Desk I built for new T60p

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acasto · #1 Post by **acasto** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 1:44 am

Here's a desk I just built for my new T60p. The desk I had before this was some $50 wobbly cart thing that kept triggering the hdaps everytime I got to typing fast or bumbed the desk. Since I work some evenings in my family's custom cabinet shop, I figured I'd try building one. I tried to stick with the simple black look of the Thinkpad. I'm quite happy with the results, let me know what you think.

http://iptic.com/fileadmin/images/img_0003.jpg

http://iptic.com/fileadmin/images/img_0004.jpg

http://iptic.com/fileadmin/images/img_0005.jpg

http://iptic.com/fileadmin/images/img_0006.jpg

Phazer · #2 Post by **Phazer** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 2:11 am

NIIIIIIICCCEEEEE..................

On the last picture, is that a round mouse pad or an inlayed piece? If it's just a mouse pad, maybe using an inlay could be an added option, (not that your selling them or anything).

Not critiquing, just thinking outloud.

Give yourself an A+ for that.

acasto · #3 Post by **acasto** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 2:24 am

Phazer wrote:NIIIIIIICCCEEEEE..................

On the last picture, is that a round mouse pad or an inlayed piece? If it's just a mouse pad, maybe using an inlay could be an added option, (not that your selling them or anything).

Not critiquing, just thinking outloud.

Give yourself an A+ for that.

Thanks. Unfortunately that is just a mouse pad. I had a much more extravagant design in mind, but I needed it to fit the following criteria:

1.) Be built in pieces that can fit into my Toyota Echo and be assembled at home

2.) Fit comfortably in the kitchen of my apartment (I'm so looking forward to getting a house)

3.) Not use too much wood, I used one sheet of maple and some scraps.

4.) Not take too much finishing time since I started it two days before Christmas.

I didn't have any black laqueror on hand so I just used about seven cans of matte black spray paint and let the satin clear coat tie it all together. My biggest desire for this was stability, I like really solid desks, (my favorite are the old metal ones that are nearly impossible to move around), so I used 3/4" maple skinned with 1/4" maple bead-board for the back that really solidifies the whole thing. The top is pretty solid too with 1 1/2" of wood. I used a 3/4" stretcher piece to attach the sides together, then the top slides down over the entire thing and is screwed up through the bottom of the stretcher piece. That way if you knock on the top of it you get a solid 'thump' instead of that hollow sound.

Phazer · #4 Post by **Phazer** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 2:31 am

One piece of advice if you don't already know. If you run into a wobbley floor, try using 3 pads/feet. Two on the left (one front, one rear), and one centered on the right. Or vice versa for that matter.

How's the surface holding out for scuff marks?

Would a spray on automotive "chip guard" be compatable with the other spray to make a semi-slipproof surface?

In the house downstairs, we use an old art class wood table about 8' wide x 3' deep. Wish I could find about two more of those but not very portable.

1-1/2" thick top!!!!!!!!!! How many people did it take to slide down over the base??????

acasto · #5 Post by **acasto** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 4:22 am

Phazer wrote:One piece of advice if you don't already know. If you run into a wobbley floor, try using 3 pads/feet. Two on the left (one front, one rear), and one centered on the right. Or vice versa for that matter.

I never tried that, sounds reasonable though. That's something I liked about the old metal desks, they usually had screw type feet that you could adjust up or down for uneven floors. What made my last desk so wobbly though was that it was one of those setups that's basically two peieces of mdf with cheap metal bars in between and some plastic caster on the bottom.

Phazer wrote: How's the surface holding out for scuff marks?

Would a spray on automotive "chip guard" be compatable with the other spray to make a semi-slipproof surface?

It holds up pretty good. Not quite as strong as we'd like, but pretty darn good. We're hoping to switch to a better conversion varnish finish sometime soon to give even better protection.

Phazer wrote:1-1/2" thick top!!!!!!!!!! How many people did it take to slide down over the base??????

The 'top' top is only 3/4" thick, but it sits on top of and is screwed to another 3/4" piece, making the assembled thickness 1 1/2". There is a total of six main pieces, the top stretcher (support piece), the main top, two sides, the back, and a small shelf inside to hold power stuff. To assemble it, I just lay the top support upside down on the ground and attach the sides to it with screws in the pocket-holes. I then flip it over and mount the back up onto the small blocks coming off the sides (gives a 2 3/8" gap on the bottom for dust bunnies to get through so I can sweep them up). After that I just attach the shelf from the inside, drop the top on, throw a few screws in up underneath to secure the top, and it's ready to go.

JHEM · #6 Post by **JHEM** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:05 am

Very nice job.

That you holding spook?

James

#7 Post by **gator** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 4:26 pm

Very nice table.

dr_st · #8 Post by **dr_st** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 4:38 pm

Very very nice (both the table and the laptop)

acasto · #9 Post by **acasto** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:24 pm

JHEM wrote: That you holding spook?

I was confused for a minute there

You talking about the other pictures in my directory? Yeah, that's me holding a kitten a few years ago, but not spook. He died a couple years back at like the age of 20, so he lived a pretty good life for a cat. The kittens were living under my parents deck, and their dad was a really cool manx, so each of the three had a different length tail (mid-length, stubby, almost none).

EDIT: Never mind, I double checked and there is a pic of me holding spook. Yeah, that was quite a long time ago, maybe eight years or so.

pianowizard · #10 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:42 pm

That's such a nice table! I envy you!

revolutionary_one · #11 Post by **revolutionary_one** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:54 pm

That looks like a great setup.

That chair looks super comfy. Unfortunately comfortable computer chairs don't come cheap

#12 Post by **Kyocera** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:08 pm

Acasto, nice table, hey, I live near Sanford so if you have some extra time build me one

I'll come and pick it up.

gunston · #13 Post by **gunston** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:59 am

Loving it..
clean and tidy Desk orientation.
like your speaker and wireless mouse.
3rd pic is a bit shaky

Desk I built for new T60p

Desk I built for new T60p

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