shelves that I had built back about 12 years ago

Pic of book case

 

[hitekcountry]

Materials for the build -- all pine
1 3 1x12x6’
2 3 2x12x6’
3 2 trim 8’
4 1 1x18x4’
5 1 sheet bead board

 

[hitekcountry]

Rip the 2x12s and cut everything to length

 

[hitekcountry]

Sanding and then the dado cuts. Sure makes a lot of saw dust.

 

[hitekcountry]

Using the biscuit joiner and then gluing. Two clamps for each of these side pieces and I’m making six side pieces, I need 12 clamps – Ok good --I have just enough. Can never have too many clamps.

 

[crbr]

Please help me see a desk or a tractor?

I see a bookshelf, a globe, a 3-drawer file cabinet, and some more stuff, but no desk or tractor....

I know it's just me.... Nice looking floor.

 

[hitekcountry]

Hardware for the adjustable shelves.

 

[hitekcountry]

Preview of the basic idea.

 

[hitekcountry]

oops here's the picture

It'll make sence soon.

 

[hitekcountry]

Here I apply the finish, I’m just using white paint and applying it like you would stain.

 

[hitekcountry]

First one glued together and then with the bead board nailed to the back.

 

[hitekcountry]

Here’s the first picture that gives an idea of what it’s going to look like.
The top is a 4x8 sheet of ¾ ply with an additional ¾ thick by 1½ strip all along the front edge and ends. On the far right end (just to the right of the glue bottle) the top was extended 6” to make that end 4’6” long. I later decided 5’ would have been better

 

[hitekcountry]

It’s clear I need a support for that back corner, so I’ll build a leg to put back there.

 

[hitekcountry]

Well I have some left over laminate flooring from the room where the desk is going; I think I’ll use that for the desk top. Why not!!

I try to attach the laminate flooring material to the plywood using contact cement, and it’s just not sticking worth a ****. Now the day I was doing that it was quit cold, so I took the top into the gym where I have a number of electric heaters to where I can worm up the room and hopefully get the contact cement to stick. Didn’t work!!

I had some linoleum glue and used that and clamped the thing and let it set overnight. That worked.

 

[hitekcountry]

The three bases and the corner leg setting in the room waiting for the top.

 

[hitekcountry]

Trimming off the excess the same as you would Formica top.

 

[hitekcountry]

Applying the edge trim.
Drilling a hole for wires.

 

[hitekcountry]

Finished desk

 

[hitekcountry]

Ooops major oversight—no phone or power in that corner of the room (old house). There is an outlet on that wall but it’s switched for lights.

Need to run power and phone.

Ok got that all hooked up, power works, phone line does not.

Now wait a minute, if I’m good at anything I’m good at electrical, and I can’t even hook up a phone jack correctly?? What the %&**!!! ( electrical engineering 40 years) Disconnect, reconnect, check everything several times, still doesn’t work. Finally I took a look into the RJ11 connector plate (new from HD) and notice one of the pins was bent. I took the connector apart, repositioned the pin, and everything worked fine after that.

 

[hitekcountry]

Completed desk