Who handcrafted their computer desks?! or a wood craftsman?

[Joe2Cool]

I'm about to do so one for my sister.
Any suggestions on wood, demensions, stain, etc?!
And if you have pics or diagrams of ur projects, please link.

I'm bored myself to death during my summer college break (i'm in quarters )
So i need something to do for 3 weeks besides cabling the whole house.

Any suggestions and comments would be grateful.

Patrick.

 

[veryape]

Do stacked milk crates count as hand crafted?

 

[JohnnyKnoxville]

Yeah I hand crafted mine by taking it out of the box and putting it together after I bought it at Office Max

 

[GoldenGuppy]

I made my computer desk from scratch.. quite simple really.. just needed to get the geometry and the measurements intact - holds a lot of weight too due to the great architecture I had planned out!

I also created a bird-feeder (GG points to birdfeeder in back yard) -> (Dead bird trapped in collapsed wood) -> (GRINS)

><GG>

 

[Joe2Cool]

Veryape: never thought of that, but it's craft

GoldenGuppy: Pics?!

I've got it all demensioned and stuff w/Visio. The desk is 53" x 28" x 28" and the hutch is 50" x 26.5" x 14".
I'm planning on a Maple stain and clear finish.

Comments?

 

[hoe4damoney]

GG your ripping off the simpsons?

I though better of you.


I can think of a few good "stains" to have on your desk.

 

[ISAslot]

Here's my handcrafted desk.

I used 2x2's for the structure.

Red mahogany stain with polyurethane finish.

 

[Joe2Cool]

Very nice ISA, love the shiny finish
Your desk looks quite big, mind giving me ur demensions, if u still remember hehe.
thanks.

 

[ISAslot]

<< Very nice ISA, love the shiny finish
Your desk looks quite big, mind giving me ur demensions, if u still remember hehe.
thanks. >>



Thanks

Dimensions:

32 1/2" Deep

30 1/2" High

112 1/2" or 9' - 4 1/2" Wide

This is of lower portion, didn't get much of it in the pic, but there are 13 drawers including the center one.

 

[purplehayes]

You oak plywood if you can afford it. A solid oak desk would cost a fortune and take a long time to build. Just think of all of the glue-up you have to do! You can buy that iron on edge banding stuff for the edges of the plywood and it looks great after you sand and stain it.

To get an idea for the dimensions, look online for some build your own desks and use that as a reference.

Finish, whatever stain floats your boat, but I'd stick with a polyurethane finish. Do at least 3 coats. You won't have to worry about spilled Coke's or pizza grease that way.

PH


I've never done a computer desk, but I've built quite a few other things around the house. Even a few items for profit.

Oh yeah, what tools do you have?

 

[Unclemo]

oak would be nice... or pine would do fine.

 

[Joe2Cool]

purplehayes: i thought about using plywood and veneers(i think that what those iron on stuff is called), but those veneers cost alot. Shocked me when i saw it at homedepot.

Initially, i've thought of using Hard Maple wood, i like the tone and the smooth gains. But my sister wants Oak, so I'm going to make it oak. I understand plywood have different top layers like oak and pine, etc.
I'm bit concerned with plywood because it seem it doesn't look good after i sand it and stain it like with normal wood. I might be wrong. I'm not a woodworking guy(eventho i took 3 years of woodshop in middle school) If anybody done this, please confirm.

I was thinking using plywood and then use a real wood to frame it to make it look like it's all reall wood. hehe

 

[Joe2Cool]

Unclemo: i've thought about pine wood also, but my sister hate those knot holes. I didn't like it cuz it's not hardwood. Otherwise, it would've been cheap and easy to work with.
We're going with Oak.

 

[ornjblud]

To save some cash use MDF in the non-visible areas (back, bottom, etc). It's nice and solid and pretty easy to work with.

Save the solid oak for the top, sides and inside the knee space. Or if you can find a good oak veneer ("skin") you can use that on the sides as well as just buy a nice solid piece for the top.

My $0.02

 

[Soybomb]

I imagine that mine is the ugliest. I picked up 6 cinder blocks and a 7' long piece of countertop material from home depot. Make 2 stacks of 3 cinderblocks. Set countertop on top. Use desk.

 

[Texmaster]

<< I'm about to do so one for my sister.
Any suggestions on wood, demensions, stain, etc?!
And if you have pics or diagrams of ur projects, please link.

I'm bored myself to death during my summer college break (i'm in quarters )
So i need something to do for 3 weeks besides cabling the whole house.

Any suggestions and comments would be grateful.

Patrick. >>



I had mine made from a company in Canada. Cheak it out here on page 3 of the photos:

My Site

 

[Joe2Cool]

ornjblud: call me dumb, but what's "MDF"?

 

[bunker]

Look Here for Medium Density Fiberboard

 

[Joe2Cool]

OMG, is that a 19" Flatpanel screen?! Snapple addict?
pretty clean and organize room, unlike someone

The desk seems clean and strong. nice touch.

 

[Joe2Cool]

Thanks bunker!

 

[Texmaster]

<< OMG, is that a 19" Flatpanel screen?! >>



Yes it is *ducks*



<< Snapple addict? >>



LOL Not Snapple.



<< pretty clean and organized room, unlike someone >>



Thanks! Thought I should take a pic QUICK!



<< The desk seems clean and strong. nice touch. >>



Thanks. And yes it is Cost was 450.

 

[ornjblud]

<< ornjblud: call me dumb, but what's "MDF"? >>



It's an "engineered" wood. You can get a 4'x4' sheet for ~$10. It works well for furniture......in the right spots.

 

[purplehayes]

Joe - If you are sanding through the veneer of the oak plywood, then you are sanding too much. Price isn't too steep for 3/4" Oak ply, about $45.00/4'x8' sheet at the local Home Depot. The edge banding veneer is like $8.00 for 25 ft. If you are thinking of doing a solid oak top, you could probably spend $200 or $300 on it alone. Oak plywood is the way to go.



<< I'm bit concerned with plywood because it seem it doesn't look good after i sand it and stain it like with normal wood. >>

What type of stain are you using? I've never had a problem getting oak plywood to turn out right.

PH

 

[Joe2Cool]

I'm thinking about oil stains, 3 coats and then a clear coat.